HMC vs. SCU

Deciding between Harvey Mudd College and Santa Clara 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
Santa Clara University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • HMC Claremont, CA
  • SCU Santa Clara, CA
  • Setting
  • HMC Large Suburban
  • SCU Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • HMC 951
  • SCU 9,728
  • Type
  • HMC Private 4 Year
  • SCU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • HMC
  • SCU #61
  • Religious Affiliation
  • HMC -
  • SCU Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • HMC Non-profit
  • SCU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • HMC
  • SCU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • HMC $68,613
  • SCU $61,293
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • HMC $68,613
  • SCU $61,293
  • Room & Board
  • HMC $22,318
  • SCU $19,893
  • Average Net Price
  • HMC $43,966
  • SCU $53,883
  • Average Grant Aid
  • HMC $46,199
  • SCU $28,368
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • HMC 64%
  • SCU 71%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • HMC 5,094
  • SCU 18,970
  • Admitted
  • HMC 645
  • SCU 9,105
  • Acceptance Rate
  • HMC 12.7%
  • SCU 48%
  • Enrolled
  • HMC 35.8%
  • SCU 17.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • HMC 1540
  • SCU 1420
  • Typical ACT score
  • HMC 35
  • SCU 32
  • Average High School GPA
  • HMC 3.96
  • SCU 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • HMC A
  • SCU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • HMC Elite
  • SCU Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • HMC Very High
  • SCU Low
  • ACT Range
  • HMC 34/36
  • SCU 31/33
  • SAT Range
  • HMC 1500/1570
  • SCU 1350/1490
  • Submit Test Scores
  • HMC Test optional
  • SCU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • HMC Jan 5, 2027
  • SCU Jan 7, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • HMC 8:1
  • SCU 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • HMC
    • Engineering (42%)
    • Physical Sciences (18%)
    • Mathematics (13%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (9%)
  • SCU
    • Business (33%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • HMC 84%
  • SCU 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • HMC $84,900
  • SCU $81,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • HMC -
  • SCU 84%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • HMC $25,540
  • SCU $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • HMC $264
  • SCU $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • HMC 50%
  • SCU 49%
  • % Women
  • HMC 50%
  • SCU 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • HMC Very High
  • SCU High
  • HBCU
  • HMC No
  • SCU No
  • % White
  • HMC 38%
  • SCU 49%
  • % Asian
  • HMC 20%
  • SCU 16%
  • % Black
  • HMC 2%
  • SCU 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • HMC 13%
  • SCU 17%
  • % Native American
  • HMC 0%
  • SCU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • HMC 0%
  • SCU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • HMC 8%
  • SCU 7%
  • % International
  • HMC 13%
  • SCU 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • HMC 5%
  • SCU 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • HMC 43%
  • SCU 55%
  • % Out-of-State
  • HMC 46%
  • SCU 36%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Clara University is larger than HMC based on total student enrollment (9,728 students vs. 951 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvey Mudd College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); Santa Clara University is in Santa Clara, CA (Midsize City setting).
  • Harvey Mudd College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Santa Clara University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvey Mudd College 8:1; Santa Clara University 11:1.

HMC vs. SCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HMC or SCU? 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 SCU ($43,966 vs. $53,883).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Clara University are 10.9% lower than at Harvey Mudd College ($19,893 vs. $22,318).
  • Harvey Mudd College is 11.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than SCU (about $7,320 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $61,293.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 11.9% higher at HMC than at Santa Clara University (about $7,320 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $61,293.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Santa Clara University than at Harvey Mudd College (71% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvey Mudd College students is 62.9% larger than aid received by Santa Clara University students ($46,199 vs. $28,368).

HMC vs. SCU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvey Mudd College (1540) is 120 points higher than at SCU (1420).
  • Incoming HMC students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 32 at SCU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvey Mudd College 1500/1570; Santa Clara University 1350/1490.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvey Mudd College 34/36; Santa Clara University 31/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: HMC - Test optional; SCU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: HMC Jan 5, 2027; SCU Jan 7, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman HMC students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at SCU (3.67).
  • SCU has a higher acceptance rate (48%) than HMC (12.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.8% at HMC vs. 17.7% at SCU.

HMC vs. SCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HMC and SCU? 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).

  • Santa Clara University's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Harvey Mudd College's (84%).
  • Graduates from Harvey Mudd College earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than SCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($84,900 vs. $81,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Clara University graduates have a $4,040 lower median loan debt than HMC graduates ($21,500 vs. $25,540).
  • Among borrowers, SCU graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HMC graduates ($222 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.