What Verdica's 802 score means for Claremont McKenna College
Claremont McKenna College's composite score of 802 out of 850 places it in the "excellent" band (800–850), reflecting strong regulatory standing across the three dimensions Verdica tracks. This score indicates that the institution meets or exceeds baseline compliance requirements set by federal and state education regulators, with particularly solid performance in accreditation and regulatory adherence.
For someone evaluating this institution—whether as a prospective student, parent, employer, or business partner—an 802 score signals low regulatory risk. The college is not under investigation for major violations, maintains required licensing and accreditation, and produces outcomes data that regulators review as part of Title IV oversight. It is not a guarantee of academic quality or fit, but it does mean the institution operates within the legal and accreditation frameworks that protect students and federal loan disbursements.
The gap between 802 and a perfect 850 suggests room for improvement in one or more compliance areas, most likely student outcomes metrics, but nothing that rises to a warning level.
How the sub-scores break down
Accreditation: 820
This sub-score reflects the institution's standing with its regional or national accreditor. A score of 820 (strong-to-excellent range) indicates that Claremont McKenna holds valid accreditation, has not received a sanctions notice, and meets the accreditor's standards for institutional quality. Accreditors review curriculum, faculty credentials, student support services, and financial stability. A higher accreditation score generally means fewer compliance findings or conditions during the most recent accreditation review.
Student Outcomes: 760
This metric draws from IPEDS data—graduation rates, retention rates, and employment outcomes that institutions report to the U.S. Department of Education. A score of 760 places this sub-dimension in the "strong" range but is the lowest of the three. In the education industry, lower outcomes scores can reflect challenges in student retention, longer time-to-degree, or lower employment placement rates relative to peer institutions. It does not indicate fraud or illegal practice; rather, it may suggest operational or pedagogical challenges worth investigating further if enrollment or job placement is a priority for your decision.
Compliance: 830
This sub-score covers Title IV program integrity—the federal rules governing student loan disbursement, financial aid administration, and reporting accuracy. A score of 830 is excellent and indicates that Claremont McKenna has submitted required financial and enrollment data accurately, maintains proper loan servicing and default management, and has not incurred sanctions, fines, or loss of federal aid eligibility. Institutions that score poorly in this dimension often have administrative errors, loan default rates above federal thresholds, or substantive violations flagged by the Department of Education.
What regulators in CA track for education providers
California and federal regulators oversee higher education providers through three main mechanisms:
Accreditation is conducted by regional bodies (in California's case, typically the WASC Senior College and University Commission) that evaluate institutional mission, governance, resources, and learning outcomes every six to ten years. Accreditors can place institutions on probation, issue show-cause orders, or revoke accreditation if standards are not met.
Title IV Compliance is enforced by the U.S. Department of Education and covers student loan and grant administration. Regulators audit financial aid offices, review default cohort rates, and investigate misreporting of enrollment or completion data. Violations can result in repayment demands, loss of Title IV eligibility, or criminal referral.
IPEDS Data is the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, a mandatory federal reporting requirement. Institutions report enrollment, graduation rates, employment outcomes, and financial metrics. Inaccuracy can trigger audits or sanctions.
Scores move down when institutions receive accreditation warnings, default rates spike, federal audits find aid administration errors, or outcome reporting is corrected downward.
Bottom line
Claremont McKenna College's 802 score reflects solid compliance and regulatory standing, with accreditation and Title IV performance as clear strengths. The student outcomes score suggests this is an area worth reviewing directly—check current graduation and employment data on the college's own website or IPEDS to understand whether outcomes align with your goals.