Harvey Mudd College is one of the most distinctive and rigorous undergraduate institutions in the country, combining STEM intensity with a deep commitment to the humanities, social sciences, and the common good. As part of the Claremont Colleges, Harvey Mudd students enjoy both an intimate technical college environment and the broader opportunities of the 5C consortium.

The college is especially renowned for engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics, and exceptional career outcomes. Its curriculum is famously demanding, but students benefit from close collaboration, excellent teaching, and strong support structures.

Harvey Mudd is ideal for students who love math and science and want to pursue them at the highest level without giving up the breadth and values of a liberal arts education.

What are Harvey Mudd College looking for?

Harvey Mudd seeks students with exceptional quantitative preparation, intellectual curiosity, resilience, collaboration, and a desire to use science and engineering in service of society. Academic rigor and community fit both matter significantly.

Admissions Statistics

ADMISSION INFORMATION

APPLICATION DATES & DEADLINES

Additional essay questions of the application.

Supplemental Essays (2025–2026 Application Cycle)

Essay 1

Harvey Mudd College seeks to educate engineers, scientists, and mathematicians well versed in all of these areas and in the humanities, social sciences, and the arts so that they may assume leadership in their fields with a clear understanding of the impact of their work on society. – HMC Mission Statement.

“Scientific research is a human endeavor. The choices of topics that we research are based on our biases, our beliefs, and what we bring: our cultures and our families. The kinds of problems that people put their talents to solving depends on their values.” – Dr. Clifton Poodry.

HMC’s collaborative community is guided by our mission statement. Through an intentional interdisciplinary curriculum, our students seek to build a skillset adaptable to society’s needs. How has your own background influenced the types of problems you want to solve, the people you want to work with, and the impact you hope your work can have?

(500 words or fewer)

Essay 2

Many students choose HMC because they don’t want to give up their interests in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts — or HSA as we call it at HMC. Briefly describe what you’d like to learn about in your dream HSA class. Your class can either be one chosen from existing classes at HMC, or you are welcome to create your own.

(100 words or fewer)