UCLA vs. HMC

Deciding between University of California Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles
Harvey Mudd College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCLA Los Angeles, CA
  • HMC Claremont, CA
  • Setting
  • UCLA Large City
  • HMC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UCLA 47,335
  • HMC 951
  • Type
  • UCLA Public 4 Year
  • HMC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCLA #66
  • HMC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCLA -
  • HMC -
  • Status
  • UCLA Non-profit
  • HMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCLA
  • HMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCLA $15,203
  • HMC $68,613
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCLA $49,403
  • HMC $68,613
  • Room & Board
  • UCLA $18,369
  • HMC $22,318
  • Average Net Price
  • UCLA $14,512
  • HMC $43,966
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCLA $25,627
  • HMC $46,199
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCLA 49%
  • HMC 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCLA 146,272
  • HMC 5,094
  • Admitted
  • UCLA 13,114
  • HMC 645
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCLA 9%
  • HMC 12.7%
  • Enrolled
  • UCLA 50.4%
  • HMC 35.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCLA 1420
  • HMC 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCLA 32
  • HMC 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCLA 3.92
  • HMC 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCLA A
  • HMC A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCLA Elite
  • HMC Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCLA Extreme
  • HMC Very High
  • ACT Range
  • UCLA 29/35
  • HMC 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • UCLA 1300/1530
  • HMC 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCLA Test-free
  • HMC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCLA Nov 30, 2026
  • HMC Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCLA 20:1
  • HMC 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCLA
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • History (7%)
  • HMC
    • Engineering (42%)
    • Physical Sciences (18%)
    • Mathematics (13%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCLA 90%
  • HMC 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCLA $70,700
  • HMC $84,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCLA 78%
  • HMC -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCLA $16,300
  • HMC $25,540
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCLA $168
  • HMC $264

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCLA 43%
  • HMC 50%
  • % Women
  • UCLA 57%
  • HMC 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCLA Very High
  • HMC Very High
  • HBCU
  • UCLA No
  • HMC No
  • % White
  • UCLA 27%
  • HMC 38%
  • % Asian
  • UCLA 29%
  • HMC 20%
  • % Black
  • UCLA 3%
  • HMC 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCLA 21%
  • HMC 13%
  • % Native American
  • UCLA 0%
  • HMC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCLA 0%
  • HMC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCLA 5%
  • HMC 8%
  • % International
  • UCLA 13%
  • HMC 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCLA 2%
  • HMC 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCLA 79%
  • HMC 43%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCLA 12%
  • HMC 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Los Angeles in Los Angeles, CA with Harvey Mudd 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 HMC based on total student enrollment (47,335 students vs. 951 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UCLA vs. HMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCLA 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 Los Angeles than HMC ($14,512 vs. $43,966).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Los Angeles are 17.7% lower than at Harvey Mudd College ($18,369 vs. $22,318).
  • Harvey Mudd College is 351.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCLA (about $53,410 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $15,203.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 38.9% higher at HMC than at University of California Los Angeles (about $19,210 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $49,403.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvey Mudd College than at University of California Los Angeles (64% vs. 49%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvey Mudd College students is 80.3% larger than aid received by University of California Los Angeles students ($46,199 vs. $25,627).

UCLA vs. HMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCLA 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 UCLA.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvey Mudd College (1540) is 120 points higher than at UCLA (1420).
  • Incoming HMC students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 32 at UCLA).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 1300/1530; Harvey Mudd College 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 29/35; Harvey Mudd College 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCLA - Test-free; HMC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCLA Nov 30, 2026; HMC Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman HMC students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at UCLA (3.92).
  • HMC has a higher acceptance rate (12.7%) than UCLA (9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.4% at UCLA vs. 35.8% at HMC.

UCLA vs. HMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCLA 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 Los Angeles's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Harvey Mudd College's (84%).
  • Graduates from Harvey Mudd College earn a median of about $14,200 more per year than UCLA graduates about ten years after starting college ($84,900 vs. $70,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Los Angeles graduates have a $9,240 lower median loan debt than HMC graduates ($16,300 vs. $25,540).
  • Among borrowers, UCLA graduates have an estimated $96 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HMC graduates ($168 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.