Claremont Colleges facts for kids

The Claremont Colleges are a group of seven private colleges and universities located in Claremont, California, in the United States. People often call them the 7Cs for short. This group includes five colleges for undergraduate students (the 5Cs) and two schools for graduate students. The undergraduate colleges are Pomona College, Scripps College, Claremont McKenna College (CMC), Harvey Mudd College, and Pitzer College. The graduate schools are Claremont Graduate University (CGU) and Keck Graduate Institute (KGI).

Most of these colleges are right next to each other, covering a large area. They were started in 1925 by James A. Blaisdell, who was the president of Pomona College. He wanted to create a system like Oxford University in England. His idea was to offer the close-knit feel and special attention of small colleges, but with all the amazing resources of a big university.

Today, the Claremont Colleges have thousands of students and offer over 2,000 courses each semester. The colleges share many things, like a main library, campus safety, and health services. These shared services are managed by The Claremont Colleges Services (TCCS). Even though they share resources, each college has its own unique personality and focus. It's pretty hard to get into the Claremont Colleges because they are very selective. Many experts say they have some of the best learning resources in America.

Colleges

The five undergraduate colleges are:

• Pomona College (founded 1887) is the oldest and largest of the undergraduate schools. It welcomes both male and female students. It offers many different subjects in arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences.
• Scripps College (founded 1926) is a college specifically for women. It focuses on a wide range of subjects, especially in the humanities.
• Claremont McKenna College (founded 1946) started as a college for men. It became coeducational in 1976, meaning it now accepts both male and female students. It is known for its programs in government, business, and international studies.
• Harvey Mudd College (founded 1955) specializes in subjects like engineering, math, computer science, and physical and biological sciences. It also includes classes in humanities and social sciences.
• Pitzer College (founded 1963) is known for its unique teaching methods and its focus on social justice. Its main subjects are in the social sciences.

The two graduate universities are:

• Claremont Graduate University (founded 1925) offers master's and doctoral degrees in many different fields.
• Keck Graduate Institute (founded 1997) is a graduate school focused on biomedical sciences. This includes areas like applied life science, pharmacy, and health sciences.

The Claremont School of Theology (founded 1885) is connected to the consortium but is not a member college.

History

An exterior view of Pomona College in 1907, featuring its two earliest buildings: Sumner Hall (right) and Holmes Hall (left)

Before the Claremont Colleges existed, Pomona College was founded in 1887. A group of people wanted to create a college like those in New England on the West Coast. Pomona College moved to Claremont, California, after buying an unfinished hotel there.

In 1923, Pomona College was growing quickly. Its president, James Blaisdell, had an idea. Instead of becoming one huge university, he suggested creating a group of smaller, specialized colleges. This idea was inspired by famous universities like Oxford University and Cambridge. He wanted to keep the personal feel of a small college while still having the resources of a large university.

Construction of Eleanor Joy Toll Hall at Scripps, c. 1927

The Claremont Colleges officially began in 1925 with the addition of a graduate school, which is now Claremont Graduate University. Then, in 1926, Ellen Browning Scripps founded Scripps College. She wanted to create a school that would give women access to higher education. Scripps College opened its doors in 1927.

In 1946, Claremont McKenna College joined the group. It started as a college for men and later became coeducational in 1976. In 1955, Harvey Mudd College became the fifth college. It was founded by Harvey Seeley Mudd, who wanted a college focused on science and engineering.

Pitzer College joined in 1963. It was first a college for women focusing on social sciences, but it started accepting men in 1970. The last college to join the group was Keck Graduate Institute in 1997. This graduate school focuses on advanced biomedical studies.

In 2000, The Claremont Colleges Services was created. This organization helps all the colleges by providing support services and helping with future plans.

Reputation and Rankings

Getting into the Claremont Colleges is very competitive. Many of the undergraduate colleges are ranked among the top liberal arts colleges in the United States. For example, U.S. News & World Report often places Pomona College, Claremont McKenna College, and Harvey Mudd College very high on their lists. This shows how well-regarded these schools are for their strong academic programs.

Shared Facilities, Programs, and Resources

Honnold Library

Each college is independent, meaning students get their degrees from the college they attend. However, they all share many important services. The Claremont Colleges Services (TCCS) provides these shared resources. This includes things like the library, student health services, and campus safety.

The Claremont Colleges Library, also known as Honnold/Mudd Library, has millions of books and digital items. It's one of the largest library collections among private colleges in California.

The Tranquada Student Services Center

Other shared places include the Tranquada Student Services Center, which has a medical center and counseling services. There's also the Huntley Bookstore and many dining halls that all students can use. The Sontag Center for Collaborative Creativity, often called "the Hive," helps students learn in creative ways.

The colleges also share some academic departments. This means students from different colleges can take classes together in subjects like Women's Studies, Chicano Studies, and Africana Studies. There are also shared programs for students, such as the Office of Black Student Affairs and the Queer Resource Center.

Bernard Field Station, with the San Gabriel Mountains in the background

Three of the colleges—Claremont McKenna, Pitzer, and Scripps—even share a single science program called the Joint Science Department. They combine their resources to offer a strong science education. Many classes and research projects use the Robert J. Bernard Field Station, which is a natural area with a special ecosystem.

Experts in education often praise the Claremont Colleges for how well they work together. Their unique model has influenced other college groups.

Clubs and Organizations

Scenes from a Pomona spring dance concert

There are almost 300 clubs and organizations across the Claremont Colleges. Some clubs are just for one college, while others are open to students from all five or seven colleges.

Media

The largest student newspaper is The Student Life. It's the oldest college newspaper in Southern California and publishes weekly. Each college also has its own newspaper, like Scripps Voice and CMC Forum. Pomona College has a student-run radio station called KSPC.

Outdoors

An On the Loose hike descends from the summit of Mount Baldy toward the Devil's Backbone ridge in the San Gabriel Mountains north of campus.

On the Loose (OTL) is the outing club for the 5Cs. It organizes trips to outdoor places. A popular event is an annual hike up Mount Baldy, where students wear costumes or swimwear. The club also lends outdoor equipment for free.

Performance Groups

There are many dance groups on campus, including the Claremont Colleges Ballroom Dance Company (CCBDC). This group has won several national championships. The Pomona College Theater Department puts on plays and dance concerts every year. There are also student-run comedy groups.

A Cappella

The colleges have eight a cappella groups, which are singing groups that perform without instruments. One group, the Claremont Shades, hosts a big concert called SCAMFest. It brings together singers from other colleges in Southern California.

Athletics

A Pomona-Pitzer football game

Students from Pomona College and Pitzer College compete together as the Pomona-Pitzer (PP) Sagehens. Students from Claremont McKenna College, Harvey Mudd College, and Scripps College compete together as the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) Stags (for male teams) and Athenas (for female teams).

These teams play in NCAA Division III in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC). Both Pomona-Pitzer and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps teams are known for their strong performance in sports.

Club and Intramural Sports

Besides the official varsity teams, there are also many club sports teams for students.

• The Claremont Centaurs roller hockey club has won several championships.
• The men's and women's rugby union teams have competed in national championships. The men's team, the Claremont Colleges Lions, won national titles in 2010, 2017, and 2019.
• The women's ultimate (Frisbee) team has reached Nationals many times and won the tournament in 2012. The men's ultimate frisbee team also won a national championship in 2011.
• Other club sports include men's lacrosse, field hockey, crew, and cycling.