HMC vs. Reed

Comparable Facts

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

Reed College is larger than HMC based on total student enrollment (1,358 students vs. 951 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

HMC vs. Reed Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HMC or Reed? 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 Reed College than HMC ($30,953 vs. $43,966).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Reed College are 20.9% lower than at Harvey Mudd College ($17,660 vs. $22,318).
• Reed College is 1.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than HMC (about $737 more per year; $69,350.00 vs. $68,613.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.1% higher at Reed than at Harvey Mudd College (about $737 more per year; $69,350.00 vs. $68,613.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvey Mudd College than at Reed College (64% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Reed College students is 20% larger than aid received by Harvey Mudd College students ($55,445 vs. $46,199).

HMC vs. Reed Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvey Mudd College (1540) is 130 points higher than at Reed (1410).
• Incoming HMC students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 32 at Reed).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvey Mudd College 1500/1570; Reed College 1290/1520.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvey Mudd College 34/36; Reed College 30/34.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: HMC - Test optional; Reed - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: HMC Jan 5, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Reed students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at HMC (3.96).
• Reed has a higher acceptance rate (24.6%) than HMC (12.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.8% at HMC vs. 13.1% at Reed.

HMC vs. Reed Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HMC and Reed? 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 Reed College's (80%).
• Graduates from Harvey Mudd College earn a median of about $37,700 more per year than Reed graduates about ten years after starting college ($84,900 vs. $47,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Reed College graduates have a $9,540 lower median loan debt than HMC graduates ($16,000 vs. $25,540).
• Among borrowers, Reed graduates have an estimated $99 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HMC graduates ($165 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.