UC Riverside vs. Claremont McKenna

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Riverside is larger than Claremont McKenna based on total student enrollment (26,384 students vs. 1,393 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Riverside is located in Riverside, CA (Large City setting); Claremont McKenna College is in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• University of California Riverside 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 Riverside 22:1; Claremont McKenna College 8:1.

UC Riverside vs. Claremont McKenna Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Riverside 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 Riverside than Claremont McKenna ($14,562 vs. $33,895).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Riverside are 0.7% lower than at Claremont McKenna College ($20,691 vs. $20,830).
• Claremont McKenna College is 335.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Riverside (about $52,374 more per year; $67,980.00 vs. $15,606.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 36.5% higher at Claremont McKenna than at University of California Riverside (about $18,174 more per year; $67,980.00 vs. $49,806.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Riverside than at Claremont McKenna College (76% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Claremont McKenna College students is 116% larger than aid received by University of California Riverside students ($52,605 vs. $24,355).

UC Riverside vs. Claremont McKenna Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Riverside 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 Riverside.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Claremont McKenna College (1520) is 340 points higher than at UC Riverside (1180).
• Incoming Claremont McKenna students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 26 at UC Riverside).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 1080/1280; Claremont McKenna College 1470/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Riverside 22/31; Claremont McKenna College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Riverside - Test-free; Claremont McKenna - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026; Claremont McKenna Jan 5, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Claremont McKenna students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at UC Riverside (3.84).
• UC Riverside has a higher acceptance rate (76.4%) than Claremont McKenna (9.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.2% at UC Riverside vs. 53.8% at Claremont McKenna.

UC Riverside vs. Claremont McKenna Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Riverside 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 Riverside's (67%).
• Graduates from Claremont McKenna College earn a median of about $45,600 more per year than UC Riverside graduates about ten years after starting college ($97,800 vs. $52,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Claremont McKenna College graduates have a $4,142 lower median loan debt than UC Riverside graduates ($14,967 vs. $19,109).
• Among borrowers, Claremont McKenna graduates have an estimated $43 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Riverside graduates ($154 vs. $197).

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.