Key Dates and Deadlines
CGU operates on a priority deadline cycle. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit complete applications by the priority dates in order to assure maximum consideration for both admission and fellowships.
Once the priority deadlines have passed, the University will continue to review applications for qualified candidates on a competitive, space-available basis. The final deadlines listed are the last date the University can accept an application in order to allow sufficient time to complete the admissions, financial aid, and other enrollment processes.
Fall 2017
| Priority Deadline | February 1, 2017 |
| Final Deadline | July 1, 2017 (International applicants) August 15, 2017 |
| First Day of Classes | August 28, 2017 |
Spring 2018
| Priority Deadline | November 1, 2017 |
| Final Deadline | December 1, 2017 (International applicants) January 2, 2018 |
| First Day of Classes | January 16, 2018 |
Application Checklist
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. For priority admission and fellowship consideration, applications should be submitted by the priority deadlines.
All supporting documents should be sent to Claremont Graduate University at the following address:
CGU Office of Admissions
160 E. Tenth Street
Claremont, CA 91711
Required application materials include:
This application is part of the ApplyYourself Application Network. You will create a Username and Password so that you can return to work on your application over several sessions. Your information is transmitted through a secured server and is kept confidential until you submit your application. Only after you submit your application will it be available for review by our admissions staff.
The application fee is non-refundable.
Unless otherwise noted in the program-specific instructions, please follow these guidelines when writing your statement of purpose:
Please submit a 2-3 page statement of purpose that details your academic and/or professional achievements, your specific areas of interest within your desired field of study, why you are a strong candidate for graduate studies at CGU, and your career goals.
Applicants must submit a sealed, official transcript from every undergraduate and graduate institution that has granted the applicant a degree. For undergraduate coursework, applicants are required to submit proof of a completed bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
Applicants currently earning a degree that will be completed prior to attending CGU are required to submit a transcript showing work in progress for evaluation purposes. Once the degree has been granted, a final official transcript documenting the degree conferred must be submitted to CGU.
International applicants are advised to review the International Transcript Guidelines for additional information on submitting international transcripts.
Applicants must submit a copy of their resume.
TOEFL or IELTS scores are required of all applicants who meet all the following criteria:
- Whose native language is not English;
- Who are not citizens or permanent residents of countries where English is the sole official language of instruction, e.g., Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Canada (except Québec), England, Ghana, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, New Zealand, Nigeria, Scotland, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad, Tobago, Uganda, and Wales (see the CGU Bulletin for a complete list of accepted countries); and
- Who do not hold an undergraduate or advanced degree, or will not have earned such a degree prior to enrolling at CGU, from an institution in the U.S. or in countries where English is the sole official language of instruction (see above).
CGU’s school code for the TOEFL exam is 4053.
When filling out the online application, please list three non-family references acquainted with your potential for success who will submit a written recommendation on your behalf. In most academic departments, references from faculty members are preferred; applicants with substantial work experience may request professional references.
You will be required to input information for your recommenders (whether they are submitting online or not) in the “Recommendations” section of the online application. Please follow the directions in this section carefully before clicking on “Recommendation Provider List” to input the names and contact information for each recommender. You will have an opportunity to indicate if the reference writer will be submitting online. These reference writers will receive an email from CGU with instructions on submitting an online recommendation.
Recommenders who are indicated as offline will not receive an email from CGU with instructions to submit. These reference writers can submit via traditional mail and should use the supplemental New Student Recommendation Form. Recommenders can also email their letter of recommendation to the Office of Admissions at admissions@cgu.edu.
Program-specific Application requirements
Applicants to the Art Department must electronically upload a portfolio of representative work for evaluation. Portfolios will only be accepted through the online service provided by SlideRoom, www.claremont.slideroom.com. Portfolios should consist of 15 images of recent artwork that represent a cohesive body of work. Performance and/or video artists may submit work that is no longer than 3 minutes in length.
Summary educational information, the names of your three references, and a copy of your one-page artist statement will also need to be provided with your SlideRoom portfolio submission.
Provide a one-page artist statement (no longer than 500 words) in lieu of the 2-3 page statement of purpose. Submit this statement with your SlideRoom portfolio submission.