UCSC vs. Claremont McKenna

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Santa Cruz is larger than Claremont McKenna based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 1,393 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UCSC vs. Claremont McKenna Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC 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 Santa Cruz than Claremont McKenna ($18,059 vs. $33,895).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Santa Cruz are 4.2% lower than at Claremont McKenna College ($19,948 vs. $20,830).
• Claremont McKenna College is 324.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSC (about $51,975 more per year; $67,980.00 vs. $16,005.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 35.4% higher at Claremont McKenna than at University of California Santa Cruz (about $17,775 more per year; $67,980.00 vs. $50,205.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Santa Cruz than at Claremont McKenna College (57% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Claremont McKenna College students is 131% larger than aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students ($52,605 vs. $22,774).

UCSC vs. Claremont McKenna Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSC 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 UCSC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Claremont McKenna College (1520) is 260 points higher than at UCSC (1260).
• Incoming Claremont McKenna students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 29 at UCSC).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; Claremont McKenna College 1470/1560.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33; Claremont McKenna College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; Claremont McKenna - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026; Claremont McKenna Jan 5, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Claremont McKenna students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at UCSC (3.63).
• UCSC has a higher acceptance rate (65.8%) than Claremont McKenna (9.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 53.8% at Claremont McKenna.

UCSC vs. Claremont McKenna Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC 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 Santa Cruz's (73%).
• Graduates from Claremont McKenna College earn a median of about $47,400 more per year than UCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($97,800 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Claremont McKenna College graduates have a $4,992 lower median loan debt than UCSC graduates ($14,967 vs. $19,959).
• Among borrowers, Claremont McKenna graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSC graduates ($154 vs. $206).

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.