“A graduate-only research university reimagining advanced education through interdisciplinary inquiry.”
Claremont Graduate University (CGU) is a private, graduate-only research university located in Claremont, California, and a member of the prestigious Claremont Colleges consortium — seven independent institutions sharing a 550-acre campus in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Founded in 1925 as the second institution of the Claremont Colleges, CGU has grown into a nationally recognized center for advanced study, awarding master's and doctoral degrees across 31 disciplines through seven distinct academic units. Its Peter Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management, School of Educational Studies, School of Arts and Humanities, School of Social Science Policy and Evaluation, School of Community and Global Health, Center for Information Systems and Technology, and Institute of Mathematical Sciences represent a diverse portfolio of graduate study that bridges theory and professional practice. CGU is distinguished by its commitment to interdisciplinary learning and its human-centered approach to knowledge. The university's graduate programs are deliberately small in scale, with roughly 2,000 master's and doctoral students benefiting from close faculty mentorship and cross-disciplinary collaboration. International students constitute nearly 19% of the student body, representing more than 77 countries, making CGU one of the most internationally diverse graduate institutions in the Claremont Colleges consortium. Its location in Claremont provides easy access to the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area, a hub for industries ranging from entertainment and technology to finance and healthcare. Academically, CGU is particularly well regarded for management education rooted in the legacy of Peter Drucker, the father of modern management, whose ideas continue to define the Drucker School's approach to leadership and organizational theory. The university also excels in applied psychology, educational leadership, information systems, and public policy. Graduates go on to careers across education, research, nonprofit and government sectors, and private industry, equipped with both disciplinary expertise and collaborative problem-solving skills cultivated through CGU's integrative academic environment.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
National Universities
US News 2026
Test Required — All applicants must submit SAT or ACT scores.
Official SourceFall Admission
Deadlines vary by program; check individual program pages at cgu.edu/admissions
Spring Admission
Selected programs accept spring applicants on a rolling basis
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
$24,000 – $50,000
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$26,000 – $52,000
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Offers MBA and management degrees grounded in Peter Drucker's human-centered management philosophy, bridging leadership with technology and science.
Prepares educators, researchers, and policy leaders through doctoral and master's programs focused on educational practice and systemic change.
Interdisciplinary programs spanning art, history, religion, cultural studies, English, music, and archival studies.
Graduate study in political science, psychology, economics, and applied program evaluation.
STEM-designated programs in data science, information systems, and technology management.
Prepares public health and health policy leaders for global and community-level challenges.
Research-focused graduate training in pure and applied mathematics.
2 years
Built on Peter Drucker's legacy, this MBA emphasizes human-centered leadership, strategy, and the interplay of technology and management. Suited for early-career professionals bridging business and STEM fields.
5 years
One of CGU's most prominent research programs, offering specializations in cognitive, developmental, and applied psychology within a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment.
2 years
A STEM-designated program integrating data science, systems design, and technology management, qualifying international graduates for the 24-month OPT STEM extension.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
