HMC vs. Pepperdine

Deciding between Harvey Mudd College and Pepperdine 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
Pepperdine University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • HMC Claremont, CA
  • Pepperdine Malibu, CA
  • Setting
  • HMC Large Suburban
  • Pepperdine Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • HMC 951
  • Pepperdine 8,976
  • Type
  • HMC Private 4 Year
  • Pepperdine Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • HMC
  • Pepperdine #162
  • Religious Affiliation
  • HMC -
  • Pepperdine Churches of Christ
  • Status
  • HMC Non-profit
  • Pepperdine Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • HMC
  • Pepperdine

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • HMC $68,613
  • Pepperdine $69,918
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • HMC $68,613
  • Pepperdine $69,918
  • Room & Board
  • HMC $22,318
  • Pepperdine $21,750
  • Average Net Price
  • HMC $43,966
  • Pepperdine $66,585
  • Average Grant Aid
  • HMC $46,199
  • Pepperdine $26,927
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • HMC 64%
  • Pepperdine 91%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • HMC 5,094
  • Pepperdine 11,526
  • Admitted
  • HMC 645
  • Pepperdine 7,245
  • Acceptance Rate
  • HMC 12.7%
  • Pepperdine 62.9%
  • Enrolled
  • HMC 35.8%
  • Pepperdine 11.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • HMC 1540
  • Pepperdine 1370
  • Typical ACT score
  • HMC 35
  • Pepperdine 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • HMC 3.96
  • Pepperdine 3.74
  • Typical High School Grades
  • HMC A
  • Pepperdine A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • HMC Elite
  • Pepperdine Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • HMC Very High
  • Pepperdine Low
  • ACT Range
  • HMC 34/36
  • Pepperdine 29/32
  • SAT Range
  • HMC 1500/1570
  • Pepperdine 1290/1450
  • Submit Test Scores
  • HMC Test optional
  • Pepperdine Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • HMC Jan 5, 2027
  • Pepperdine Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • HMC 8:1
  • Pepperdine 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • HMC
    • Engineering (42%)
    • Physical Sciences (18%)
    • Mathematics (13%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (9%)
  • Pepperdine
    • Business (27%)
    • Communication (22%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • General Studies (8%)
    • Psychology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • HMC 84%
  • Pepperdine 81%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • HMC $84,900
  • Pepperdine $71,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • HMC -
  • Pepperdine 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • HMC $25,540
  • Pepperdine $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • HMC $264
  • Pepperdine $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • HMC 50%
  • Pepperdine 33%
  • % Women
  • HMC 50%
  • Pepperdine 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • HMC Very High
  • Pepperdine High
  • HBCU
  • HMC No
  • Pepperdine No
  • % White
  • HMC 38%
  • Pepperdine 47%
  • % Asian
  • HMC 20%
  • Pepperdine 12%
  • % Black
  • HMC 2%
  • Pepperdine 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • HMC 13%
  • Pepperdine 16%
  • % Native American
  • HMC 0%
  • Pepperdine 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • HMC 0%
  • Pepperdine 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • HMC 8%
  • Pepperdine 5%
  • % International
  • HMC 13%
  • Pepperdine 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • HMC 5%
  • Pepperdine 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • HMC 43%
  • Pepperdine 51%
  • % Out-of-State
  • HMC 46%
  • Pepperdine 38%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Pepperdine University is larger than HMC based on total student enrollment (8,976 students vs. 951 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvey Mudd College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); Pepperdine University is in Malibu, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Harvey Mudd College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Pepperdine University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvey Mudd College 8:1; Pepperdine University 12:1.

HMC vs. Pepperdine Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HMC or Pepperdine? 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 Harvey Mudd College than Pepperdine ($43,966 vs. $66,585).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pepperdine University are 2.5% lower than at Harvey Mudd College ($21,750 vs. $22,318).
  • Pepperdine University is 1.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than HMC (about $1,305 more per year; $69,918.00 vs. $68,613.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.9% higher at Pepperdine than at Harvey Mudd College (about $1,305 more per year; $69,918.00 vs. $68,613.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pepperdine University than at Harvey Mudd College (91% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvey Mudd College students is 71.6% larger than aid received by Pepperdine University students ($46,199 vs. $26,927).

HMC vs. Pepperdine Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvey Mudd College (1540) is 170 points higher than at Pepperdine (1370).
  • Incoming HMC students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 30 at Pepperdine).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvey Mudd College 1500/1570; Pepperdine University 1290/1450.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvey Mudd College 34/36; Pepperdine University 29/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: HMC - Test optional; Pepperdine - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: HMC Jan 5, 2027; Pepperdine Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman HMC students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Pepperdine (3.74).
  • Pepperdine has a higher acceptance rate (62.9%) than HMC (12.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.8% at HMC vs. 11.6% at Pepperdine.

HMC vs. Pepperdine Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HMC and Pepperdine? 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).

  • Harvey Mudd College's six-year graduation rate (84%) is higher than Pepperdine University's (81%).
  • Graduates from Harvey Mudd College earn a median of about $13,200 more per year than Pepperdine graduates about ten years after starting college ($84,900 vs. $71,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvey Mudd College graduates have a $460 lower median loan debt than Pepperdine graduates ($25,540 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, HMC graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pepperdine graduates ($264 vs. $268).

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.