Cal Poly vs. HMC

Deciding between California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo and Harvey Mudd College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Harvey Mudd College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CA
  • HMC Claremont, CA
  • Setting
  • Cal Poly Small Suburban
  • HMC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Cal Poly 23,069
  • HMC 951
  • Type
  • Cal Poly Public 4 Year
  • HMC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cal Poly #151
  • HMC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cal Poly -
  • HMC -
  • Status
  • Cal Poly Non-profit
  • HMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cal Poly
  • HMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cal Poly $13,596
  • HMC $68,613
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cal Poly $34,665
  • HMC $68,613
  • Room & Board
  • Cal Poly $18,792
  • HMC $22,318
  • Average Net Price
  • Cal Poly $17,453
  • HMC $43,966
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cal Poly $14,338
  • HMC $46,199
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cal Poly 48%
  • HMC 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cal Poly 68,371
  • HMC 5,094
  • Admitted
  • Cal Poly 21,416
  • HMC 645
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cal Poly 31.3%
  • HMC 12.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Cal Poly 24.6%
  • HMC 35.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cal Poly 1320
  • HMC 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cal Poly 29
  • HMC 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cal Poly 4.0
  • HMC 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cal Poly A/A+
  • HMC A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cal Poly Very High
  • HMC Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cal Poly High
  • HMC Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Cal Poly 26/32
  • HMC 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • Cal Poly 1220/1410
  • HMC 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cal Poly Test-free
  • HMC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026
  • HMC Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cal Poly 19:1
  • HMC 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cal Poly
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Agriculture (15%)
    • Architecture (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • HMC
    • Engineering (42%)
    • Physical Sciences (18%)
    • Mathematics (13%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cal Poly 75%
  • HMC 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cal Poly $69,400
  • HMC $84,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cal Poly 85%
  • HMC -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cal Poly $18,666
  • HMC $25,540
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cal Poly $193
  • HMC $264

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cal Poly 49%
  • HMC 50%
  • % Women
  • Cal Poly 51%
  • HMC 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cal Poly High
  • HMC Very High
  • HBCU
  • Cal Poly No
  • HMC No
  • % White
  • Cal Poly 57%
  • HMC 38%
  • % Asian
  • Cal Poly 12%
  • HMC 20%
  • % Black
  • Cal Poly 1%
  • HMC 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cal Poly 16%
  • HMC 13%
  • % Native American
  • Cal Poly 0%
  • HMC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cal Poly 0%
  • HMC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cal Poly 7%
  • HMC 8%
  • % International
  • Cal Poly 2%
  • HMC 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cal Poly 5%
  • HMC 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cal Poly 83%
  • HMC 43%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cal Poly 17%
  • HMC 46%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Cal Poly Yes
  • HMC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Cal Poly No
  • HMC Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Cal Poly Yes
  • HMC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Cal Poly No
  • HMC No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Cal Poly Yes
  • HMC No

Comparable Facts

Compare California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in San Luis Obispo, CA with Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than HMC based on total student enrollment (23,069 students vs. 951 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is located in San Luis Obispo, CA (Small Suburban setting); Harvey Mudd College is in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Harvey Mudd College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 19:1; Harvey Mudd College 8:1.

Cal Poly vs. HMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly or HMC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo than HMC ($17,453 vs. $43,966).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo are 15.8% lower than at Harvey Mudd College ($18,792 vs. $22,318).
  • Harvey Mudd College is 404.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal Poly (about $55,017 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $13,596.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 97.9% higher at HMC than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (about $33,948 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $34,665.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvey Mudd College than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (64% vs. 48%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvey Mudd College students is 222.2% larger than aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students ($46,199 vs. $14,338).

Cal Poly vs. HMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly or HMC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between HMC and Cal Poly.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvey Mudd College (1540) is 220 points higher than at Cal Poly (1320).
  • Incoming HMC students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 29 at Cal Poly).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 1220/1410; Harvey Mudd College 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 26/32; Harvey Mudd College 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal Poly - Test-free; HMC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026; HMC Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at HMC (3.96).
  • Cal Poly has a higher acceptance rate (31.3%) than HMC (12.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.6% at Cal Poly vs. 35.8% at HMC.

Cal Poly vs. HMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal Poly and HMC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Harvey Mudd College's six-year graduation rate (84%) is higher than California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo's (75%).
  • Graduates from Harvey Mudd College earn a median of about $15,500 more per year than Cal Poly graduates about ten years after starting college ($84,900 vs. $69,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates have a $6,874 lower median loan debt than HMC graduates ($18,666 vs. $25,540).
  • Among borrowers, Cal Poly graduates have an estimated $71 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HMC graduates ($193 vs. $264).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.