HMC vs. Grinnell

Comparable Facts

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

Grinnell College is larger than HMC based on total student enrollment (1,788 students vs. 951 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

HMC vs. Grinnell Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HMC or Grinnell? 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 Grinnell College than HMC ($34,363 vs. $43,966).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grinnell College are 24.5% lower than at Harvey Mudd College ($16,842 vs. $22,318).
• Harvey Mudd College is 0.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Grinnell (about $507 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $68,106.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.7% higher at HMC than at Grinnell College (about $507 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $68,106.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Grinnell College than at Harvey Mudd College (94% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Grinnell College students is 6.2% larger than aid received by Harvey Mudd College students ($49,077 vs. $46,199).

HMC vs. Grinnell Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvey Mudd College (1540) is 60 points higher than at Grinnell (1480).
• Incoming HMC students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 32 at Grinnell).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvey Mudd College 1500/1570; Grinnell College 1410/1540.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvey Mudd College 34/36; Grinnell College 31/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: HMC - Test optional; Grinnell - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: HMC Jan 5, 2027; Grinnell Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman HMC students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Grinnell (3.89).
• Grinnell has a higher acceptance rate (14.5%) than HMC (12.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.8% at HMC vs. 30.9% at Grinnell.

HMC vs. Grinnell Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HMC and Grinnell? 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).

• Grinnell College's six-year graduation rate (88%) is higher than Harvey Mudd College's (84%).
• Graduates from Harvey Mudd College earn a median of about $25,400 more per year than Grinnell graduates about ten years after starting college ($84,900 vs. $59,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Grinnell College graduates have a $12,370 lower median loan debt than HMC graduates ($13,170 vs. $25,540).
• Among borrowers, Grinnell graduates have an estimated $128 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HMC graduates ($136 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.