UCSC vs. HMC

Deciding between University of California Santa Cruz 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 Cruz
Harvey Mudd College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCSC Santa Cruz, CA
  • HMC Claremont, CA
  • Setting
  • UCSC Small City
  • HMC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSC 19,938
  • HMC 951
  • Type
  • UCSC Public 4 Year
  • HMC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCSC #255
  • HMC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCSC -
  • HMC -
  • Status
  • UCSC Non-profit
  • HMC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCSC
  • HMC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCSC $16,005
  • HMC $68,613
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCSC $50,205
  • HMC $68,613
  • Room & Board
  • UCSC $19,948
  • HMC $22,318
  • Average Net Price
  • UCSC $18,059
  • HMC $43,966
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCSC $22,774
  • HMC $46,199
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCSC 57%
  • HMC 64%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCSC 71,722
  • HMC 5,094
  • Admitted
  • UCSC 47,186
  • HMC 645
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCSC 65.8%
  • HMC 12.7%
  • Enrolled
  • UCSC 9.3%
  • HMC 35.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSC 1260
  • HMC 1540
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSC 29
  • HMC 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCSC 3.63
  • HMC 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCSC A-
  • HMC A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCSC Very High
  • HMC Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCSC Low
  • HMC Very High
  • ACT Range
  • UCSC 25/33
  • HMC 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • UCSC 1160/1360
  • HMC 1500/1570
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCSC Test-free
  • HMC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCSC Nov 30, 2026
  • HMC Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCSC 22:1
  • HMC 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCSC
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
  • HMC
    • Engineering (42%)
    • Physical Sciences (18%)
    • Mathematics (13%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (12%)
    • Biology (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCSC 73%
  • HMC 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCSC $50,400
  • HMC $84,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCSC 74%
  • HMC -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCSC $19,959
  • HMC $25,540
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCSC $206
  • HMC $264

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCSC 48%
  • HMC 50%
  • % Women
  • UCSC 52%
  • HMC 50%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCSC Very High
  • HMC Very High
  • HBCU
  • UCSC No
  • HMC No
  • % White
  • UCSC 33%
  • HMC 38%
  • % Asian
  • UCSC 21%
  • HMC 20%
  • % Black
  • UCSC 2%
  • HMC 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCSC 31%
  • HMC 13%
  • % Native American
  • UCSC 0%
  • HMC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCSC 0%
  • HMC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCSC 7%
  • HMC 8%
  • % International
  • UCSC 4%
  • HMC 13%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCSC 2%
  • HMC 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCSC 92%
  • HMC 43%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCSC 5%
  • HMC 46%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, 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 Cruz is larger than HMC based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 951 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UCSC vs. HMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC 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 Cruz than HMC ($18,059 vs. $43,966).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Santa Cruz are 10.6% lower than at Harvey Mudd College ($19,948 vs. $22,318).
  • Harvey Mudd College is 328.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCSC (about $52,608 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $16,005.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 36.7% higher at HMC than at University of California Santa Cruz (about $18,408 more per year; $68,613.00 vs. $50,205.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvey Mudd College than at University of California Santa Cruz (64% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvey Mudd College students is 102.9% larger than aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students ($46,199 vs. $22,774).

UCSC vs. HMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSC 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 UCSC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvey Mudd College (1540) is 280 points higher than at UCSC (1260).
  • Incoming HMC students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 29 at UCSC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; Harvey Mudd College 1500/1570.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33; Harvey Mudd College 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; HMC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026; HMC Jan 5, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman HMC students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at UCSC (3.63).
  • UCSC has a higher acceptance rate (65.8%) than HMC (12.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 35.8% at HMC.

UCSC vs. HMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC 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 Cruz's (73%).
  • Graduates from Harvey Mudd College earn a median of about $34,500 more per year than UCSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($84,900 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Cruz graduates have a $5,581 lower median loan debt than HMC graduates ($19,959 vs. $25,540).
  • Among borrowers, UCSC graduates have an estimated $58 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than HMC graduates ($206 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.