UC Riverside vs. Claremont McKenna

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

University of California Riverside
Claremont McKenna College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Claremont McKenna (9.6% admitted vs 76.4%). Typical SAT 1520 vs 1180.
  • Cheaper after aid: UC Riverside. Average net price is $14,562 vs $33,895 at Claremont McKenna.
  • Graduation: UC Riverside 67% vs Claremont McKenna 91%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: UC Riverside $52,200 vs Claremont McKenna $97,800 (median).
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Key differences

University of California Riverside Claremont McKenna College
Acceptance rate
Claremont McKenna more selective
UC Riverside76.4%
Claremont McKenna9.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Claremont McKenna higher
UC Riverside1080-1280
Claremont McKenna1470-1560
Average net price
UC Riverside $19,333 less
UC Riverside$14,562
Claremont McKenna$33,895
In-state tuition
UC Riverside $52,374 less
UC Riverside$15,606
Claremont McKenna$67,980
Out-of-state tuition
UC Riverside $18,174 less
UC Riverside$49,806
Claremont McKenna$67,980
Graduation rate
Claremont McKenna +24 pts
UC Riverside67%
Claremont McKenna91%
Median earnings (10 years)
Claremont McKenna +$45,600
UC Riverside$52,200
Claremont McKenna$97,800

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • UC Riverside 58,048
  • Claremont McKenna 6,529
  • Admitted
  • UC Riverside 44,343
  • Claremont McKenna 626
  • Acceptance rate
  • UC Riverside 76.4%
  • Claremont McKenna 9.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • UC Riverside 12.2%
  • Claremont McKenna 53.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UC Riverside 1180
  • Claremont McKenna 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • UC Riverside 26
  • Claremont McKenna 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • UC Riverside 3.84
  • Claremont McKenna 3.89
  • Typical high school grades
  • UC Riverside A-
  • Claremont McKenna A
  • Admissions standards
  • UC Riverside Difficult
  • Claremont McKenna Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • UC Riverside
  • Claremont McKenna Very High
  • SAT range
  • UC Riverside 1080-1280
  • Claremont McKenna 1470-1560
  • ACT range
  • UC Riverside 22-31
  • Claremont McKenna 33-35
  • Submit test scores
  • UC Riverside Test-free
  • Claremont McKenna Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026
  • Claremont McKenna Jan 5, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • UC Riverside $15,606
  • Claremont McKenna $67,980
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • UC Riverside $49,806
  • Claremont McKenna $67,980
  • Room & board
  • UC Riverside $20,691
  • Claremont McKenna $20,830
  • Average net price
  • UC Riverside $14,562
  • Claremont McKenna $33,895
  • Average grant aid
  • UC Riverside $24,355
  • Claremont McKenna $52,605
  • % receiving grant aid
  • UC Riverside 76%
  • Claremont McKenna 43%
  • Graduation rate
  • UC Riverside 67%
  • Claremont McKenna 91%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • UC Riverside $52,200
  • Claremont McKenna $97,800
  • Making student loan payments
  • UC Riverside 65%
  • Claremont McKenna -
  • Median student loan debt
  • UC Riverside $19,109
  • Claremont McKenna $14,967
  • Median loan payment
  • UC Riverside $197
  • Claremont McKenna $154
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • UC Riverside 22:1
  • Claremont McKenna 8:1
  • Popular majors
  • UC Riverside
    • Social Sciences (19%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • General Studies (6%)
  • Claremont McKenna
    • Social Sciences (44%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Business (7%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • Location
  • UC Riverside Riverside, CA
  • Claremont McKenna Claremont, CA
  • Setting
  • UC Riverside Large City
  • Claremont McKenna Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UC Riverside 26,384
  • Claremont McKenna 1,393
  • Type
  • UC Riverside Public 4 Year
  • Claremont McKenna Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • UC Riverside #306
  • Claremont McKenna #17

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Riverside is larger than Claremont McKenna based on total student enrollment (26,384 students vs. 1,393 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Riverside is located in Riverside, CA (Large City setting); Claremont McKenna College is in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of California Riverside 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 Riverside 22:1; Claremont McKenna College 8:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Riverside are 0.7% lower than at Claremont McKenna College ($20,691 vs. $20,830).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 36.5% higher at Claremont McKenna than at University of California Riverside (about $18,174 more per year; $67,980 vs. $49,806).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Riverside than at Claremont McKenna College (76% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Claremont McKenna College students is 116% larger than aid received by University of California Riverside students ($52,605 vs. $24,355).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 8 points higher at Claremont McKenna than at UC Riverside (34 vs. 26, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at UC Riverside, test optional at Claremont McKenna.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026; Claremont McKenna Jan 5, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Claremont McKenna average a 3.89 high school GPA, 0.05 higher than at UC Riverside (3.84).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.2% at UC Riverside vs. 53.8% at Claremont McKenna.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Claremont McKenna College graduates have a $4,142 lower median loan debt than UC Riverside graduates ($14,967 vs. $19,109).
  • Among borrowers, Claremont McKenna graduates have an estimated $43 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Riverside graduates ($154 vs. $197).

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

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