HMC vs. Vanderbilt

Deciding between Harvey Mudd College and Vanderbilt 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
Vanderbilt University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • HMC Claremont, CA
  • Vanderbilt Nashville, TN
  • Setting
  • HMC Large Suburban
  • Vanderbilt Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • HMC 951
  • Vanderbilt 13,575
  • Type
  • HMC Private 4 Year
  • Vanderbilt Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • HMC
  • Vanderbilt #16
  • Religious Affiliation
  • HMC -
  • Vanderbilt -
  • Status
  • HMC Non-profit
  • Vanderbilt Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • HMC
  • Vanderbilt

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • HMC $68,613
  • Vanderbilt $67,498
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • HMC $68,613
  • Vanderbilt $67,498
  • Room & Board
  • HMC $22,318
  • Vanderbilt $22,054
  • Average Net Price
  • HMC $43,966
  • Vanderbilt $25,186
  • Average Grant Aid
  • HMC $46,199
  • Vanderbilt $64,404
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • HMC 64%
  • Vanderbilt 67%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • HMC 5,094
  • Vanderbilt 45,409
  • Admitted
  • HMC 645
  • Vanderbilt 2,662
  • Acceptance Rate
  • HMC 12.7%
  • Vanderbilt 5.9%
  • Enrolled
  • HMC 35.8%
  • Vanderbilt 61.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • HMC 1540
  • Vanderbilt 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • HMC 35
  • Vanderbilt 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • HMC 3.96
  • Vanderbilt 3.89
  • Typical High School Grades
  • HMC A
  • Vanderbilt A
  • Admissions Standards
  • HMC Elite
  • Vanderbilt Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • HMC Very High
  • Vanderbilt Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • HMC 34/36
  • Vanderbilt 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • HMC 1500/1570
  • Vanderbilt 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • HMC Test optional
  • Vanderbilt Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • HMC Jan 5, 2027
  • Vanderbilt Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • HMC 8:1
  • Vanderbilt 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • HMC
    • Engineering (42%)
    • Physical Sciences (18%)
    • Mathematics (13%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (9%)
  • Vanderbilt
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Engineering (13%)
    • General Studies (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (6%)
    • Psychology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • HMC 84%
  • Vanderbilt 92%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • HMC $84,900
  • Vanderbilt $83,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • HMC -
  • Vanderbilt 83%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • HMC $25,540
  • Vanderbilt $14,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • HMC $264
  • Vanderbilt $144

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • HMC 50%
  • Vanderbilt 44%
  • % Women
  • HMC 50%
  • Vanderbilt 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • HMC Very High
  • Vanderbilt High
  • HBCU
  • HMC No
  • Vanderbilt No
  • % White
  • HMC 38%
  • Vanderbilt 55%
  • % Asian
  • HMC 20%
  • Vanderbilt 12%
  • % Black
  • HMC 2%
  • Vanderbilt 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • HMC 13%
  • Vanderbilt 8%
  • % Native American
  • HMC 0%
  • Vanderbilt 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • HMC 0%
  • Vanderbilt 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • HMC 8%
  • Vanderbilt 5%
  • % International
  • HMC 13%
  • Vanderbilt 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • HMC 5%
  • Vanderbilt 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • HMC 43%
  • Vanderbilt 13%
  • % Out-of-State
  • HMC 46%
  • Vanderbilt 73%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Vanderbilt University is larger than HMC based on total student enrollment (13,575 students vs. 951 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

HMC vs. Vanderbilt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, HMC or Vanderbilt? 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 Vanderbilt University than HMC ($25,186 vs. $43,966).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vanderbilt University are 1.2% lower than at Harvey Mudd College ($22,054 vs. $22,318).
  • Harvey Mudd College is 1.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Vanderbilt (about $1,115 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $67,498.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.7% higher at HMC than at Vanderbilt University (about $1,115 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $67,498.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Vanderbilt University than at Harvey Mudd College (67% vs. 64%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Vanderbilt University students is 39.4% larger than aid received by Harvey Mudd College students ($64,404 vs. $46,199).

HMC vs. Vanderbilt Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvey Mudd College (1540) is the same as at Vanderbilt (1540).
  • Incoming HMC students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 34 at Vanderbilt).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvey Mudd College 1500/1570; Vanderbilt University 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvey Mudd College 34/36; Vanderbilt University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: HMC - Test optional; Vanderbilt - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: HMC Jan 5, 2027; Vanderbilt Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman HMC students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at Vanderbilt (3.89).
  • HMC has a higher acceptance rate (12.7%) than Vanderbilt (5.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.8% at HMC vs. 61.2% at Vanderbilt.

HMC vs. Vanderbilt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for HMC and Vanderbilt? 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).

  • Vanderbilt University's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than Harvey Mudd College's (84%).
  • Graduates from Harvey Mudd College earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than Vanderbilt graduates about ten years after starting college ($84,900 vs. $83,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Vanderbilt University graduates have a $11,540 lower median loan debt than HMC graduates ($14,000 vs. $25,540).
  • Among borrowers, Vanderbilt graduates have an estimated $120 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HMC graduates ($144 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.