Key differences on Getting in
- 1
Claremont McKenna's yield is 12 pts higher than Amherst's
Yield rate - 2
Amherst's SAT midpoint is 25 points higher than Claremont McKenna's
SAT midpoint - 3
Amherst admits 9.0% vs. 9.4% at Claremont McKenna
Acceptance rate
Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Acceptance and yield, test score ranges, test policy, and what each college weighs.
The funnel
Quad's selectivity
- Claremont McKennaHighly selective
- AmherstUltra selective
Men and women
Acceptance rate for men and women who applied, where a college reports admissions by sex.
Test scores
SAT total,
Axis runs 1400–1600. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
ACT composite,
Axis runs 29–36. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
Test policy
- Claremont McKennaTest-optional
- AmherstTest-optional
How they read a record
Claremont McKenna
and GPA are both very important; class rank and tests are both considered.
Amherst
The high school record is required; GPA, class rank, and a college-prep program are considered.
What they look at
| Factor | Claremont McKenna | Amherst |
|---|---|---|
| High school GPA | Very important | Considered |
| High school record | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Considered | Considered |
| College-prep program | Required | Considered |
| Recommendations | Required | Required |
| Essay | Required | Required |
| Legacy status | Considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Considered | Considered |
| Demonstration of competencies | Not considered | Considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other tests | Not considered | Not considered |
Sources:Claremont McKenna College (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;Claremont McKenna College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Claremont McKenna College Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why