UC Davis vs. HMC

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Davis is larger than HMC based on total student enrollment (40,065 students vs. 951 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UC Davis vs. HMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Davis or HMC? 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 HMC ($17,270 vs. $43,966).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Davis are 13% lower than at Harvey Mudd College ($19,426 vs. $22,318).
• Harvey Mudd College is 309% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Davis (about $51,839 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $16,774.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 34.6% higher at HMC than at University of California Davis (about $17,639 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $50,974.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvey Mudd College than at University of California Davis (64% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Harvey Mudd College students is 87.9% larger than aid received by University of California Davis students ($46,199 vs. $24,591).

UC Davis vs. HMC Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvey Mudd College (1540) is 260 points higher than at UC Davis (1280).
• Incoming HMC students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 29 at UC Davis).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 1160/1400; Harvey Mudd College 1500/1570.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 25/33; Harvey Mudd College 34/36.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Davis - Test-free; HMC - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Davis Nov 30, 2026; HMC Jan 5, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UC Davis students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at HMC (3.96).
• UC Davis has a higher acceptance rate (41.8%) than HMC (12.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.4% at UC Davis vs. 35.8% at HMC.

UC Davis vs. HMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Davis and HMC? 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).

• Harvey Mudd College's six-year graduation rate (84%) is higher than University of California Davis's (82%).
• Graduates from Harvey Mudd College earn a median of about $19,700 more per year than UC Davis graduates about ten years after starting college ($84,900 vs. $65,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Davis graduates have a $10,864 lower median loan debt than HMC graduates ($14,676 vs. $25,540).
• Among borrowers, UC Davis graduates have an estimated $113 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HMC graduates ($151 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.