Is Claremont McKenna test optional?

Yes. You can apply without a score. A common rule is to send it if it's at or above 1510 and hold it if it's under.

What is Claremont McKenna's acceptance rate?

10% of applicants were admitted in 2025–26, according to the college's Common Data Set or, where that's missing, IPEDS, the federal college survey. In fall 2024, 626 of 6,529 applicants were admitted. Applications fell 9%, from 7,156 in 2015 to 6,529 in 2024, and Claremont McKenna's admit rate went from 11% to 10%.

What ACT score do you need for Claremont McKenna?

14% of first-year students sent an ACT, and they scored 33–35, with a median of 34. On the official ACT–SAT concordance, their SAT range of 1480–1540 works out to about 33–35.

Why might Claremont McKenna's SAT range look high?

Only 34% of enrolled students sent an SAT. The range counts only those who did, and students with lower scores tend to hold theirs back.

Does applying early decision help at Claremont McKenna?

22% of early decision applicants were admitted (216 of 978), against 10% of all applicants. Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the real edge is smaller than the gap.

How many students get off the waitlist at Claremont McKenna?

61 of the 469 students who stayed on the waitlist were admitted, or 13%, per the Common Data Set 2025–26.

All colleges

What SAT score do you need for Claremont McKenna? (Middle 50%: 1480–1540)

First-year students at Claremont McKenna who sent an SAT scored 1480–1540, with a median of 1510 (Common Data Set 2025–26). Claremont McKenna admits 10% of applicants and is test optional.

Claremont McKenna College · Claremont, CA

Where your score lands at Claremont McKenna

First-year students who sent an SAT: 1480–1540, median 1510

Your score

Middle 50% of admitted students Median Fewer than half sent a score, so the range runs high

Enter your SAT or ACT to see which tier Claremont McKenna is for you and whether to send your score.

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Claremont McKenna by the numbers

Admit rate: 10%
Middle 50% SAT: 1480–1540
Median SAT: 1510
About on the ACT: 33–35
Sent an SAT: 34%

Test optional · checked Nov 9, 2026 · Claremont McKenna admissions · SAT range from the Common Data Set, 2025–26; admit rate from it or IPEDS

Claremont McKenna admit rate over 10 years

Applications fell 9%, from 7,156 in 2015 to 6,529 in 2024, and Claremont McKenna's admit rate went from 11% to 10%.

Show the numbers

Fall	Applied	Admitted	Admit rate
2024	6,529	626	10%
2023	5,799	645	11%
2022	5,709	591	10%
2021	5,632	633	11%
2020	5,306	708	13%
2019	6,066	625	10%
2018	6,272	584	9.3%
2017	6,349	658	10%
2016	6,342	599	9.4%
2015	7,156	784	11%

In fall 2024, 337 of the 626 admitted students enrolled. Applicants and admits from IPEDS, the federal college survey, by fall of entry.

What each SAT score means at Claremont McKenna

Which tier your score puts them in, and whether it's worth sending.

Your SATTierSend it?

Under 1510Far reachHold
1510–1530Far reachSend
1540 and upReachSend

1300135014001450150015501600

Tiers here use only your SAT and their admit rate. Essays, activities and recommendations still decide most admissions at selective colleges.

Claremont McKenna SAT sections, ACT and class rank

Scores of enrolled first-year students who sent one, by percentile.

Test	25th	Median	75th
SAT Math	740	770	790
SAT Reading and Writing	730	740	760
SAT total	1480	1510	1540
ACT composite	33	34	35

Of enrolled first-year students, 34% sent an SAT and 14% sent an ACT. Common Data Set 2025–26.

Top 10% of their class: 64%; of new students who reported a rank

Claremont McKenna early decision and waitlist

Early decision

216 of 978 early decision applicants were admitted.

Early decision22%
All applicants10%

Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the gap overstates how much applying early helps on its own.

Waitlist

711 applicants were offered a spot, 469 took it, and 61 were admitted from it.

13%of students who stayed on the waitlist got in

Common Data Set 2025–26.

Claremont McKenna cost and outcomes

What students pay after grants, how many finish, and what they earn.

Average net price: $28,849; per year, after grants
Graduate in 6 years: 91%
Median earnings: $104,736; 10 years after starting
Undergraduates: 1,405

College Scorecard, 2022–23, from the US Department of Education. Net price averages federal-aid students across family incomes.

Colleges like Claremont McKenna

Similar SAT ranges and admit rates.

Sources

Claremont McKenna Common Data Set 2025–26
SAT and ACT ranges, early decision, waitlist, GPA and class rank, as the college reported them.
College Navigator (IPEDS)
Applications, admissions and enrollment by year, from the federal college survey.
College Scorecard
Net price, graduation rate and earnings, from the US Department of Education.
Claremont McKenna admissions
Test policy for 2026–27, checked Nov 9, 2026.
Claremont McKenna website
Claremont McKenna College

Updated Nov 9, 2026. Spot a number that's off? Email support@tryashore.com and we'll check it against the source.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

There's no cutoff. The middle 50% of first-year students who sent an SAT scored 1480–1540, and the median was 1510. At 1510 or higher you're above half of them. Claremont McKenna admits 10% of applicants, so a top score keeps you in the running but doesn't decide it.

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SAT Math · 1 of 5

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A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?

A $96\%$
B $100\%$
C $104\%$
D $80\%$