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Harvey Mudd College

Private Nonprofit Bachelor's Strong 82/100

Harvey Mudd College

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Claremont, California

About Harvey Mudd College

Harvey Mudd College is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Claremont, California. It enrolls 921 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: hmc.edu

Acceptance: 12.7%
Graduation: —
Net Price: $35,924
Median Earnings (10yr): $138,687
Enrollment: 921
Student : Faculty: 8:1

Accreditor Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong

82/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 97

Value 82

Affordability 8

Selectivity 98

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 12.7%, Harvey Mudd College is a selective institution.

Acceptance Rate

12.7%

Very Selective

SAT Range (25th–75th)

1500 – 1570

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

34 – 36

Cumulative composite

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Harvey Mudd College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Stable ↓ 0.6 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Harvey Mudd College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $35,924 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$35,924

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

15%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

33%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees: $68,613
Room & Board (on-campus): $22,318
Room & Board (off-campus): $11,182
Books & Supplies: $800
Other Expenses (on-campus): $1,400
Other Expenses (off-campus): $1,400
Total Cost of Attendance: $90,165

Application fee: $70 (one-time, due at submission)

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$27,979
$30,001 – $48,000

$23,883
$48,001 – $75,000

$17,968
$75,001 – $110,000

$25,468
Over $110,000

$50,665

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$5,500

10% percentile

$13,500

25% percentile

$25,000

Median percentile

$27,000

75% percentile

$28,630

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $20,494 ↓ $4,506

No Pell $19,500 ↓ $5,500

Female students $18,221 ↓ $6,779

Male students $23,890 ↓ $1,110

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $10,008, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

97% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

—

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

97%

Returning for their second year

What this means: High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Harvey Mudd College earn a median of $138,687 ten years after first enrolling. That's well above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$138,687

Earning > $25K

94%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

What this means: Solid return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$3.9 of median earnings 10 years out.

Who Studies Here

Harvey Mudd College is home to 921 students, a small, close-knit community.

Total Enrolled

921

Part-Time

First-Generation

—

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 24.4% 225

Hispanic 22.0% 203

Asian 20.2% 186

Other 12.4% 114

International 11.0% 101

Black 5.2% 48

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Harvey Mudd College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Large Suburb Claremont, California

Housing

Strongly residential 917 beds for 921 students

Adult Learners

0% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Harvey Mudd College offers a varied set of programs: 19 distinct programs across 13 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

1 Program

Computer Science

Computer Science $107K ($75K–$152K)

1 Program

Engineering

General Engineering $89K ($73K–$109K)

3 Programs

Interdisciplinary Studies

Mathematics and Computer Science $119K ($77K–$175K)
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies $56K ($40K–$72K)
Science $67K ($45K–$93K)

3 Programs

Physical Sciences

Physics $77K ($52K–$103K)
Chemistry $65K ($48K–$84K)
Geosciences $60K ($44K–$78K)

3 Programs

Biology

Biomathematics $87K ($57K–$133K)
Biochemistry & Biophysics $65K ($45K–$88K)
Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)

1 Program

Mathematics

Mathematics $70K ($49K–$97K)

1 Program

Communication

Communication & Media $56K ($40K–$76K)

1 Program

Business

Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)

1 Program

Visual & Performing Arts

Dance $40K ($25K–$57K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Harvey Mudd College is 8:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).

Student : Faculty

8:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Endowment

$557M

Solid financial position

Avg Faculty Salary

$132,756

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

107 instructional faculty across 4 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	47	44%	$161,783
Associate Professors	22	21%	$124,851
Assistant Professors	25	23%	$114,228
Instructors	13	12%	$82,654

Pros & Cons of Harvey Mudd College

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Harvey Mudd College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Highly selective, strong peer cohort
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings

CONS

High net price compared to most US colleges
Highly competitive admissions, many strong applicants are rejected
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families

Best for: Based on the data, Harvey Mudd College is a fit for students prioritizing post-graduation earnings; students seeking a highly selective peer group; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Harvey Mudd College

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Harvey Mudd College.

Is Harvey Mudd College hard to get into?

Harvey Mudd College is highly selective. Its acceptance rate is 12.7%, so admitted students generally have strong grades, competitive test scores, and a well-rounded application.

What is the acceptance rate at Harvey Mudd College?

Harvey Mudd College has an acceptance rate of 12.7%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for Harvey Mudd College?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Harvey Mudd College scored between 1500 and 1570 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

What ACT score do you need for Harvey Mudd College?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Harvey Mudd College scored between 34 and 36 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

How much does Harvey Mudd College cost?

The average net price after aid at Harvey Mudd College is $35,924 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Harvey Mudd College worth it?

Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $138,687 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $35,924 per year. That's roughly 3.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Harvey Mudd College known for?

Harvey Mudd College is best known for its programs in Computer Science, General Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Harvey Mudd College graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Harvey Mudd College are $138,687, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Harvey Mudd College accredited?

Yes. Harvey Mudd College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.

How many students attend Harvey Mudd College?

Harvey Mudd College enrolls 921 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

Is Harvey Mudd College a public or private college?

Harvey Mudd College is a Private Nonprofit institution.

Where is Harvey Mudd College located?

Harvey Mudd College is located in Claremont, California.

What programs does Harvey Mudd College offer?

Harvey Mudd College offers 19 distinct programs. The most popular include Computer Science, General Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Harvey Mudd College?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Harvey Mudd College is 8:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.