HMC vs. USC

Deciding between Harvey Mudd College and University of Southern California? 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
University of Southern California

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • HMC Claremont, CA
  • USC Los Angeles, CA
  • Setting
  • HMC Large Suburban
  • USC Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • HMC 951
  • USC 46,566
  • Type
  • HMC Private 4 Year
  • USC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • HMC
  • USC #37
  • Religious Affiliation
  • HMC -
  • USC -
  • Status
  • HMC Non-profit
  • USC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • HMC
  • USC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • HMC $68,613
  • USC $72,097
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • HMC $68,613
  • USC $72,097
  • Room & Board
  • HMC $22,318
  • USC $19,931
  • Average Net Price
  • HMC $43,966
  • USC $43,412
  • Average Grant Aid
  • HMC $46,199
  • USC $46,897
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • HMC 64%
  • USC 70%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • HMC 5,094
  • USC 82,027
  • Admitted
  • HMC 645
  • USC 8,050
  • Acceptance Rate
  • HMC 12.7%
  • USC 9.8%
  • Enrolled
  • HMC 35.8%
  • USC 43.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • HMC 1540
  • USC 1500
  • Typical ACT score
  • HMC 35
  • USC 33
  • Average High School GPA
  • HMC 3.96
  • USC 3.83
  • Typical High School Grades
  • HMC A
  • USC A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • HMC Elite
  • USC Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • HMC Very High
  • USC Very High
  • ACT Range
  • HMC 34/36
  • USC 32/35
  • SAT Range
  • HMC 1500/1570
  • USC 1450/1550
  • Submit Test Scores
  • HMC Test optional
  • USC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • HMC Jan 5, 2027
  • USC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • HMC 8:1
  • USC 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • HMC
    • Engineering (42%)
    • Physical Sciences (18%)
    • Mathematics (13%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (9%)
  • USC
    • Business (25%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • HMC 84%
  • USC 90%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • HMC $84,900
  • USC $85,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • HMC -
  • USC 81%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • HMC $25,540
  • USC $22,375
  • Median Loan Payment
  • HMC $264
  • USC $231

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • HMC 50%
  • USC 47%
  • % Women
  • HMC 50%
  • USC 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • HMC Very High
  • USC Very High
  • HBCU
  • HMC No
  • USC No
  • % White
  • HMC 38%
  • USC 40%
  • % Asian
  • HMC 20%
  • USC 22%
  • % Black
  • HMC 2%
  • USC 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • HMC 13%
  • USC 14%
  • % Native American
  • HMC 0%
  • USC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • HMC 0%
  • USC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • HMC 8%
  • USC 5%
  • % International
  • HMC 13%
  • USC 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • HMC 5%
  • USC 1%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • HMC 43%
  • USC 42%
  • % Out-of-State
  • HMC 46%
  • USC 39%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of Southern California is larger than HMC based on total student enrollment (46,566 students vs. 951 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvey Mudd College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); University of Southern California is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
  • Harvey Mudd College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Southern California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvey Mudd College 8:1; University of Southern California 9:1.

HMC vs. USC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HMC or USC? 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 University of Southern California than HMC ($43,412 vs. $43,966).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Southern California are 10.7% lower than at Harvey Mudd College ($19,931 vs. $22,318).
  • University of Southern California is 5.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than HMC (about $3,484 more per year; $72,097.00 vs. $68,613.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.1% higher at USC than at Harvey Mudd College (about $3,484 more per year; $72,097.00 vs. $68,613.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Southern California than at Harvey Mudd College (70% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Southern California students is 1.5% larger than aid received by Harvey Mudd College students ($46,897 vs. $46,199).

HMC vs. USC Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvey Mudd College (1540) is 40 points higher than at USC (1500).
  • Incoming HMC students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 33 at USC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvey Mudd College 1500/1570; University of Southern California 1450/1550.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvey Mudd College 34/36; University of Southern California 32/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: HMC - Test optional; USC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: HMC Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman HMC students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at USC (3.83).
  • HMC has a higher acceptance rate (12.7%) than USC (9.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.8% at HMC vs. 43.3% at USC.

HMC vs. USC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HMC and USC? 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).

  • University of Southern California's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Harvey Mudd College's (84%).
  • Graduates from University of Southern California earn a median of about $600 more per year than HMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($85,500 vs. $84,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Southern California graduates have a $3,165 lower median loan debt than HMC graduates ($22,375 vs. $25,540).
  • Among borrowers, USC graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HMC graduates ($231 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.