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Harvey Mudd College

Harvey Mudd College

Claremont, CA · 921 students

Highly SelectivePrivateSuburbBachelorCampus-basedhmc.edu
78.7/100

Trajecta score

+1.7 since '20

Ranked #42 of 2,375

5-year trend

'20'24

76.8 · #39

2020

80.5 · #43

2021

76.9 · #73

2022

79.3 · #60

2023

78.5 · #66

2024

AcademicCareersSuccessAfford.Invest.Access

Academic Profile

91/ 100

Career Outcomes

98/ 100

Student Success

91/ 100

Affordability

40/ 100

Academic Investment

96/ 100

Access & Equity

27/ 100

Academic Profile

91

Career Outcomes

98

Student Success

91

Affordability

40

Academic Investment

96

Access & Equity

27

AI Fit Analysis

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Cost / Net Price

$90k / $36k

SAT Avg

1,545

Retention

96%

Grad Rate

93%

Admissions

13%admission rate
EliteH.SelSelectiveModerateOpen

Test Scores

SAT Range1,545
4001000120014001600
25th: 1,500Average: 1,54575th: 1,570
ACT Range35
118243036
25th: 34Midpoint: 3575th: 36

Scores represent the midpoint of enrolled students, not a cutoff.

Finances

Tuition

In-State Tuition

$68,613

per year

Out-of-State Tuition

$68,613

per year

Aid & Debt

Pell Grant Share

15%

undergraduates receiving Pell

Federal Loan Share

33%

students borrowing

Median Debt

among completers

$25,000

Admissions Factors

What Harvey Mudd College says it weighs

Self-reported by the school in its Common Data Set (section C7) — the school's own statement of which application factors matter in its admissions decisions.

Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025, what Harvey Mudd College reports weighing in admissions.

FactorVery ImportantImportantConsideredNot Considered
Rigor of secondary school recordRigor of secondary school record: Very Important
Class rankClass rank: Considered
Academic GPAAcademic GPA: Very Important
Standardized test scoresStandardized test scores: Considered
Application essayApplication essay: Important
Recommendation(s)Recommendation(s): Very Important
InterviewInterview: Considered
Extracurricular activitiesExtracurricular activities: Important
Talent/abilityTalent/ability: Considered
Character/personal qualitiesCharacter/personal qualities: Important
First generationFirst generation: Considered
Alumni/ae relationAlumni/ae relation: Not Considered
Geographical residenceGeographical residence: Considered
State residencyState residency: Considered
Religious affiliation/commitmentReligious affiliation/commitment: Not Considered
Volunteer workVolunteer work: Considered
Work experienceWork experience: Considered
Level of applicant's interestLevel of applicant's interest: Not Considered

Supplemental Essays · 2025-26

school's admissions site ↗

Harvey Mudd College essay prompts

These are the 2025-26 prompts — schools typically release new prompts around August 1. Double-check the school's site before submitting.

Shaped Problems

Required500 words

The problems that Harvey Mudd College students hope to tackle are shaped by their experiences, values, and communities. Through our intentionally interdisciplinary curriculum and our mission to develop "a clear understanding of the impact of their work," Mudders develop the skills needed to address these complex challenges and contribute meaningfully to society. Share how an experience you've had or community you belong to has shaped the kinds of problems you want to solve and the impact you want to make.

Asking for Help

Required250 words

No one succeeds alone, and at Harvey Mudd College, no one expects you to. In and out of the classroom, HMC students are encouraged to embrace challenges, collaborate with one another, and ask for support when they need it. Describe a time when asking for help made a difference in your work or wellbeing. What led you to reach out, and what did you take away from the experience?

Drafting these? Write them with AI feedback in Trajecta →

Methodology

How these rankings work

The Trajecta Score (0–100) blends six dimensions of public college data into one comparable number, then nudges it by how much data each school reports. Selectivity tiers are separate — they’re based purely on a school’s admission rate.

Read the full methodology

Selectivity tiers

EliteUnder 10% admit rate
Highly Selective10–20% admit rate
Selective20–40% admit rate
Moderate40–65% admit rate
Open65%+ admit rate

Score dimensions & weights

Career Outcomes25%

Median earnings 10 years out, earnings vs. a high-school grad, and loan repayment.

Academic Profile22%

Admission selectivity and the incoming class’s SAT / ACT scores.

Affordability15%

Average net price after aid and the typical debt of graduates.

Student Success13%

Graduation rate and first-year retention.

Academic Investment12%

Instructional spending and faculty salaries per student.

Access10%

Share of Pell-grant students and reliance on federal loans.

Data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and IPEDS. Figures are the most recent reported and may lag a year or two. This tool is read-only and not personalized — inside the Trajecta app, scores are tailored to your profile as a fit score.

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