UCSD vs. HMC

Deciding between University of California San Diego 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 San Diego
Harvey Mudd College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSD La Jolla, CA
  • HMC Claremont, CA
  • Setting
  • UCSD Large City
  • HMC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSD 44,256
  • HMC 951
  • Type
  • UCSD Public 4 Year
  • HMC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSD #87
  • HMC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSD -
  • HMC -
  • Status
  • UCSD Non-profit
  • HMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSD
  • HMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSD $16,758
  • HMC $68,613
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSD $50,958
  • HMC $68,613
  • Room & Board
  • UCSD $18,970
  • HMC $22,318
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSD $14,047
  • HMC $43,966
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSD $25,757
  • HMC $46,199
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSD 59%
  • HMC 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSD 134,450
  • HMC 5,094
  • Admitted
  • UCSD 35,917
  • HMC 645
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSD 26.7%
  • HMC 12.7%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSD 20.4%
  • HMC 35.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSD 1380
  • HMC 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSD 31
  • HMC 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSD 3.82
  • HMC 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSD A-
  • HMC A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSD Exceptional
  • HMC Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSD High
  • HMC Very High
  • ACT Range
  • UCSD 28/34
  • HMC 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • UCSD 1270/1480
  • HMC 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSD Test-free
  • HMC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSD Nov 30, 2026
  • HMC Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSD 19:1
  • HMC 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSD
    • Biology (23%)
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • HMC
    • Engineering (42%)
    • Physical Sciences (18%)
    • Mathematics (13%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSD 85%
  • HMC 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSD $67,900
  • HMC $84,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSD 82%
  • HMC -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSD $18,500
  • HMC $25,540
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSD $191
  • HMC $264

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSD 47%
  • HMC 50%
  • % Women
  • UCSD 53%
  • HMC 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSD Very High
  • HMC Very High
  • HBCU
  • UCSD No
  • HMC No
  • % White
  • UCSD 21%
  • HMC 38%
  • % Asian
  • UCSD 37%
  • HMC 20%
  • % Black
  • UCSD 1%
  • HMC 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSD 16%
  • HMC 13%
  • % Native American
  • UCSD 0%
  • HMC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSD 0%
  • HMC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSD 5%
  • HMC 8%
  • % International
  • UCSD 17%
  • HMC 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSD 2%
  • HMC 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSD 78%
  • HMC 43%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSD 9%
  • HMC 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of California San Diego is larger than HMC based on total student enrollment (44,256 students vs. 951 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California San Diego is located in La Jolla, CA (Large City setting); Harvey Mudd College is in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of California San Diego 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 San Diego 19:1; Harvey Mudd College 8:1.

UCSD vs. HMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSD 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 San Diego than HMC ($14,047 vs. $43,966).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California San Diego are 15% lower than at Harvey Mudd College ($18,970 vs. $22,318).
  • Harvey Mudd College is 309.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSD (about $51,855 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $16,758.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 34.6% higher at HMC than at University of California San Diego (about $17,655 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $50,958.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvey Mudd College than at University of California San Diego (64% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvey Mudd College students is 79.4% larger than aid received by University of California San Diego students ($46,199 vs. $25,757).

UCSD vs. HMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSD 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 UCSD.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvey Mudd College (1540) is 160 points higher than at UCSD (1380).
  • Incoming HMC students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 31 at UCSD).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 1270/1480; Harvey Mudd College 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California San Diego 28/34; Harvey Mudd College 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSD - Test-free; HMC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSD Nov 30, 2026; HMC Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman HMC students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at UCSD (3.82).
  • UCSD has a higher acceptance rate (26.7%) than HMC (12.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at UCSD vs. 35.8% at HMC.

UCSD vs. HMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSD 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 San Diego's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Harvey Mudd College's (84%).
  • Graduates from Harvey Mudd College earn a median of about $17,000 more per year than UCSD graduates about ten years after starting college ($84,900 vs. $67,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California San Diego graduates have a $7,040 lower median loan debt than HMC graduates ($18,500 vs. $25,540).
  • Among borrowers, UCSD graduates have an estimated $73 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HMC graduates ($191 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.