Claremont McKenna College
Claremont McKenna College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Claremont McKenna College at a Glance
Claremont McKenna College (CMC) is a private liberal arts college in Claremont, California. It has a curricular emphasis on government, economics, public affairs, finance, and international relations. CMC is one of the seven members of the Claremont Colleges consortium.
1946
80 years old
$1.2B
$1.24 billion (2024)
1,349
1,328 undergrad · 21 grad
2,025
69 acres
Identity
How to Apply to Claremont McKenna College
Official admissions page$70
Fee waiver available
3 required
Testing policy
Recommendation letters
Interview
Fee waiver
Is Claremont McKenna College Worth It?
Claremont McKenna College is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $28,849/year net price and $104,736 median earnings, graduates earn 3.6× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.1 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
With a 93% graduation rate, the vast majority of students finish their degree and reach these earning outcomes.
The catch: admission is extremely selective at just 10%, making this an option only for top-tier applicants.
Median student debt of $13,500 is manageable at just 13% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: Claremont McKenna College delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Claremont McKenna College compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #6 of 8 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California Institute of Technology | 100 | $16,075 | $128,566 |
| #2 | Bowdoin College | 100 | $14,398 | $82,735 |
| #3 | Williams College | 100 | $17,716 | $88,665 |
| #4 | Davidson College | 100 | $17,379 | $81,400 |
| #5 | Washington and Lee University | 94 | $23,781 | $94,810 |
| #6 | Claremont McKenna College | 85 | $28,849 | $104,736 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Claremont McKenna College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 1 in CA.
Best Programs at Claremont McKenna College
The highest-earning program at Claremont McKenna College is Economics at $82,400/year (4 years after graduation).
Your major matters more than the school name — a Economics graduate from Claremont McKenna College earns $82,400, while a Economics graduate earns $82,400. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Economics graduates carry $15,636 in median debt vs. $15,636 for Economics.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $28,849/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economics | $82,400 | $82,400 | $15,636 |
Similar Colleges in CA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Claremont, CA
- Student Body
- 1,388 students
- Admission Rate
- 10%
- Graduation Rate
- 93%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $28,849
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $104,736
- Median Student Debt
- $13,500