Claremont McKenna College admitted its lowest percentage of students on need-based financial aid last spring in more than 12 years. The statistic is part of a broader trend in data published by CMC that indicates the college is decreasing its financial aid coverage and lagging behind its peer institutions in financial aid investment. After four consecutive years of a steadily declining percentage of students receiving need-based financial aid, CMC reported an all-time minimum of 37.6% last year, according to CMC’s Common Data Set. A promotional pamphlet in CMC’s Office of Admissions said 33% of this year’s first-year class received need-based financial aid.
Tag: CMC
ASPC and ASCMC consider policy response to AI poster backlash
Student backlash over AI-generated promotional materials has prompted Associated Students of Pomona College (ASPC) and Associated Students of Claremont McKenna College (ASCMC) to reconsider their use of the technology, with the two student governments taking different approaches to regulation. ASPC is debating a proposed ban on AI use in external communications, with senators divided over enforcement and potential stipend reductions for violations. ASCMC’s executive board reached an informal agreement to avoid AI use but has not adopted a permanent policy.
In a pickle: CMC adds new signage clarifying pickleball courts are CMS only
Claremont McKenna College added new signage to its pickleball courts this week to affirm that they are exclusively meant for CMC, Harvey Mudd College and Scripps College students, faculty and staff. The signage was updated after the Associated Students of Claremont McKenna College (ASCMC) asked staff at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) Athletics about community members’ access to the courts.
CMC’s 1946 Challenge raises $1.4 million, breaks fundraising record
Claremont McKenna College raised $1.4 million in under two days last week, setting a donation record in its annual 1946 Challenge, a fundraising initiative to reach 1,946 donors in 1,946 minutes. Student phone bankers took part in the record-breaking campaign that led 2,060 donors to contribute over Oct. 14 and Oct. 15.
5Cs and student governments invest in U-Pass program amid Metrolink fare hike in prices
Metrolink, the commuter rail transport system across Southern California, raised fare prices on Oct. 5 for the first time in 13 years. In a press release, Metrolink said that “limited fare increases” are due to rising operational costs, decreased ridership and a lack of federal funding. One-way Metrolink fares rose by up to about 14%, while the weekday SoCal Day Pass rose from $15 to $19 and the weekend and holiday pass rose from $10 to $12. Metrolink maintained its 50% student discount, but students still had to pay more as the underlying fares increased.
‘Chat’ing about AI: Professors debate ethics of AI use at 7Cs
On Wednesday, professors across the 7Cs participated in a debate at Claremont McKenna College’s Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum on the role of AI in higher education at the Claremont Colleges. The debate “Does AI Enhance or Hinder the Claremont Colleges’ Learning Environment?” tackled whether AI strengthens students’ learning experiences or
New visa and CPT restrictions threaten international students’ off-campus jobs
After the Trump administration placed new restrictions on Curricular Practical Training (CPT), a program that has historically allowed F-1 international students to work off campus, some international students have had to turn down jobs, while others expressed uncertainty about future opportunities.
In August, ICE sent a memo to colleges and universities directing them to issue CPT only when an internship or practical training experience is necessary for graduation, a stricter interpretation of the existing policy. The memo states that “improper CPT authorization” could result in “administrative or legal consequences,” such as a college losing its ability to enroll international students.
CMC celebrates 50 years of co-education
From Sept. 25 to Sept. 26, Claremont McKenna (CMC) celebrated its 50th anniversary of co-education. CMC was initially founded as a men’s college in 1946, but officially opened enrollment to all genders in 1976. The Sept. 25 panel invited members from the class of 1980 — the first class of graduates that included women — to reflect on the historical evolution of CMC’s co-education, during which speakers emphasized the importance of accessible education to all genders. In interviews with TSL, some alumni explained what it was like to be women at CMC then and how that experience persists today.
Pomona, CMC and Harvey Mudd top U.S. News & World Report’s liberal arts college rankings
In the new U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best National Liberal Arts Colleges ranking, Claremont McKenna College (CMC) and Pomona College tied for third place, an increase from their joint seventh place spot last year. Harvey Mudd College also made its way into the top 10, ranking eighth. The publication considered “earnings by major” for the first time this year, a shift that placed greater emphasis on measurable post-graduate outcomes.
CMC ranks second in FIRE free speech rankings, other 5Cs receive failing grades
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) gave Claremont McKenna College (CMC) the second-place spot on its 2027 College Free Speech Rankings, a report that rates the free speech climates at college and university campuses nationwide. CMC received a passing “B-” grade from FIRE, while all of the other undergraduate Claremont Colleges received failing “F” grades.
Of the 261 colleges surveyed, Pitzer College ranked 160th, Scripps College ranked 167th, Harvey Mudd College ranked 184th and Pomona College ranked 226th. While the other Claremont Colleges saw increases in their rankings compared to last year, CMC dropped by one rank, losing its first-place spot to the University of Chicago.