Claremont McKenna vs. Reed

Deciding between Claremont McKenna College and Reed 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.

Claremont McKenna College
Reed College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Claremont McKenna Claremont, CA
  • Reed Portland, OR
  • Setting
  • Claremont McKenna Large Suburban
  • Reed Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Claremont McKenna 1,393
  • Reed 1,358
  • Type
  • Claremont McKenna Private 4 Year
  • Reed Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Claremont McKenna #17
  • Reed #77
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Claremont McKenna -
  • Reed -
  • Status
  • Claremont McKenna Non-profit
  • Reed Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Claremont McKenna
  • Reed
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Claremont McKenna $67,980
  • Reed $69,350
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Claremont McKenna $67,980
  • Reed $69,350
  • Room & Board
  • Claremont McKenna $20,830
  • Reed $17,660
  • Average Net Price
  • Claremont McKenna $33,895
  • Reed $30,953
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Claremont McKenna $52,605
  • Reed $55,445
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Claremont McKenna 43%
  • Reed 58%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Claremont McKenna 6,529
  • Reed 9,431
  • Admitted
  • Claremont McKenna 626
  • Reed 2,321
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Claremont McKenna 9.6%
  • Reed 24.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Claremont McKenna 53.8%
  • Reed 13.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Claremont McKenna 1520
  • Reed 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • Claremont McKenna 34
  • Reed 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • Claremont McKenna 3.89
  • Reed 4.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Claremont McKenna A
  • Reed A/A+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Claremont McKenna Elite
  • Reed Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Claremont McKenna Very High
  • Reed High
  • ACT Range
  • Claremont McKenna 33/35
  • Reed 30/34
  • SAT Range
  • Claremont McKenna 1470/1560
  • Reed 1290/1520
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Claremont McKenna Test optional
  • Reed Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Claremont McKenna Jan 5, 2027
  • Reed
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Claremont McKenna 8:1
  • Reed 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Claremont McKenna
    • Social Sciences (44%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Business (7%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • Reed
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Foreign Languages (15%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Claremont McKenna 91%
  • Reed 80%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Claremont McKenna $97,800
  • Reed $47,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Claremont McKenna -
  • Reed 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Claremont McKenna $14,967
  • Reed $16,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Claremont McKenna $154
  • Reed $165
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Claremont McKenna 50%
  • Reed 42%
  • % Women
  • Claremont McKenna 50%
  • Reed 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Claremont McKenna Very High
  • Reed Medium
  • HBCU
  • Claremont McKenna No
  • Reed No
  • % White
  • Claremont McKenna 42%
  • Reed 60%
  • % Asian
  • Claremont McKenna 10%
  • Reed 5%
  • % Black
  • Claremont McKenna 4%
  • Reed 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • Claremont McKenna 14%
  • Reed 11%
  • % Native American
  • Claremont McKenna 0%
  • Reed 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Claremont McKenna 0%
  • Reed 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Claremont McKenna 7%
  • Reed 8%
  • % International
  • Claremont McKenna 17%
  • Reed 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Claremont McKenna 6%
  • Reed 5%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Claremont McKenna 41%
  • Reed 16%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Claremont McKenna 42%
  • Reed 77%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Claremont McKenna Yes
  • Reed Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Claremont McKenna No
  • Reed No
  • Meal Plan
  • Claremont McKenna Yes
  • Reed Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Claremont McKenna No
  • Reed No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Claremont McKenna No
  • Reed No

Comparable Facts

Compare Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, CA with Reed College in Portland, OR on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Claremont McKenna College is larger than Reed based on total student enrollment (1,393 students vs. 1,358 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Claremont McKenna College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); Reed College is in Portland, OR (Large City setting).
  • Claremont McKenna College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Reed College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Claremont McKenna College 8:1; Reed College 9:1.

Claremont McKenna vs. Reed Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Claremont McKenna or Reed? 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 Reed College than Claremont McKenna ($30,953 vs. $33,895).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Reed College are 15.2% lower than at Claremont McKenna College ($17,660 vs. $20,830).
  • Reed College is 2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Claremont McKenna (about $1,370 more per year; $69,350.00 vs. $67,980.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2% higher at Reed than at Claremont McKenna College (about $1,370 more per year; $69,350.00 vs. $67,980.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Reed College than at Claremont McKenna College (58% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Reed College students is 5.4% larger than aid received by Claremont McKenna College students ($55,445 vs. $52,605).

Claremont McKenna vs. Reed Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Claremont McKenna or Reed? 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 Reed and Claremont McKenna.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Claremont McKenna College (1520) is 110 points higher than at Reed (1410).
  • Incoming Claremont McKenna students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at Reed).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Claremont McKenna College 1470/1560; Reed College 1290/1520.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Claremont McKenna College 33/35; Reed College 30/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Claremont McKenna - Test optional; Reed - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Claremont McKenna Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Reed students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Claremont McKenna (3.89).
  • Reed has a higher acceptance rate (24.6%) than Claremont McKenna (9.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.8% at Claremont McKenna vs. 13.1% at Reed.

Claremont McKenna vs. Reed Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Claremont McKenna and Reed? 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).

  • Claremont McKenna College's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Reed College's (80%).
  • Graduates from Claremont McKenna College earn a median of about $50,600 more per year than Reed graduates about ten years after starting college ($97,800 vs. $47,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Claremont McKenna College graduates have a $1,033 lower median loan debt than Reed graduates ($14,967 vs. $16,000).
  • Among borrowers, Claremont McKenna graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Reed graduates ($154 vs. $165).

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.