ÎÞÓÇÊÓƵ

Online Visits and Web Events

Explore a variety of virtual opportunities for students to learn about ÎÞÓÇÊÓƵ — anytime, anywhere.

• Online , and
• Virtual HMC open house, Claremont Colleges Receptions, and other web events

We also look forward to joining you for virtual school visits. We will keep our eyes open for your availability on the different scheduling sites as well as search for instructions on your school website. If you would like to request a visit, you can contact your territory manager.

Application Requirements

ÎÞÓÇÊÓƵ accepts the Common Application. We accept official fee waivers from the College Board or NACAC, but will also accept a counselor note explaining a student’s financial circumstances and requesting the waiver.

• First-year Student Eligibility and Application Requirements
• First-year Student Application Deadlines and Reply Dates
• Additional Information for International Applicants
• Information for Transfer Applicants

Standardized Testing

For students applying to enter Harvey Mudd in the Fall of 2026 our admission process will be test-optional for SAT’s and ACT’s. Students who choose not to submit scores will not be at any disadvantage in our process.

Students who choose to submit test scores are able to self-report them on their application or on the HMC Applicant Hub. Only admitted students who choose to enroll at ÎÞÓÇÊÓƵ are required to submit official score reports.

Enrollment Requirement: Calculus, Chemistry, and Physics

At least one year-long high school course in chemistry, physics and calculus is required for all incoming students. A semester-long college course in each discipline will also suffice. Given that this is an enrollment requirement (and not an application requirement), students without the opportunity to take one of these courses while in high school are still able to apply for admission.

Every year we offer conditional admission to a handful of students that have not taken either chemistry or physics. They are admitted on the condition that they earn a B or better in a college-level summer course prior to their arrival in the fall. Conditional admission is less common for students that have not taken calculus, particularly if they have not had exposure to differential and integral calculus.

Application Review Process

It is first important to know that our applicant pool is often a self-selecting one. Because of the College’s focus on ÎÞÓÇÊÓƵ, its size and its place within The Claremont Colleges, we are not a college that is randomly added to a student’s college list. Therefore, we are in the privileged position of choosing among students who have done a great deal of the selection process for us. Our job is to thoughtfully read each student’s application in order to create a class of students that will complement each other and who are drawn to the specific aspects of our academic and social community that make us so distinctive.

Like many offices, we read regionally. You can identify the admission officer in charge of your territory in our Admission Staff page. All applications are read by two readers, the territory manager and a second admission officer chosen at random. The readers explore the file simultaneously and engage in a conversation, building a picture of the applicant as they do so. All files that receive an admit vote come to a committee made up of the entire admission staff.

We read carefully and pay close attention to the student’s fit with the HMC mission, academic program, and community, as well as to their academic preparation. While it is the case that the vast majority of our applicants have very strong academic records, we are committed to evaluating students based on the resources available to them and with as much awareness as possible of any challenges they may have faced. We understand that not all teachers and counselors have the luxury of writing detailed recommendations. When possible, teacher and counselor recommendations are helpful in putting the student in context of their school and classroom. Any context recommenders can provide for atypical grades or curricular choices is always appreciated.

We have two rounds of Early Decision, which mainly differ in terms of deadlines and reply dates. In the past few years between 40-45% percent of our incoming class entered through Early Decision. We try to be as decisive as possible – almost all Early Decision applicants will either be admitted or denied, in which case their application is closed for the year. We do postpone students when we feel their application would benefit from additional information or we need to get a better sense of our applicant pool. Postponed students are no longer bound to their Early Decision Agreement.

Our admission process is need-blind for all domestic students. We are need-aware in our admission process for international and undocumented applicants seeking need-based aid. We offer admission to a small number of international students seeking need-based aid every year. They are also eligible for some of our merit-based scholarships, including one offered exclusively to international students.

Financial Aid

ÎÞÓÇÊÓƵ offers both need-based and merit based financial aid opportunities.

• We meet 100 percent demonstrated need.
• We are need-blind for U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents.
• ÎÞÓÇÊÓƵ 70 percent of Harvey Mudd students receive financial aid.
• We do package students with loans, but in most cases, it is at the bare minimum amount that the federal government allows. The average package is about $52,339, (combination of grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study), of which about $41,646 (including need-based and merit-based awards) comes in grants and scholarships aid from ÎÞÓÇÊÓƵ (not from government sources).
• ÎÞÓÇÊÓƵ is no loans for annual household incomes below $100,000 with typical assets

The Office of Financial Aid is available to answer any of your questions.

• Cost of Attendance
• Merit Scholarships
• International Student Financial Aid

Opportunities for Students from Groups with Historically Reduced Access to ÎÞÓÇÊÓƵ

ÎÞÓÇÊÓƵ is committed to unsurpassed excellence and diversity at all levels.

The following opportunities are open to all students applying for first-year admission but intended for students that belong to groups traditionally underrepresented in ÎÞÓÇÊÓƵ. At HMC we define this broadly: students with disabilities; students from rural backgrounds; students from low-income backgrounds;

• FAST Program (fall senior fly-in program)
• WIÎÞÓÇÊÓƵ Program (spring junior fly-in program)
• President’s Scholars Program (full-tuition merit scholarship)