Cal State Long Beach vs. HMC

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Long Beach is larger than HMC based on total student enrollment (42,003 students vs. 951 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Long Beach is located in Long Beach, CA (Large City setting); Harvey Mudd College is in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• California State University Long Beach is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Harvey Mudd College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Long Beach 23:1; Harvey Mudd College 8:1.

Cal State Long Beach vs. HMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State Long Beach 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 State University Long Beach than HMC ($10,607 vs. $43,966).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Long Beach are 30% lower than at Harvey Mudd College ($15,612 vs. $22,318).
• Harvey Mudd College is 833.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State Long Beach (about $61,263 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $7,350.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 243.9% higher at HMC than at California State University Long Beach (about $48,663 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $19,950.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Long Beach than at Harvey Mudd College (76% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Harvey Mudd College students is 291.7% larger than aid received by California State University Long Beach students ($46,199 vs. $11,795).

Cal State Long Beach vs. HMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State Long Beach 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 State Long Beach.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvey Mudd College (1540) is 410 points higher than at Cal State Long Beach (1130).
• Incoming HMC students have a 12 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 23 at Cal State Long Beach).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Long Beach 1020/1240; Harvey Mudd College 1500/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Long Beach 20/26; Harvey Mudd College 34/36.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State Long Beach - Test-free; HMC - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026; HMC Jan 5, 2027.
• Accepted freshman HMC students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Cal State Long Beach (3.7).
• Cal State Long Beach has a higher acceptance rate (46.3%) than HMC (12.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Cal State Long Beach vs. 35.8% at HMC.

Cal State Long Beach vs. HMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State Long Beach 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 State University Long Beach's (54%).
• Graduates from Harvey Mudd College earn a median of about $33,800 more per year than Cal State Long Beach graduates about ten years after starting college ($84,900 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Long Beach graduates have a $10,540 lower median loan debt than HMC graduates ($15,000 vs. $25,540).
• Among borrowers, Cal State Long Beach graduates have an estimated $109 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HMC graduates ($155 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.