UC Berkeley vs. Claremont McKenna

University of California Berkeley and Claremont McKenna College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

University of California Berkeley
Claremont McKenna College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Claremont McKenna (9.6% admitted vs 11%). Typical SAT 1520 vs 1420.
  • Cheaper after aid: UC Berkeley. Average net price is $16,538 vs $33,895 at Claremont McKenna.
  • Graduation: UC Berkeley 90% vs Claremont McKenna 91%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: UC Berkeley $74,700 vs Claremont McKenna $97,800 (median).
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Key differences

University of California Berkeley Claremont McKenna College
Acceptance rate
Claremont McKenna more selective
UC Berkeley11%
Claremont McKenna9.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Claremont McKenna higher
UC Berkeley1310-1530
Claremont McKenna1470-1560
Average net price
UC Berkeley $17,357 less
UC Berkeley$16,538
Claremont McKenna$33,895
In-state tuition
UC Berkeley $51,633 less
UC Berkeley$16,347
Claremont McKenna$67,980
Out-of-state tuition
UC Berkeley $17,433 less
UC Berkeley$50,547
Claremont McKenna$67,980
Graduation rate
Claremont McKenna +1 pts
UC Berkeley90%
Claremont McKenna91%
Median earnings (10 years)
Claremont McKenna +$23,100
UC Berkeley$74,700
Claremont McKenna$97,800

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • UC Berkeley 124,242
  • Claremont McKenna 6,529
  • Admitted
  • UC Berkeley 13,639
  • Claremont McKenna 626
  • Acceptance rate
  • UC Berkeley 11%
  • Claremont McKenna 9.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • UC Berkeley 46%
  • Claremont McKenna 53.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UC Berkeley 1420
  • Claremont McKenna 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • UC Berkeley 32
  • Claremont McKenna 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • UC Berkeley 3.87
  • Claremont McKenna 3.89
  • Typical high school grades
  • UC Berkeley A
  • Claremont McKenna A
  • Admissions standards
  • UC Berkeley Elite
  • Claremont McKenna Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • UC Berkeley Very High
  • Claremont McKenna Very High
  • SAT range
  • UC Berkeley 1310-1530
  • Claremont McKenna 1470-1560
  • ACT range
  • UC Berkeley 30-35
  • Claremont McKenna 33-35
  • Submit test scores
  • UC Berkeley Test-free
  • Claremont McKenna Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026
  • Claremont McKenna Jan 5, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • UC Berkeley $16,347
  • Claremont McKenna $67,980
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • UC Berkeley $50,547
  • Claremont McKenna $67,980
  • Room & board
  • UC Berkeley $23,750
  • Claremont McKenna $20,830
  • Average net price
  • UC Berkeley $16,538
  • Claremont McKenna $33,895
  • Average grant aid
  • UC Berkeley $29,608
  • Claremont McKenna $52,605
  • % receiving grant aid
  • UC Berkeley 53%
  • Claremont McKenna 43%
  • Graduation rate
  • UC Berkeley 90%
  • Claremont McKenna 91%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • UC Berkeley $74,700
  • Claremont McKenna $97,800
  • Making student loan payments
  • UC Berkeley 79%
  • Claremont McKenna -
  • Median student loan debt
  • UC Berkeley $14,200
  • Claremont McKenna $14,967
  • Median loan payment
  • UC Berkeley $146
  • Claremont McKenna $154
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • UC Berkeley 18:1
  • Claremont McKenna 8:1
  • Popular majors
  • UC Berkeley
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (5%)
  • Claremont McKenna
    • Social Sciences (44%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Business (7%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • Location
  • UC Berkeley Berkeley, CA
  • Claremont McKenna Claremont, CA
  • Setting
  • UC Berkeley Midsize City
  • Claremont McKenna Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UC Berkeley 45,882
  • Claremont McKenna 1,393
  • Type
  • UC Berkeley Public 4 Year
  • Claremont McKenna Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • UC Berkeley #65
  • Claremont McKenna #17

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Berkeley is larger than Claremont McKenna based on total student enrollment (45,882 students vs. 1,393 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Berkeley is located in Berkeley, CA (Midsize City setting); Claremont McKenna College is in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of California Berkeley 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 Berkeley 18:1; Claremont McKenna College 8:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Claremont McKenna College are 12.3% lower than at University of California Berkeley ($20,830 vs. $23,750).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 34.5% higher at Claremont McKenna than at University of California Berkeley (about $17,433 more per year; $67,980 vs. $50,547).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Berkeley than at Claremont McKenna College (53% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Claremont McKenna College students is 77.7% larger than aid received by University of California Berkeley students ($52,605 vs. $29,608).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at Claremont McKenna than at UC Berkeley (34 vs. 32, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at UC Berkeley, test optional at Claremont McKenna.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026; Claremont McKenna Jan 5, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Claremont McKenna average a 3.89 high school GPA, 0.02 higher than at UC Berkeley (3.87).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46% at UC Berkeley vs. 53.8% at Claremont McKenna.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Berkeley graduates have a $767 lower median loan debt than Claremont McKenna graduates ($14,200 vs. $14,967).
  • Among borrowers, UC Berkeley graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Claremont McKenna graduates ($146 vs. $154).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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