Harvey Mudd College

Harvey Mudd College is a small, private nonprofit undergraduate college in Claremont, California, focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) within a liberal arts education. Students earn a Bachelor of Science and take a shared technical core alongside humanities, social sciences, and arts courses. This mix is central to the school’s approach: students build technical depth while studying the social consequences and communication of science. The campus is part of The Claremont Colleges, whose members share selected classes and services, while Harvey Mudd remains an independent college with its own admissions and degree requirements.

Majors, curriculum and the Claremont Colleges

Harvey Mudd’s majors include biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, mathematics, and physics, along with interdisciplinary options such as mathematical and computational biology, computer science and mathematics, and mathematics and physics. Students can also design an Individual Program of Studies or pursue an off-campus major with approval. First-year and sophomore students take a common technical core that introduces the major STEM disciplines; the curriculum also requires substantial humanities, social sciences, and arts study. Later coursework, undergraduate research, and the college’s team-based Clinic project give students opportunities to apply technical methods to research and real-world problems. Applicants should examine the full major list and talk with the relevant department about course prerequisites and research options.

Through The Claremont Colleges, students can take approved classes at neighboring colleges and participate in a broader campus community. Shared access can expand options in languages, arts, and other subjects, but course access depends on registration rules, seats, and each college’s policies. Harvey Mudd enrolls only undergraduates, which makes faculty teaching and student research central to the academic experience; it does not offer graduate degrees.

2026–27 cost and financial support

For 2026–27, tuition is $76,879. The estimated on-campus cost of attendance is $104,512, including housing, food, fees, books, supplies, personal expenses, and transportation. Housing and food are not included in tuition, and some listed expenses are estimates students pay directly. Harvey Mudd reports that it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for students who qualify; about 70% of its students receive financial aid. Awards may combine institutional, federal, and state grants with work-study or loans. For U.S. citizens and permanent residents, the college describes admission as need-blind; applicants should check the current policy for international students separately.

Need-based aid is assessed using the FAFSA, CSS Profile, and supporting financial documents. Merit awards are also available, including the President’s Scholars Program, which offers full-tuition scholarships to selected students. The college says it offers no-loan aid for families with annual income below $100,000 and typical assets, subject to its eligibility rules. Funding is individual and may change with family circumstances and available programs, so use the college’s 2026–27 cost and net-price information and scholarship details to estimate what your household would pay.

What students say about the workload

Student comments describe a demanding academic culture, with frequent references to long problem sets and a fast pace. Many also praise the collaborative atmosphere, accessible professors, peer tutoring, and close friendships formed while working through difficult material. Some students say the shared core delays access to preferred electives; others say it gives them a useful foundation across STEM fields. The college’s own workload study documented stress and fatigue among respondents, so the intensity is a real consideration rather than just a recruiting slogan. Experiences differ, and a small group of comments cannot predict an individual student’s fit. Ask current students how the core, advising, accommodations, mental-health resources, and time for activities work in practice.

Campus visit, contact and application

The main campus is at 301 Platt Boulevard, Claremont, CA 91711. The general college number is (909) 621-8000; the Office of Admission is at (909) 621-8011 and publishes office hours of 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Campus tours and information sessions require advance registration through the admissions site. Visitors should check in with the Office of Admission, and prospective students can register for a tour or request an in-person or virtual visit. The college’s admissions page links to the application, deadlines, and financial-aid process.