Claremont, California — USA
Harvey Mudd College
One of the most elite STEM colleges in America meets 100% of demonstrated need — but only for a very limited number of admitted international freshmen, and admission is need-aware. International transfers get no aid at all.
Last updated July 2026. Always confirm details on the school's official page before applying.
Harvey Mudd College, a member of the Claremont Colleges consortium in California, is one of the most rigorous STEM-focused undergraduate institutions in the United States. For international students, Harvey Mudd meets 100% of demonstrated financial need through its International Student Scholarship — but this need-based funding is awarded to only a very limited number of admitted international freshmen each year. There is also a competitive, merit-based 'So International Scholarship'. The critical thing to understand: Harvey Mudd is need-aware for international applicants. The admissions committee sees your aid request, and because so few international aid awards exist, requesting financial aid meaningfully lowers your odds in an already highly selective process. International transfer students receive no financial aid whatsoever — they may only apply if they can fully self-fund.
At a glance
- SAT Required
- No — Harvey Mudd is test-optional. International freshmen are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores.
- English Proficiency Required
- Yes — required for non-native English speakers. TOEFL iBT 100, IELTS Academic 7.5, Duolingo 130, or Cambridge C1/C2 (190/200) are the minimums.
- Apply With CSS Profile
- Yes — the CSS Profile is required for need-based aid (school code 4341).
- CSS Fee Waiver
- No CSS fee waivers for international students — with one narrow exception.
- CSS Waiver Type
- There is no standard CSS fee waiver for internationals. Only if your home country strictly prohibits online currency processing or CSS submission can you request the paper International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA) instead.
- Acceptance Rate (Freshman)
- ~12–13% overall, and significantly lower for aid-seeking international students
- Application Fee (Freshman)
- $70 — a waiver is available through the Common App or Coalition App for students facing severe financial hardship.
- Transfer Students
- Accepted, but with ZERO financial aid for international transfers. International transfer students may only apply if they can entirely self-fund their education.
- Acceptance Rate (Transfer)
- ~3–6% (very few transfers admitted)
- Application Fee (Transfer)
- $70
What “full scholarship” means here
This school guarantees it will meet 100% of your demonstrated financial need. In simple English: if you get accepted and you've applied for financial aid and you don't have any money to attend, they can give you a full scholarship to cover your cost of attendance. Both conditions matter — and the CSS Profile is how you prove your need.
Harvey Mudd International Student Scholarship (100% demonstrated need)
Need-based · Bachelor's
What it covers
- 100% of your demonstrated financial need, for the very limited number of international freshmen awarded aid
Who qualifies
Admitted international freshman applicants who apply for financial aid. Harvey Mudd meets 100% of demonstrated need, but awards need-based aid to only a very limited number of international students each year. Admissions is need-aware for internationals — requesting aid lowers your acceptance odds in an already highly selective pool, so the rest of your application must be exceptional. A separate, competitive merit-based 'So International Scholarship' is also offered. International transfer students are not eligible for any aid.
Key deadlines
How to apply
- 1Apply through the Common Application or Coalition Application ($70 fee — a waiver is available for severe financial hardship), and complete the Harvey Mudd writing supplement.
- 2Submit official high school transcripts, with certified English translations if the originals aren't in English.
- 3Provide one counselor recommendation and two teacher recommendations — one from a math or science teacher, and one from a humanities, arts, or social sciences teacher.
- 4Submit English proficiency scores unless you're a native English speaker (TOEFL iBT 100, IELTS Academic 7.5, Duolingo 130, or Cambridge C1/C2 at 190/200).
- 5Complete the CSS Profile (school code 4341) and the International Student Certification of Finances to apply for aid. There are no CSS fee waivers for internationals, except that if your home country strictly prohibits online currency processing or CSS submission, you may request the paper ISFAA instead.
Good to know
- Harvey Mudd meets 100% of demonstrated need, but need-based aid goes to only a very limited number of admitted international freshmen each year — and because admissions is need-aware, requesting aid lowers your acceptance odds in an already highly selective process.
- There are no CSS Profile fee waivers for international students. The only exception: if your home country strictly prohibits online currency processing or CSS submission, you can request the paper International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA) instead.
- International transfer students receive no financial aid of any kind — they may only apply if they can fully self-fund. Transfer admission is extremely competitive (~3–6%). Transfer applicants need the Common App for Transfer, all post-secondary transcripts, final high school transcripts, a College Instructor Recommendation and a College Report, English proficiency scores, and the International Student Certification of Finances proving 100% self-funding.
Frequently asked questions
Does Harvey Mudd College give full scholarships to international students?
Yes — for a very limited number of admitted international freshmen. Harvey Mudd meets 100% of demonstrated financial need through its International Student Scholarship, and also offers a competitive merit-based 'So International Scholarship'. But need-based awards go to only a small number of international students each year, and admissions is need-aware, so requesting aid makes an already highly selective process even more competitive. International transfer students receive no aid at all.
Is Harvey Mudd need-blind for international students?
No — Harvey Mudd is need-aware for international applicants. The admissions committee sees your financial aid request when deciding whether to admit you, and because so few international aid awards are available, requesting a full scholarship lowers your acceptance odds — which are already low for aid-seeking international students.
Does Harvey Mudd require the SAT for international students?
No. Harvey Mudd is test-optional, so international freshman applicants are not required to submit SAT or ACT scores.
Does Harvey Mudd require an English proficiency exam for international students?
Yes. English proficiency testing is required for applicants who are not native English speakers. The accepted exams and minimum scores are TOEFL iBT 100, IELTS Academic 7.5, Duolingo English Test 130, or Cambridge C1/C2 (190/200).
Is there a CSS Profile fee waiver for international students at Harvey Mudd?
No. Harvey Mudd does not offer CSS Profile fee waivers to international students. The one exception is if your home country strictly prohibits online currency processing or CSS submission — in that case you may request the paper International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA) instead. The CSS Profile school code is 4341.
What is Harvey Mudd's acceptance rate?
Freshman admission is roughly 12–13% overall, and significantly lower for aid-seeking international students. Transfer admission is even more competitive at around 3–6%, with very few students admitted.
Does Harvey Mudd accept international transfer students with full funding?
No. Harvey Mudd provides no financial aid to international transfer students. International transfers may only apply if they can entirely self-fund their education, and must submit the International Student Certification of Finances proving 100% self-funding. Transfer admission is extremely competitive at around 3–6%.
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