UCI vs. HMC

Deciding between University of California Irvine and Harvey Mudd College? 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.

University of California Irvine
Harvey Mudd College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCI Irvine, CA
  • HMC Claremont, CA
  • Setting
  • UCI Rural Fringe
  • HMC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UCI 37,297
  • HMC 951
  • Type
  • UCI Public 4 Year
  • HMC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCI #98
  • HMC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCI -
  • HMC -
  • Status
  • UCI Non-profit
  • HMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCI
  • HMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCI $15,722
  • HMC $68,613
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCI $49,922
  • HMC $68,613
  • Room & Board
  • UCI $18,991
  • HMC $22,318
  • Average Net Price
  • UCI $15,889
  • HMC $43,966
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCI $23,110
  • HMC $46,199
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCI 55%
  • HMC 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCI 122,699
  • HMC 5,094
  • Admitted
  • UCI 35,054
  • HMC 645
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCI 28.6%
  • HMC 12.7%
  • Enrolled
  • UCI 19.2%
  • HMC 35.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCI 1330
  • HMC 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCI 29
  • HMC 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCI 3.75
  • HMC 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCI A-
  • HMC A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCI Very High
  • HMC Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCI High
  • HMC Very High
  • ACT Range
  • UCI 26/33
  • HMC 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • UCI 1230/1430
  • HMC 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCI Test-free
  • HMC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCI Nov 30, 2026
  • HMC Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCI 19:1
  • HMC 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCI
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Biology (16%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • HMC
    • Engineering (42%)
    • Physical Sciences (18%)
    • Mathematics (13%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCI 85%
  • HMC 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCI $61,800
  • HMC $84,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCI 76%
  • HMC -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCI $17,000
  • HMC $25,540
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCI $175
  • HMC $264

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCI 45%
  • HMC 50%
  • % Women
  • UCI 55%
  • HMC 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCI Very High
  • HMC Very High
  • HBCU
  • UCI No
  • HMC No
  • % White
  • UCI 15%
  • HMC 38%
  • % Asian
  • UCI 37%
  • HMC 20%
  • % Black
  • UCI 2%
  • HMC 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCI 25%
  • HMC 13%
  • % Native American
  • UCI 0%
  • HMC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCI 0%
  • HMC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCI 4%
  • HMC 8%
  • % International
  • UCI 16%
  • HMC 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCI 1%
  • HMC 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCI 74%
  • HMC 43%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCI 7%
  • HMC 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Irvine is larger than HMC based on total student enrollment (37,297 students vs. 951 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Irvine is located in Irvine, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Harvey Mudd College is in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of California Irvine 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 Irvine 19:1; Harvey Mudd College 8:1.

UCI vs. HMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCI 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 Irvine than HMC ($15,889 vs. $43,966).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Irvine are 14.9% lower than at Harvey Mudd College ($18,991 vs. $22,318).
  • Harvey Mudd College is 336.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCI (about $52,891 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $15,722.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 37.4% higher at HMC than at University of California Irvine (about $18,691 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $49,922.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvey Mudd College than at University of California Irvine (64% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvey Mudd College students is 99.9% larger than aid received by University of California Irvine students ($46,199 vs. $23,110).

UCI vs. HMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCI 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 UCI.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvey Mudd College (1540) is 210 points higher than at UCI (1330).
  • Incoming HMC students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 29 at UCI).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Irvine 1230/1430; Harvey Mudd College 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Irvine 26/33; Harvey Mudd College 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCI - Test-free; HMC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCI Nov 30, 2026; HMC Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman HMC students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at UCI (3.75).
  • UCI has a higher acceptance rate (28.6%) than HMC (12.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.2% at UCI vs. 35.8% at HMC.

UCI vs. HMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCI 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).

  • University of California Irvine's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Harvey Mudd College's (84%).
  • Graduates from Harvey Mudd College earn a median of about $23,100 more per year than UCI graduates about ten years after starting college ($84,900 vs. $61,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Irvine graduates have a $8,540 lower median loan debt than HMC graduates ($17,000 vs. $25,540).
  • Among borrowers, UCI graduates have an estimated $89 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HMC graduates ($175 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.