Harvey Mudd College

Harvey Mudd College is part of the seven-college consortium known as The Claremont Colleges, located in Claremont, California. The institution is considered one of the top colleges for undergraduate degrees in math, science, and engineering. The student population is just over 900 and students do have the opportunity to interact with individuals from other Claremont College campuses. Founded in 1955, students can benefit from being in a suburban environment only 35 miles from downtown Los Angeles. This proximity to a major city has helped with placements for internships and employment opportunities after graduation.

The college offers Bachelor of Science degrees in math, science, and engineering, and students can take classes from the other schools including Scripps College, Claremont McKenna College, Pomona College, and Pitzer College. The most popular majors are engineering; computer and information sciences and support services; physical sciences; mathematics and statistics; and biological and biomedical sciences. Class sizes remain fairly small, with a student to faculty ratio of around 9 to 1 and approximately 60% of classes have less than 20 students.

There are several sections of the curriculum that are required for all undergrads: the Common Core; a program in Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts; and the Major coursework. All of these areas enable students to become proficient in oral and written communication, computational skills, and experience with a research or design project. Harvey Mudd College students become engaged in their studies through the Clinic Program. Teams of students work for a year on a project suggested by a specific company, national laboratory, or entrepreneurs. Students give regular reports on their progress and present a final product at the end of the year. Many students are recruited by these companies after they graduate.

There are a variety of opportunities outside of the classroom. Roughly 68% of students take part in internships or undergraduate research projects during their undergrad years. There is also a wide selection of student organizations ranging in topics as diverse as a break-dancing club and the Harvey Wallbangers Climbing Club. Harvey Mudd College students also compete in athletic programs with Claremont McKenna College and Scripps College teams. They currently participate in the NCAA Division III varsity sports teams in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

All freshmen live on campus and about 97% of the older students choose to remain in college housing throughout their four years. There are nine residence halls where students can live, and this closeness creates a strong bond among Harvey Mudd students. Students looking for a liberal arts college focusing on math, science or engineering should look into Harvey Mudd College’s extensive programs.