School Spotlight: Harvey Mudd College

Nestled in Claremont, California, the tiny liberal arts school, Harvey Mudd College, is one of the U.S.A’s most exclusive and elite institutions of higher education. It is, however, part of the Claremont Colleges system, sharing resources with the other highly-ranked colleges in the area, and giving students opportunities usually absent in such a small college. While the college focuses on mathematics and the biological & physical sciences, it also offers a Humanities & Arts division where students can take courses to ensure a broader education.

Academically, standards are exceptionally high. Average SAT scores and high-school achievements rival those of the Ivies, and Harvey Mudd College was anointed one of the “new Ivies” in 2006 by Kaplan. 

Students complete a Common Core curriculum—nearly 2 years of “boot camp” work in math, engineering, computer science, and the sciences—before choosing a major. As a result, Harvey Mudd students are well prepared for graduate school as well as the workplace. Evidence of this is in the fact that, for a long time, Harvey Mudd boasted the highest percentage of graduates earning Ph.D.’s, while simultaneously providing its students with America’s highest average salary upon leaving.

In their junior and senior years, students often participate in the highly regarded Clinic program. Students conduct supervised and team projects especially for major industrial leaders, garnering high-level research and professional training while still in college. Since 2005, this program has expanded around the world, giving students unparalleled access to major companies early in their career.

Two-thirds of Harvey Mudd students major in Computer Science or Engineering, with smaller numbers in Biology, Chemistry, Math and Physics. There is minimal grade inflation at Harvey Mudd, which takes its reputation as an academically challenging institution seriously. Students are pushed to achieve, collaborate, and innovate. Classes are geared toward project-type work, giving students real-world experience throughout their time at Harvey Mudd. 

As you might imagine, intercollegiate sports are not a huge part of campus life. However, Harvey Mudd teams up with Claremont McKenna College and Scripps to field united teams, known as the Stags or Athenas. Students participate in inter-dorm sporting events and a wide variety of frequently zany and old-fashioned events such as unicycle racing, beach days etc. Student life tends to center around the dorms, and students have great freedom regarding where they live, giving dorms their own personalities and traditions. Harvey Mudd’s students also take great pride in pranking their siblings up the road at Caltech, proving that nerds know how to have more fun, and have pulled off several excellent plots over the years.  

College Facts:

Aid History for International Students: Good 

Harvey Mudd SAT Scores

The average SAT score composite at Harvey Mudd is 1520

Verbal: 680-780 

Math: 740-800  

Popular Majors: 

Computer Science Major 

Bachelor of Engineering 

Bachelor in Mathematics 

Bachelor in Chemistry 

Bachelor in Physics 

College Strengths: Academic Quality, Industry Interaction, post-college opportunities 

College Weaknesses: Size, you will be called a nerd, Harvey Mudd students are known as Mudders 

Collegify Recommendation: Highest Recommendation.