Prospective and New Students
Claremont McKenna College (CMC) is committed to making the admission process fair and accessible for all families. CMC practices need-blind admission for all U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents, meaning a family’s financial strength is not considered when the admission decision is made. CMC welcomes applications from families across all socioeconomic backgrounds.
Families who anticipate needing financial assistance are encouraged to apply for Financial Aid as part of the admission process. Students who do not apply for, or who do not receive need-based Financial Aid upon admission, may not be eligible to receive Financial Aid in future years of enrollment. Financial Aid eligibility is reviewed annually and is based on the family’s demonstrated financial need and the availability of institutional funds.
Please Note: Merit-based scholarships are awarded separately by the Office of Admission, not the Office of Financial Aid. For additional information, families are encouraged to visit the CMC Merit-Based Scholarships page or contact the Office of Admission directly.
How to Apply
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
The FAFSA is required for students seeking Federal Student Aid and most state-based aid programs.
CSS Profile (Required for Need-Based Institutional Aid)
CMC requires students applying for need-based institutional Financial Aid to submit the CSS profile. Similar to the FAFSA, the CSS Profile collects Federal tax information.
- Students with divorced or separated parents must have both parents complete the CSS Profile.
- If your custodial parent has remarried, all step-parent income and asset information must be included.
If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.
Additional Documentation (IDOC)
Additional information – such as parent and student Federal tax documents or other supporting materials – may be requested through CollegeBoard’s Institutional Documentation Service (IDOC).
Cal Grant (California Residents Only)
All California residents must submit the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) to be considered for a Cal Grant.
Submission deadlines for all required applications and documents vary based on your admission status. For specific deadlines for Early Decision (ED) or Regular Decision (RD) please visit the Deadlines page.
All students who need financial assistance is encouraged to apply for financial aid at CMC. Through the California Dream Act, undocumented students without SSNs who have completed the Dream application are allowed to apply for and receive state-administered financial aid (Cal Grant) as well as CMC College Grant. CMC is fully committed to meeting 100% of all students’ demonstrated financial need.
CMC is committed to making college affordable. The Office of Financial aid does not package loans or work-study for DACA/Undocumented students.
Please visit California Dream Act or contact our office for more information.
Students who do not apply for or do not receive financial aid upon admission are not guaranteed they will receive financial aid or be considered for financial aid in future years while enrolled at CMC. Each year financial aid consideration will be determined based on the student’s financial need and the availability of funds.
Please note that merit-based scholarships are awarded by the Office of Admission. For more information, please visit CMC merit-based scholarships or contact the Office of Admission.
How to Apply
- CMC requires all students seeking need-based institutional financial aid to submit the CSS Profile application.
- California residents must submit the California Dream Act application.
- Additional information such as parents’ and students’ federal income tax returns and other supporting documentation may be requested via the College Board’s Institutional Documentation Service (IDOC).
The deadlines to submit the required applications and documents vary depending on which Early Decision or Regular Decision round you are applying for admission to CMC. For more information about specific financial aid deadlines, please visit Applications & Deadlines.
Claremont McKenna College (CMC) is need-aware in its admission process for all international students (non-U.S. citizens and non-U.S. permanent residents). This means that an applicant’s financial need may be considered as part of the admission decision. However, if admitted, CMC is committed to meeting demonstrated need as determined at the time of admission. Financial aid packages typically consist of a combination of grants, scholarships, work and loans.
International students who do not apply for or do not receive need-based financial aid upon admission are not eligible to be considered for financial aid in future years while enrolled at CMC.
For all international students, financial aid awards will be automatically renewed each year for up to 8 semesters as long as students are enrolled full-time and make Satisfactory Academic Progress toward their degree. Financial aid packages are based entirely on the information you provide in the CMC Financial Aid Form for International Students. It is essential that your information is truthful, complete, and realistic, as this information determines your family contribution for all four years. Returning students will not reapply for financial aid annually. No appeals or adjustments will be considered once your awards are accepted upon admission. Because funding is limited, late applications will not be considered.
How to Apply
- Indicate you are applying for financial aid on the admission application.
- Submit the CMC Financial Aid Form for International Students, available in your CMC applicant portal after submitting your admission application.
- If there are revisions to your CMC Financial Aid Form for International Students prior to your admission decision, please contact admission@cmc.edu immediately with the updated information.
Please note:
- CMC does not accept the IFSAA or CSS Profile for international applicants.
- CMC does not provide fee waivers for the CSS Profile.
- Your application for admission will not be reviewed without the completed CMC Financial Aid Form for International Students.
The deadlines to submit the required application and documents vary depending for admission to CMC. For more information about specific financial aid deadlines, please visit Application Instructions For First-Year Applicants.
CMC is need-sensitive in its admission process for all transfer students, meaning financial need may influence a student’s admission decision. However, if admitted, CMC remains committed to meeting 100% of the students’ demonstrated need.
No need-based financial aid is available to international transfer applicants. Eligibility for need-based federal or institutional aid is limited to U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents or eligible non-U.S. citizens, and undocumented students/DACA applicants. CMC does not offer merit-based scholarships to any transfer applicants. Financial aid applications from international transfer applicants will not be accepted as CMC does not provide need-based aid or merit scholarships for these applicants.