UCSB vs. HMC

Deciding between University of California Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara
Harvey Mudd College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSB Santa Barbara, CA
  • HMC Claremont, CA
  • Setting
  • UCSB Midsize Suburban
  • HMC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSB 26,133
  • HMC 951
  • Type
  • UCSB Public 4 Year
  • HMC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSB #112
  • HMC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSB -
  • HMC -
  • Status
  • UCSB Non-profit
  • HMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSB
  • HMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSB $16,414
  • HMC $68,613
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSB $50,614
  • HMC $68,613
  • Room & Board
  • UCSB $20,279
  • HMC $22,318
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSB $17,658
  • HMC $43,966
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSB $24,695
  • HMC $46,199
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSB 53%
  • HMC 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSB 110,259
  • HMC 5,094
  • Admitted
  • UCSB 36,347
  • HMC 645
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSB 33%
  • HMC 12.7%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSB 13.8%
  • HMC 35.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSB 1350
  • HMC 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSB 31
  • HMC 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSB 3.82
  • HMC 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSB A-
  • HMC A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSB Exceptional
  • HMC Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSB High
  • HMC Very High
  • ACT Range
  • UCSB 28/34
  • HMC 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • UCSB 1230/1460
  • HMC 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSB Test-free
  • HMC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSB Nov 30, 2026
  • HMC Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSB 17:1
  • HMC 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSB
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • HMC
    • Engineering (42%)
    • Physical Sciences (18%)
    • Mathematics (13%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSB 80%
  • HMC 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSB $59,000
  • HMC $84,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSB 73%
  • HMC -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSB $16,451
  • HMC $25,540
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSB $170
  • HMC $264

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSB 43%
  • HMC 50%
  • % Women
  • UCSB 57%
  • HMC 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSB Very High
  • HMC Very High
  • HBCU
  • UCSB No
  • HMC No
  • % White
  • UCSB 35%
  • HMC 38%
  • % Asian
  • UCSB 19%
  • HMC 20%
  • % Black
  • UCSB 2%
  • HMC 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSB 26%
  • HMC 13%
  • % Native American
  • UCSB 0%
  • HMC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSB 0%
  • HMC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSB 8%
  • HMC 8%
  • % International
  • UCSB 7%
  • HMC 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSB 3%
  • HMC 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSB 82%
  • HMC 43%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSB 9%
  • HMC 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Santa Barbara is larger than HMC based on total student enrollment (26,133 students vs. 951 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Santa Barbara is located in Santa Barbara, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Harvey Mudd College is in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of California Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara 17:1; Harvey Mudd College 8:1.

UCSB vs. HMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSB 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 Santa Barbara than HMC ($17,658 vs. $43,966).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Santa Barbara are 9.1% lower than at Harvey Mudd College ($20,279 vs. $22,318).
  • Harvey Mudd College is 318% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSB (about $52,199 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $16,414.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 35.6% higher at HMC than at University of California Santa Barbara (about $17,999 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $50,614.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvey Mudd College than at University of California Santa Barbara (64% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvey Mudd College students is 87.1% larger than aid received by University of California Santa Barbara students ($46,199 vs. $24,695).

UCSB vs. HMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSB 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 UCSB.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvey Mudd College (1540) is 190 points higher than at UCSB (1350).
  • Incoming HMC students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 31 at UCSB).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Barbara 1230/1460; Harvey Mudd College 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Barbara 28/34; Harvey Mudd College 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSB - Test-free; HMC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSB 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 UCSB (3.82).
  • UCSB has a higher acceptance rate (33%) than HMC (12.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.8% at UCSB vs. 35.8% at HMC.

UCSB vs. HMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSB 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).

  • Harvey Mudd College's six-year graduation rate (84%) is higher than University of California Santa Barbara's (80%).
  • Graduates from Harvey Mudd College earn a median of about $25,900 more per year than UCSB graduates about ten years after starting college ($84,900 vs. $59,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Barbara graduates have a $9,089 lower median loan debt than HMC graduates ($16,451 vs. $25,540).
  • Among borrowers, UCSB graduates have an estimated $94 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HMC graduates ($170 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.