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Harvey Mudd College

#139 in US ranking Claremont, CA
Type:
Private not-for-profit
Programs:
4 years or more

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Cost

Cost / year
$93,131
Tuition & fees
$76,070
Avg. aid
$44,232
Receiving aid
73%

Admissions

Acceptance rate
13%
SAT range
1500–1570
ACT range
34–36

Outcomes

Graduation rate
92%
Median salary
$126,470
1 yr after graduation

What is the accreditation of Harvey Mudd College?

Harvey Mudd College holds institutional accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission, commonly called WSCUC. Its bachelor's program in engineering also has programmatic accreditation from the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET.

These are different reviews: WSCUC evaluates the institution, while ABET evaluates a particular engineering program against discipline-specific standards. Institutional accreditation is relevant to eligibility for federal student aid and may matter when students seek to transfer credit, although another college decides which credits it will accept. Applicants considering engineering licensure should check the rules of the state where they hope to practice; neither accreditation nor graduation alone confers a professional license.

What are the admission requirements at Harvey Mudd College?

Admission to Harvey Mudd is selective and centers on preparation for demanding mathematics and science coursework. In the reported entering-class data, the college admitted 645 of 5,094 first-year applicants, an acceptance rate of about 13%. That figure describes a past applicant pool, not an individual applicant's chances.

First-year applicants generally submit an application, secondary-school transcript, recommendations, and written responses. A strong college-preparatory record matters; the reported admissions criteria required a secondary-school record and college-preparatory coursework but did not specify a minimum GPA. Applicants educated outside an English-language curriculum should check the college's current English-proficiency instructions, including which tests or exemptions apply.

In the 2024-25 admissions reporting, SAT and ACT scores were considered but not required. Among enrolled students who submitted scores, the reported median was 1520 on the SAT and 35 on the ACT; these are not admission cutoffs. Testing rules, essay prompts, and Early Decision and Regular Decision deadlines can change by entry year, so applicants should use the instructions for their intended cycle rather than an earlier year's policy.

What are the application fees and waivers at Harvey Mudd College?

The reported undergraduate application fee is $70. Applicants should confirm the amount displayed in their application for their entry year before submitting, since fees can change.

Students for whom the fee presents a financial hardship should review the fee-waiver options in the application and Harvey Mudd's admissions instructions. A fee waiver concerns the cost of applying; it is separate from financial aid, an enrollment deposit, and tuition. Applicants seeking a waiver should complete the applicable request during the application process rather than assume a paid fee will be refunded later.

What types of ROTC programs are available at Harvey Mudd College?

Harvey Mudd students can pursue Army and Air Force ROTC through arrangements with cooperating institutions; Harvey Mudd does not operate those branch units as its own on-campus programs. ROTC enrollment may involve travel to another campus for courses or training, in addition to Harvey Mudd's academic requirements.

Interested students should verify the current host unit, cross-enrollment schedule, physical and citizenship eligibility rules, and scholarship application process with the relevant ROTC program. A scholarship is not automatic, and accepting certain ROTC benefits or commissioning normally carries a military service obligation.

What are the requirements for transfer students at Harvey Mudd College?

Harvey Mudd accepts transfer applications for fall entry and generally considers transferable work from accredited colleges. Transfer admission is a separate decision from whether particular courses will satisfy Harvey Mudd's degree requirements.

Applicants should expect to provide records of college study and any secondary-school materials specified in the current transfer application. Because the college's common core is unusually structured, a course that transfers as credit may not replace a particular core requirement or shorten time to graduation. The reported incoming transfer cohort numbered four students, so applicants should not assume that transfer places are plentiful. Before deciding to enroll, a prospective transfer student should seek an official evaluation of completed coursework and a realistic degree-completion plan from the college.

What types of study abroad programs are available at Harvey Mudd College?

Harvey Mudd students may pursue study abroad, but a semester away requires careful academic planning around the common core and major sequences. International study is an option to arrange with college approval, not an automatic part of the degree.

Students considering a partner or outside program should establish in advance which courses can count toward their major, humanities and social sciences requirements, or general credit. They should also check how their particular financial-aid package applies to the proposed program and budget separately for travel, housing, and other expenses. Starting those conversations early matters most for majors with courses offered in a fixed sequence.

Harvey Mudd College Admissions Factors

SAT range
1500–1570
4001600
ACT range
34–36
136
Acceptance rate
13%

Acceptance rate vs. median

This school
13%
California
75%
US
78%

36% of admitted students enrolled (231 of 645)

ACT scores of enrolled students

ACT in range 24-29
ACT in range 30-36

Harvey Mudd College Admissions

Applicants
Total: 5,094
Admission
Total: 645
Enrolled
Total: 231
Women
Men

How to Apply to Harvey Mudd College

Regular application deadline

January 5

Application fee

$70

Early Decision

Yes, deadline November 15

Harvey Mudd College First-Year Students

Where first-year students come from

In-state: 100
Out-of-state: 106
International: 25

Freshmen vs. transfer students

Freshmen: 231
Transfer: 4

Harvey Mudd College Admission Requirements

Median composite SAT score

1520

Median composite ACT score

35

Percent of students submitting ACT scores

21%

Percent of students submitting SAT scores

55%

High school completions

High school diploma or equivalent is not required

Computer required

Yes

Computer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution

No

Secondary school GPA

Considered but not required

Secondary school rank

Considered but not required

Secondary school record

Required

Completion of college-preparatory program

Required

Recommendations

Required

Formal demonstration of competencies

Neither required nor recommended

Admission test scores

Considered but not required

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language

Required

Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)

Neither required nor recommended

Open admission policy

No

Dual credit

Yes

Credit for life experiences

No

Advanced placement (AP) credits

No

Special learning opportunities

Orientation program

Yes

Disabilities services

Yes

Off-campus study

No

ROTC-Army

ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institution

ROTC-Air Force

ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institution

Study abroad

Yes

Student can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization

No

Preparation at another institution required

No

Approved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher

No

Harvey Mudd College Transfer Acceptance Rate

Accept ACE recommendation for credit

Yes

Possible transfer

Fall

Data last updated on November 5, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.

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