HMC vs. Stanford

Deciding between Harvey Mudd College and Stanford 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
Stanford University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • HMC Claremont, CA
  • Stanford Stanford, CA
  • Setting
  • HMC Large Suburban
  • Stanford Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • HMC 951
  • Stanford 18,625
  • Type
  • HMC Private 4 Year
  • Stanford Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • HMC
  • Stanford #3
  • Religious Affiliation
  • HMC -
  • Stanford -
  • Status
  • HMC Non-profit
  • Stanford Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • HMC
  • Stanford

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • HMC $68,613
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • HMC $68,613
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Room & Board
  • HMC $22,318
  • Stanford $21,315
  • Average Net Price
  • HMC $43,966
  • Stanford $25,078
  • Average Grant Aid
  • HMC $46,199
  • Stanford $62,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • HMC 64%
  • Stanford 61%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • HMC 5,094
  • Stanford 57,326
  • Admitted
  • HMC 645
  • Stanford 2,067
  • Acceptance Rate
  • HMC 12.7%
  • Stanford 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • HMC 35.8%
  • Stanford 81.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • HMC 1540
  • Stanford 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • HMC 35
  • Stanford 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • HMC 3.96
  • Stanford 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • HMC A
  • Stanford A
  • Admissions Standards
  • HMC Elite
  • Stanford Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • HMC Very High
  • Stanford Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • HMC 34/36
  • Stanford 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • HMC 1500/1570
  • Stanford 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • HMC Test optional
  • Stanford Required
  • Application Deadline
  • HMC Jan 5, 2027
  • Stanford Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • HMC 8:1
  • Stanford 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • HMC
    • Engineering (42%)
    • Physical Sciences (18%)
    • Mathematics (13%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (9%)
  • Stanford
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • General Studies (16%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • HMC 84%
  • Stanford 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • HMC $84,900
  • Stanford $122,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • HMC -
  • Stanford 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • HMC $25,540
  • Stanford $12,475
  • Median Loan Payment
  • HMC $264
  • Stanford $128

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • HMC 50%
  • Stanford 52%
  • % Women
  • HMC 50%
  • Stanford 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • HMC Very High
  • Stanford Very High
  • HBCU
  • HMC No
  • Stanford No
  • % White
  • HMC 38%
  • Stanford 37%
  • % Asian
  • HMC 20%
  • Stanford 20%
  • % Black
  • HMC 2%
  • Stanford 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • HMC 13%
  • Stanford 15%
  • % Native American
  • HMC 0%
  • Stanford 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • HMC 0%
  • Stanford 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • HMC 8%
  • Stanford 10%
  • % International
  • HMC 13%
  • Stanford 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • HMC 5%
  • Stanford 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • HMC 43%
  • Stanford 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • HMC 46%
  • Stanford 45%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Stanford University is larger than HMC based on total student enrollment (18,625 students vs. 951 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

HMC vs. Stanford Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HMC or Stanford? 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 Stanford University than HMC ($25,078 vs. $43,966).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Stanford University are 4.5% lower than at Harvey Mudd College ($21,315 vs. $22,318).
  • Harvey Mudd College is 4.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Stanford (about $2,703 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $65,910.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.1% higher at HMC than at Stanford University (about $2,703 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $65,910.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvey Mudd College than at Stanford University (64% vs. 61%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Stanford University students is 35.8% larger than aid received by Harvey Mudd College students ($62,755 vs. $46,199).

HMC vs. Stanford Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stanford University (1550) is 10 points higher than at HMC (1540).
  • Incoming HMC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 34 at Stanford).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvey Mudd College 1500/1570; Stanford University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvey Mudd College 34/36; Stanford University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: HMC - Test optional; Stanford - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: HMC Jan 5, 2027; Stanford Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman HMC students have the same average high school GPA (3.96) as students at Stanford (3.96).
  • HMC has a higher acceptance rate (12.7%) than Stanford (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.8% at HMC vs. 81.9% at Stanford.

HMC vs. Stanford Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HMC and Stanford? 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).

  • Stanford University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than Harvey Mudd College's (84%).
  • Graduates from Stanford University earn a median of about $38,000 more per year than HMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($122,900 vs. $84,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Stanford University graduates have a $13,065 lower median loan debt than HMC graduates ($12,475 vs. $25,540).
  • Among borrowers, Stanford graduates have an estimated $136 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HMC graduates ($128 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.