Scripps College

Scripps College is a private, nonprofit liberal arts college for women in Claremont, California. Its small undergraduate campus sits within the shared Claremont Colleges community, where students can take courses across the consortium while keeping a home college, adviser and degree requirements at Scripps. This arrangement gives students access to a wider course and activity network, but it also means a class listed by another campus may have different prerequisites, travel time or enrollment limits. Scripps is best suited to applicants who want a women-centered undergraduate experience and are ready to take an active role in shaping an interdisciplinary education.

Majors, courses and the Claremont consortium

The college lists more than 65 majors and programs. Options include biology, English, environmental analysis, media studies, neuroscience, politics and psychology, alongside interdisciplinary study and opportunities to build an off-campus major. Scripps emphasizes a humanities core and a senior thesis or project, so students should expect substantial reading, writing and independent work in addition to coursework in their major. Through the Claremont Colleges, students can cross-register at the other undergraduate colleges and use shared academic resources; access is subject to each course’s rules and available seats. Review the current majors and department directory and the consortium guide to see how a specific program uses cross-registration.

Admissions and paying for college

Scripps reports that it meets 100% of each student’s institutionally determined financial need. The college says about 60% of students receive grant or scholarship aid, with an average need-based award of $56,301; these are college-wide figures, not a promise about an individual offer. First-year applicants are automatically considered for Scripps merit scholarships, which the college lists at $15,000–$30,000 per year for four years, subject to each award’s conditions. Need-based applicants must complete the required aid forms and meet the published deadlines. Scripps also says that, beginning in 2027–28, eligible families with income of $250,000 or less and typical assets will receive at least $30,000 in Scripps Grant aid; that future commitment should not be mistaken for the current 2026–27 aid rules. Use the official financial aid information and its net-price calculator to assess your own circumstances.

2026–27 cost to compare

For full-time, degree-seeking students, Scripps lists 2026–27 tuition and fees of $70,926. Its on-campus cost-of-attendance estimate is $97,574–$98,574, including an allowance for housing, food, books, personal expenses and transportation. The student health insurance premium is separate unless added to the estimate, and loan fees may apply to borrowers. These figures combine billed charges with estimated living costs, so they are not all amounts paid directly to the college. Compare them with your actual grant and scholarship offer—not just the published award maximum. Check the college’s current cost-of-attendance table for updates and off-campus budgets.

Campus, address and visiting

Main campus: 1030 N Columbia Ave, Claremont, CA 91711; telephone (909) 621-8000. Scripps asks visitors to register for a guided or self-guided campus tour. Its visit portal says self-guided tours are available between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.; guided tours and information sessions depend on the date and require advance registration. Plan the visit through the official campus visit page rather than assuming general walk-in access. Scripps is the undergraduate home campus; the broader consortium has other campuses nearby, but they are separate institutions with their own admissions and facilities.

What students and visitors tend to notice

Comments about Scripps often highlight the gardens and architecture, close student friendships, small classes and professors who are accessible outside class. Those strengths matter most to students who enjoy a residential, discussion-oriented setting and are comfortable finding their own path through a small college. Public student reviews also raise concerns about housing availability in later years, social inclusion and the cost of attending; such experiences vary, and they are useful prompts for specific questions rather than a verdict on every student’s experience. Ask admissions and current students about housing guarantees, campus support, cross-registration logistics and the net cost for your family. A broader range of student perspectives is available in Scripps College student reviews.