HMC vs. Colby College

Deciding between Harvey Mudd College and Colby 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.

Harvey Mudd College
Colby College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • HMC Claremont, CA
  • Colby College Waterville, ME
  • Setting
  • HMC Large Suburban
  • Colby College Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • HMC 951
  • Colby College 2,412
  • Type
  • HMC Private 4 Year
  • Colby College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • HMC
  • Colby College #39
  • Religious Affiliation
  • HMC -
  • Colby College -
  • Status
  • HMC Non-profit
  • Colby College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • HMC
  • Colby College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • HMC $68,613
  • Colby College $69,600
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • HMC $68,613
  • Colby College $69,600
  • Room & Board
  • HMC $22,318
  • Colby College $17,890
  • Average Net Price
  • HMC $43,966
  • Colby College $16,219
  • Average Grant Aid
  • HMC $46,199
  • Colby College $69,201
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • HMC 64%
  • Colby College 45%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • HMC 5,094
  • Colby College 19,187
  • Admitted
  • HMC 645
  • Colby College 1,360
  • Acceptance Rate
  • HMC 12.7%
  • Colby College 7.1%
  • Enrolled
  • HMC 35.8%
  • Colby College 46.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • HMC 1540
  • Colby College 1510
  • Typical ACT score
  • HMC 35
  • Colby College 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • HMC 3.96
  • Colby College 3.86
  • Typical High School Grades
  • HMC A
  • Colby College A
  • Admissions Standards
  • HMC Elite
  • Colby College Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • HMC Very High
  • Colby College Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • HMC 34/36
  • Colby College 32/34
  • SAT Range
  • HMC 1500/1570
  • Colby College 1460/1550
  • Submit Test Scores
  • HMC Test optional
  • Colby College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • HMC Jan 5, 2027
  • Colby College Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • HMC 8:1
  • Colby College 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • HMC
    • Engineering (42%)
    • Physical Sciences (18%)
    • Mathematics (13%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (9%)
  • Colby College
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • General Studies (13%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Physical Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • HMC 84%
  • Colby College 91%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • HMC $84,900
  • Colby College $73,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • HMC -
  • Colby College 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • HMC $25,540
  • Colby College $19,345
  • Median Loan Payment
  • HMC $264
  • Colby College $200

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • HMC 50%
  • Colby College 49%
  • % Women
  • HMC 50%
  • Colby College 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • HMC Very High
  • Colby College Medium
  • HBCU
  • HMC No
  • Colby College No
  • % White
  • HMC 38%
  • Colby College 62%
  • % Asian
  • HMC 20%
  • Colby College 6%
  • % Black
  • HMC 2%
  • Colby College 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • HMC 13%
  • Colby College 6%
  • % Native American
  • HMC 0%
  • Colby College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • HMC 0%
  • Colby College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • HMC 8%
  • Colby College 5%
  • % International
  • HMC 13%
  • Colby College 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • HMC 5%
  • Colby College 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • HMC 43%
  • Colby College 8%
  • % Out-of-State
  • HMC 46%
  • Colby College 76%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, CA with Colby College in Waterville, ME on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Colby College is larger than HMC based on total student enrollment (2,412 students vs. 951 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvey Mudd College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); Colby College is in Waterville, ME (Remote Town setting).
  • Harvey Mudd College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Colby College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvey Mudd College 8:1; Colby College 9:1.

HMC vs. Colby College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HMC or Colby College? 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 Colby College than HMC ($16,219 vs. $43,966).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colby College are 19.8% lower than at Harvey Mudd College ($17,890 vs. $22,318).
  • Colby College is 1.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than HMC (about $987 more per year; $69,600.00 vs. $68,613.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.4% higher at Colby College than at Harvey Mudd College (about $987 more per year; $69,600.00 vs. $68,613.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvey Mudd College than at Colby College (64% vs. 45%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 49.8% larger than aid received by Harvey Mudd College students ($69,201 vs. $46,199).

HMC vs. Colby College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, HMC or Colby College? 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 Colby College and HMC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvey Mudd College (1540) is 30 points higher than at Colby College (1510).
  • Incoming HMC students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 33 at Colby College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvey Mudd College 1500/1570; Colby College 1460/1550.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvey Mudd College 34/36; Colby College 32/34.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: HMC - Test optional; Colby College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: HMC Jan 5, 2027; Colby College Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman HMC students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Colby College (3.86).
  • HMC has a higher acceptance rate (12.7%) than Colby College (7.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.8% at HMC vs. 46.2% at Colby College.

HMC vs. Colby College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HMC and Colby College? 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).

  • Colby College's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than Harvey Mudd College's (84%).
  • Graduates from Harvey Mudd College earn a median of about $11,500 more per year than Colby College graduates about ten years after starting college ($84,900 vs. $73,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Colby College graduates have a $6,195 lower median loan debt than HMC graduates ($19,345 vs. $25,540).
  • Among borrowers, Colby College graduates have an estimated $64 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HMC graduates ($200 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.