Claremont McKenna College

What is the history of Claremont McKenna College?

Claremont McKenna College was founded in 1946 as Claremont Men's College, initially emphasizing economics, government, and public affairs. It became coeducational in 1976 and adopted its current name in 1981 in recognition of trustee Donald McKenna.

CMC is one of the undergraduate Claremont Colleges, a group of neighboring institutions that share certain facilities and services while maintaining separate admissions, academic requirements, and degrees. That arrangement remains central to its identity: students attend a small college but can use selected academic and extracurricular resources across the consortium.

What are the faculties and departments at Claremont McKenna College?

Claremont McKenna is primarily an undergraduate liberal arts college, not a university divided into numerous professional schools. Its curriculum has particular depth in economics, government, international relations, and related fields, alongside majors and courses in the humanities, social sciences, mathematics, and sciences.

The Robert Day School of Economics and Finance is a distinctive part of CMC's academic structure. Students can also pursue interdisciplinary work, including integrated sciences, and may take eligible courses at other Claremont Colleges under consortium rules. Cross-registration expands the course choices available to a CMC student, but it does not mean every program at a neighboring college is a CMC major.

Prospective students should compare a proposed major's catalog requirements with the actual courses available in the consortium, especially for laboratory sciences, arts, or specialized interdisciplinary interests. Some academic paths require advance planning to fit prerequisites, off-campus study, and CMC's general education requirements into four years.

What is the location of Claremont McKenna College?

Claremont McKenna College is in Claremont, California, east of Los Angeles. Its campus sits beside the other Claremont Colleges in a suburban setting where students can walk among consortium classrooms, libraries, dining facilities, and events.

Claremont has a walkable downtown and a Metrolink rail station with regional connections. Reaching internships or events elsewhere in Southern California can still require substantial travel time; students considering off-campus work should check the specific route rather than assume it will be nearby. Ontario International Airport is a comparatively convenient airport for the campus.

What is the mission and vision of Claremont McKenna College?

Claremont McKenna describes its educational purpose as preparing students for thoughtful and productive lives and responsible leadership in business, government, and the professions. Its emphasis on leadership is a statement of institutional purpose, not a guaranteed outcome for graduates.

The college's liberal arts requirements, discussion-oriented courses, research opportunities, and programs connecting academic work with public and professional life reflect that stated approach. CMC is an independent, nonsectarian institution; applicants do not need a religious affiliation.