Claremont McKenna vs. SMU

Should I go to Claremont McKenna College or Southern Methodist University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Claremont McKenna or SMU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Claremont McKenna College vs. Southern Methodist University comparison
Claremont McKenna College Southern Methodist University College 3 College 4
Claremont McKenna College Southern Methodist University
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Overview

Claremont McKenna SMU
Location Claremont, CA Dallas, TX
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,389 12,053
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #18 #67
Religious Affiliation - United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website claremontmckenna.edu smu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Claremont McKenna SMU
Tuition (In State) $60,480 $55,012
Tuition (Out of State) $60,480 $55,012
Room & Board $18,712 $17,750
Avg Net Price $28,701 $45,094
Avg Grant Aid $50,020 $35,344
% Receiving Grant Aid 49% 73%

Admission

Claremont McKenna SMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,709 16,150
Admitted 591 8,439
Acceptance Rate 10.4% 52.3%
Enrolled % 54.5% 19.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.89 3.68
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Elite Exceptional
Applicant Competition Very High Low
ACT Range 33/35 31/34
SAT Range 1440/1550 1370/1510
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 5, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

Claremont McKenna SMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (44%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Business (7%)
  • General Studies (7%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (11%)
  • Engineering (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

Outcomes

Claremont McKenna SMU
Graduation Rate 91% 75%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $97,800 $73,000
Making Student Loan Payments - 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $14,967 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $154 $222

Diversity

Claremont McKenna SMU
% Men 49% 50%
% Women 51% 50%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 42% 65%
% Black 4% 5%
% Hispanic 14% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 4%
% International 17% 8%
% Unknown Race 6% 0%

Students

Claremont McKenna SMU
% In-State 42% 38%
% Out-of-State 41% 58%

Campus

Claremont McKenna SMU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Southern Methodist University is larger than than Claremont McKenna based on total student enrollment (12,053 students vs. 1,389 students)

Claremont McKenna vs. SMU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Claremont McKenna or SMU?

  • Claremont McKenna College is 9.9% more expensive to attend than SMU for in-state tuition ($60,480.00 vs. $55,012.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.9% higher at Claremont McKenna than Southern Methodist University ($60,480.00 vs. $55,012.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Claremont McKenna College than SMU ($28,701 vs. $45,094)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Methodist University are 5.4% lower than costs at Claremont McKenna College ($17,750 vs. $18,712)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Southern Methodist University than Claremont McKenna College (73% vs. 49%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Claremont McKenna College students is 41.5% larger than aid received Southern Methodist University ($50,020 vs. $35,344)

Claremont McKenna vs. SMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Claremont McKenna or SMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SMU or Claremont McKenna .

  • The average SAT score at Claremont McKenna College (1408) is 78 points higher than at SMU (1330)
  • Incoming Claremont McKenna students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at SMU (30)
  • Accepted freshman Claremont McKenna students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.89) than students at SMU (3.68)
  • SMU has a higher acceptance rate (52.3%) than Claremont McKenna (10.4%)

Claremont McKenna vs. SMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Claremont McKenna or SMU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SMU and Claremont McKenna.

  • The graduation rate at Claremont McKenna is higher than Southern Methodist University (91% vs. 75%)
  • Graduates from Claremont McKenna College earn on average $24,800 more per year than SMU graduates after ten years. ($97,800 vs. $73,000)
  • Claremont McKenna College students graduate with a $6,533 lower median federal student loan debt than SMU graduates. ($14,967 vs. $21,500)
  • Claremont McKenna graduates are paying $68 less per month on federal student loans than SMU graduates. ($154 vs. $222)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/