UC Davis vs. Claremont McKenna

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Davis in Davis, CA with Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Davis is larger than Claremont McKenna based on total student enrollment (40,065 students vs. 1,393 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Davis is located in Davis, CA (Small Suburban setting); Claremont McKenna College is in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• University of California Davis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Claremont McKenna College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Davis 22:1; Claremont McKenna College 8:1.

UC Davis vs. Claremont McKenna Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Davis or Claremont McKenna? 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 California Davis than Claremont McKenna ($17,270 vs. $33,895).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Davis are 6.7% lower than at Claremont McKenna College ($19,426 vs. $20,830).
• Claremont McKenna College is 305.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Davis (about $51,206 more per year; $67,980.00 vs. $16,774.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 33.4% higher at Claremont McKenna than at University of California Davis (about $17,006 more per year; $67,980.00 vs. $50,974.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Davis than at Claremont McKenna College (60% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Claremont McKenna College students is 113.9% larger than aid received by University of California Davis students ($52,605 vs. $24,591).

UC Davis vs. Claremont McKenna Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Davis or Claremont McKenna? 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 Claremont McKenna and UC Davis.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Claremont McKenna College (1520) is 240 points higher than at UC Davis (1280).
• Incoming Claremont McKenna students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 29 at UC Davis).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 1160/1400; Claremont McKenna College 1470/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 25/33; Claremont McKenna College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Davis - Test-free; Claremont McKenna - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Davis Nov 30, 2026; Claremont McKenna Jan 5, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UC Davis students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Claremont McKenna (3.89).
• UC Davis has a higher acceptance rate (41.8%) than Claremont McKenna (9.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.4% at UC Davis vs. 53.8% at Claremont McKenna.

UC Davis vs. Claremont McKenna Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Davis and Claremont McKenna? 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).

• Claremont McKenna College's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than University of California Davis's (82%).
• Graduates from Claremont McKenna College earn a median of about $32,600 more per year than UC Davis graduates about ten years after starting college ($97,800 vs. $65,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Davis graduates have a $291 lower median loan debt than Claremont McKenna graduates ($14,676 vs. $14,967).
• Among borrowers, UC Davis graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Claremont McKenna graduates ($151 vs. $154).

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.