Financial Aid

At Claremont McKenna College, a family's ability to pay should not be a barrier to attendance. 

The price of higher education can be costly. CMC recognizes this and encourages all eligible students to apply for financial assistance. CMC is committed to meeting 100% of a student’s demonstrated financial need utilizing a combination of need-based grants, student employment, and minimal loans. Merit-based scholarships are not need-based and are awarded by the Office of Admission.

CMC’s application process is generally need-blind*, meaning an applicant’s ability to pay is not factored into the admission decision. However, CMC’s application process is need-aware, meaning an applicant’s ability to pay may be factored into the admission decision for international students, transfer students, and applicants placed on CMC’s waitlist. We recommend our Net Price Calculator tools to estimate your cost of attendance to CMC.

CMC also recognizes that financial aid alone is often insufficient for a full, four-year experience. In order to provide singular, transformative opportunities, the College offers a range of benefits and support for those whose families have fewer resources.

Accordingly, the College established the Kravis Opportunity Fund in 2018. Building on our foundational commitment to students, the Opportunity Fund model increases student access through a range of benefits and support structures, including:

• Guaranteed funding of up to $5,000 for an approved first-year summer internship or experience for all students receiving need-based financial aid;
• Summer Savings grant for all first-year students receiving a first-year summer internship or experience grant;
• Kick-off Grants of $2,000 per low-income student to cover the costs of bedding, interview and Athenaeum attire, and technology (laptop, cell phone, etc.);
• Financial support for students to participate in College-sponsored networking trips, research travel, academic conference attendance, participation in our job shadowing program, and other endeavors during the academic year;
• Travel funding for low-income families to visit campus for Family Weekend each February; and
• Grants for health insurance coverage for low-income students. 

The Kravis Opportunity Fund also reduces the impact of home equity in the financial aid calculation for students from middle-income families. This allows the College to offer much more competitive financial aid packages, especially to middle-income students.

For more information, please contact the Office of Admission.