Harvey Mudd College is a highly selective STEM-focused liberal arts college within the Claremont Colleges consortium, known for producing graduates with the highest mid-career salaries of any liberal arts college. Despite enrolling fewer than 900 students, its rigorous engineering, computer science, and mathematics programs rival those of much larger technical universities.
Mascot: Stag
Notable Alumni
Kathryn Thornton (NASA astronaut)•George Nelson (NASA astronaut)•Stan Love (NASA astronaut)
At a Glance
Cost
Published sticker prices for 2025-2026. Actual cost after aid varies.
Top Programs & National Ranking
Approximate national ranking based on departmental rankings, research output, and program reputation.
Highlights
Athletics
Campus Experience
Harvey Mudd students spend roughly 45 hours per week on coursework — more than a full-time job — and 'sleep deprivation' is practically campus slang. There's no Greek life; dorms are the social unit, each with its own distinct personality and traditions. The Claremont Consortium provides escape valves to the other four colleges, but most Mudders bond through shared academic suffering and the collaborative ethos that makes the brutal workload survivable.
A small, modern campus benefiting from the Claremont Colleges' shared landscaping and mountain backdrop, though its own mid-century concrete buildings are more functional than beautiful.
Based on Niche reviews, Princeton Review surveys, student forums, and institutional data.
Safety
Benefits from the shared Claremont Colleges safety infrastructure with 24/7 dispatch, patrols, and the LiveSafe app. Low reported crime on the small, tight-knit campus.
Claremont is a safe, walkable suburb with low violent crime. The college consortium area is well-patrolled and the broader community is affluent and family-oriented.
Based on Clery Act data, student surveys, and local crime statistics.
Plan Your Visit
Schedule: Weekdays during the academic year; select dates in summer
Duration: ~60 minutes
Student-led tours provide a walkthrough of the college and its resources. Group tours (5-25 students) must be booked two weeks in advance. Most guests spend about an hour on campus.
Book a TourCheck in at the Office of Admission to receive a virtual self-guided tour pamphlet for an outdoor walking tour. No registration required for self-guided visits.
Tour ResourcesOctober-November or March-April when classes are in session and the weather is warm. Try to visit during the 5-Class Competition or Frosh/Soph Games for peak campus energy. Avoid finals and winter break.
Free visitor parking at the Office of Admission on campus. Ontario Airport (ONT) is 20 minutes away and much easier than LAX. Metrolink commuter rail stops at Claremont station, a 10-minute walk. LAX is 35+ miles west (1-2 hours in LA traffic).
Location
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