Claremont McKenna vs. WUSTL

Deciding between Claremont McKenna College and Washington University in St Louis? 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
Washington University in St Louis

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Claremont McKenna Claremont, CA
  • WUSTL St. Louis, MO
  • Setting
  • Claremont McKenna Large Suburban
  • WUSTL Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Claremont McKenna 1,393
  • WUSTL 16,357
  • Type
  • Claremont McKenna Private 4 Year
  • WUSTL Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Claremont McKenna #17
  • WUSTL #21
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Claremont McKenna -
  • WUSTL -
  • Status
  • Claremont McKenna Non-profit
  • WUSTL Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Claremont McKenna
  • WUSTL
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Claremont McKenna $67,980
  • WUSTL $65,790
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Claremont McKenna $67,980
  • WUSTL $65,790
  • Room & Board
  • Claremont McKenna $20,830
  • WUSTL $21,854
  • Average Net Price
  • Claremont McKenna $33,895
  • WUSTL $22,408
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Claremont McKenna $52,605
  • WUSTL $66,080
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Claremont McKenna 43%
  • WUSTL 49%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Claremont McKenna 6,529
  • WUSTL 32,754
  • Admitted
  • Claremont McKenna 626
  • WUSTL 3,951
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Claremont McKenna 9.6%
  • WUSTL 12.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Claremont McKenna 53.8%
  • WUSTL 46.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Claremont McKenna 1520
  • WUSTL 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • Claremont McKenna 34
  • WUSTL 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Claremont McKenna 3.89
  • WUSTL 3.92
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Claremont McKenna A
  • WUSTL A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Claremont McKenna Elite
  • WUSTL Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Claremont McKenna Very High
  • WUSTL Very High
  • ACT Range
  • Claremont McKenna 33/35
  • WUSTL 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Claremont McKenna 1470/1560
  • WUSTL 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Claremont McKenna Test optional
  • WUSTL Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Claremont McKenna Jan 5, 2027
  • WUSTL Jan 4, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Claremont McKenna 8:1
  • WUSTL 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Claremont McKenna
    • Social Sciences (44%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Business (7%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • WUSTL
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Claremont McKenna 91%
  • WUSTL 93%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Claremont McKenna $97,800
  • WUSTL $82,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Claremont McKenna -
  • WUSTL 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Claremont McKenna $14,967
  • WUSTL $19,900
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Claremont McKenna $154
  • WUSTL $205
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Claremont McKenna 50%
  • WUSTL 47%
  • % Women
  • Claremont McKenna 50%
  • WUSTL 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Claremont McKenna Very High
  • WUSTL High
  • HBCU
  • Claremont McKenna No
  • WUSTL No
  • % White
  • Claremont McKenna 42%
  • WUSTL 55%
  • % Asian
  • Claremont McKenna 10%
  • WUSTL 19%
  • % Black
  • Claremont McKenna 4%
  • WUSTL 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Claremont McKenna 14%
  • WUSTL 7%
  • % Native American
  • Claremont McKenna 0%
  • WUSTL 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Claremont McKenna 0%
  • WUSTL 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Claremont McKenna 7%
  • WUSTL 4%
  • % International
  • Claremont McKenna 17%
  • WUSTL 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Claremont McKenna 6%
  • WUSTL 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Claremont McKenna 41%
  • WUSTL 15%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Claremont McKenna 42%
  • WUSTL 73%
  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, CA with Washington University in St Louis in St. Louis, MO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Washington University in St Louis is larger than Claremont McKenna based on total student enrollment (16,357 students vs. 1,393 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Claremont McKenna College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); Washington University in St Louis is in St. Louis, MO (Large Suburban setting).
  • Claremont McKenna College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Washington University in St Louis is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Claremont McKenna College 8:1; Washington University in St Louis 7:1.

Claremont McKenna vs. WUSTL Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Claremont McKenna or WUSTL ? 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 Washington University in St Louis than Claremont McKenna ($22,408 vs. $33,895).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Claremont McKenna College are 4.7% lower than at Washington University in St Louis ($20,830 vs. $21,854).
  • Claremont McKenna College is 3.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than WUSTL (about $2,190 more per year; $67,980.00 vs. $65,790.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.3% higher at Claremont McKenna than at Washington University in St Louis (about $2,190 more per year; $67,980.00 vs. $65,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Washington University in St Louis than at Claremont McKenna College (49% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Washington University in St Louis students is 25.6% larger than aid received by Claremont McKenna College students ($66,080 vs. $52,605).

Claremont McKenna vs. WUSTL Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Washington University in St Louis (1540) is 20 points higher than at Claremont McKenna (1520).
  • Incoming Claremont McKenna students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at WUSTL (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Claremont McKenna College 1470/1560; Washington University in St Louis 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Claremont McKenna College 33/35; Washington University in St Louis 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Claremont McKenna - Test optional; WUSTL - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Claremont McKenna Jan 5, 2027; WUSTL Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WUSTL students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Claremont McKenna (3.89).
  • WUSTL has a higher acceptance rate (12.1%) than Claremont McKenna (9.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.8% at Claremont McKenna vs. 46.7% at WUSTL .

Claremont McKenna vs. WUSTL Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Washington University in St Louis's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than Claremont McKenna College's (91%).
  • Graduates from Claremont McKenna College earn a median of about $15,000 more per year than WUSTL graduates about ten years after starting college ($97,800 vs. $82,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Claremont McKenna College graduates have a $4,933 lower median loan debt than WUSTL graduates ($14,967 vs. $19,900).
  • Among borrowers, Claremont McKenna graduates have an estimated $51 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WUSTL graduates ($154 vs. $205).

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.