UCLA vs. Claremont McKenna

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Los Angeles is larger than Claremont McKenna based on total student enrollment (47,335 students vs. 1,393 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Claremont McKenna College is in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• University of California Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles 20:1; Claremont McKenna College 8:1.

UCLA vs. Claremont McKenna Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCLA 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 Los Angeles than Claremont McKenna ($14,512 vs. $33,895).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Los Angeles are 11.8% lower than at Claremont McKenna College ($18,369 vs. $20,830).
• Claremont McKenna College is 347.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCLA (about $52,777 more per year; $67,980.00 vs. $15,203.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 37.6% higher at Claremont McKenna than at University of California Los Angeles (about $18,577 more per year; $67,980.00 vs. $49,403.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Los Angeles than at Claremont McKenna College (49% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Claremont McKenna College students is 105.3% larger than aid received by University of California Los Angeles students ($52,605 vs. $25,627).

UCLA vs. Claremont McKenna Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCLA 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 UCLA.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Claremont McKenna College (1520) is 100 points higher than at UCLA (1420).
• Incoming Claremont McKenna students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at UCLA).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 1300/1530; Claremont McKenna College 1470/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 29/35; Claremont McKenna College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCLA - Test-free; Claremont McKenna - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCLA Nov 30, 2026; Claremont McKenna Jan 5, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UCLA students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Claremont McKenna (3.89).
• Claremont McKenna has a higher acceptance rate (9.6%) than UCLA (9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.4% at UCLA vs. 53.8% at Claremont McKenna.

UCLA vs. Claremont McKenna Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCLA 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 Los Angeles's (90%).
• Graduates from Claremont McKenna College earn a median of about $27,100 more per year than UCLA graduates about ten years after starting college ($97,800 vs. $70,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Claremont McKenna College graduates have a $1,333 lower median loan debt than UCLA graduates ($14,967 vs. $16,300).
• Among borrowers, Claremont McKenna graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCLA graduates ($154 vs. $168).

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.