HMC vs. Northwestern

Deciding between Harvey Mudd College and Northwestern University? 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
Northwestern University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • HMC Claremont, CA
  • Northwestern Evanston, IL
  • Setting
  • HMC Large Suburban
  • Northwestern Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • HMC 951
  • Northwestern 23,856
  • Type
  • HMC Private 4 Year
  • Northwestern Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • HMC
  • Northwestern #15
  • Religious Affiliation
  • HMC -
  • Northwestern -
  • Status
  • HMC Non-profit
  • Northwestern Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • HMC
  • Northwestern

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • HMC $68,613
  • Northwestern $68,322
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • HMC $68,613
  • Northwestern $68,322
  • Room & Board
  • HMC $22,318
  • Northwestern $21,126
  • Average Net Price
  • HMC $43,966
  • Northwestern $26,830
  • Average Grant Aid
  • HMC $46,199
  • Northwestern $64,429
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • HMC 64%
  • Northwestern 53%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • HMC 5,094
  • Northwestern 49,474
  • Admitted
  • HMC 645
  • Northwestern 3,806
  • Acceptance Rate
  • HMC 12.7%
  • Northwestern 7.7%
  • Enrolled
  • HMC 35.8%
  • Northwestern 55.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • HMC 1540
  • Northwestern 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • HMC 35
  • Northwestern 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • HMC 3.96
  • Northwestern 3.92
  • Typical High School Grades
  • HMC A
  • Northwestern A
  • Admissions Standards
  • HMC Elite
  • Northwestern Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • HMC Very High
  • Northwestern Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • HMC 34/36
  • Northwestern 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • HMC 1500/1570
  • Northwestern 1510/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • HMC Test optional
  • Northwestern Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • HMC Jan 5, 2027
  • Northwestern Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • HMC 8:1
  • Northwestern 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • HMC
    • Engineering (42%)
    • Physical Sciences (18%)
    • Mathematics (13%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (9%)
  • Northwestern
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Communication (14%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • HMC 84%
  • Northwestern 94%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • HMC $84,900
  • Northwestern $89,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • HMC -
  • Northwestern 87%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • HMC $25,540
  • Northwestern $19,378
  • Median Loan Payment
  • HMC $264
  • Northwestern $200

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • HMC 50%
  • Northwestern 45%
  • % Women
  • HMC 50%
  • Northwestern 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • HMC Very High
  • Northwestern High
  • HBCU
  • HMC No
  • Northwestern No
  • % White
  • HMC 38%
  • Northwestern 50%
  • % Asian
  • HMC 20%
  • Northwestern 17%
  • % Black
  • HMC 2%
  • Northwestern 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • HMC 13%
  • Northwestern 12%
  • % Native American
  • HMC 0%
  • Northwestern 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • HMC 0%
  • Northwestern 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • HMC 8%
  • Northwestern 5%
  • % International
  • HMC 13%
  • Northwestern 8%
  • % Unknown Race
  • HMC 5%
  • Northwestern 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • HMC 43%
  • Northwestern 19%
  • % Out-of-State
  • HMC 46%
  • Northwestern 66%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, CA with Northwestern University in Evanston, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northwestern University is larger than HMC based on total student enrollment (23,856 students vs. 951 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvey Mudd College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); Northwestern University is in Evanston, IL (Small City setting).
  • Harvey Mudd College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Northwestern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvey Mudd College 8:1; Northwestern University 6:1.

HMC vs. Northwestern Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HMC or Northwestern? 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 Northwestern University than HMC ($26,830 vs. $43,966).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern University are 5.3% lower than at Harvey Mudd College ($21,126 vs. $22,318).
  • Harvey Mudd College is 0.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Northwestern (about $291 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $68,322.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.4% higher at HMC than at Northwestern University (about $291 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $68,322.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvey Mudd College than at Northwestern University (64% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern University students is 39.5% larger than aid received by Harvey Mudd College students ($64,429 vs. $46,199).

HMC vs. Northwestern Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvey Mudd College (1540) is the same as at Northwestern (1540).
  • Incoming HMC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 34 at Northwestern).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvey Mudd College 1500/1570; Northwestern University 1510/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvey Mudd College 34/36; Northwestern University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: HMC - Test optional; Northwestern - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: HMC Jan 5, 2027; Northwestern Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman HMC students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Northwestern (3.92).
  • HMC has a higher acceptance rate (12.7%) than Northwestern (7.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.8% at HMC vs. 55.3% at Northwestern.

HMC vs. Northwestern Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HMC and Northwestern? 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).

  • Northwestern University's six-year graduation rate (94%) is higher than Harvey Mudd College's (84%).
  • Graduates from Northwestern University earn a median of about $4,900 more per year than HMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,800 vs. $84,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Northwestern University graduates have a $6,162 lower median loan debt than HMC graduates ($19,378 vs. $25,540).
  • Among borrowers, Northwestern 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.