UCSC vs. Claremont McKenna

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

University of California Santa Cruz
Claremont McKenna College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Claremont McKenna (9.6% admitted vs 65.8%). Typical SAT 1520 vs 1260.
  • Cheaper after aid: UCSC. Average net price is $18,059 vs $33,895 at Claremont McKenna.
  • Graduation: UCSC 73% vs Claremont McKenna 91%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: UCSC $50,400 vs Claremont McKenna $97,800 (median).
See your own chances ->

Key differences

University of California Santa Cruz Claremont McKenna College
Acceptance rate
Claremont McKenna more selective
UCSC65.8%
Claremont McKenna9.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Claremont McKenna higher
UCSC1160-1360
Claremont McKenna1470-1560
Average net price
UCSC $15,836 less
UCSC$18,059
Claremont McKenna$33,895
In-state tuition
UCSC $51,975 less
UCSC$16,005
Claremont McKenna$67,980
Out-of-state tuition
UCSC $17,775 less
UCSC$50,205
Claremont McKenna$67,980
Graduation rate
Claremont McKenna +18 pts
UCSC73%
Claremont McKenna91%
Median earnings (10 years)
Claremont McKenna +$47,400
UCSC$50,400
Claremont McKenna$97,800

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

Partner

Not sure you'd get in? Check your chances at UCSC and Claremont McKenna with Appily's free admission calculator.

Check my chances at UCSC Check my chances at Claremont McKenna
  • Applied
  • UCSC 71,722
  • Claremont McKenna 6,529
  • Admitted
  • UCSC 47,186
  • Claremont McKenna 626
  • Acceptance rate
  • UCSC 65.8%
  • Claremont McKenna 9.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • UCSC 9.3%
  • Claremont McKenna 53.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSC 1260
  • Claremont McKenna 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSC 29
  • Claremont McKenna 34
  • Average high school GPA
  • UCSC 3.63
  • Claremont McKenna 3.89
  • Typical high school grades
  • UCSC A-
  • Claremont McKenna A
  • Admissions standards
  • UCSC Very High
  • Claremont McKenna Elite
  • Applicant competition
  • UCSC Low
  • Claremont McKenna Very High
  • SAT range
  • UCSC 1160-1360
  • Claremont McKenna 1470-1560
  • ACT range
  • UCSC 25-33
  • Claremont McKenna 33-35
  • Submit test scores
  • UCSC Test-free
  • Claremont McKenna Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • UCSC Nov 30, 2026
  • Claremont McKenna Jan 5, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • UCSC $16,005
  • Claremont McKenna $67,980
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • UCSC $50,205
  • Claremont McKenna $67,980
  • Room & board
  • UCSC $19,948
  • Claremont McKenna $20,830
  • Average net price
  • UCSC $18,059
  • Claremont McKenna $33,895
  • Average grant aid
  • UCSC $22,774
  • Claremont McKenna $52,605
  • % receiving grant aid
  • UCSC 57%
  • Claremont McKenna 43%
  • Graduation rate
  • UCSC 73%
  • Claremont McKenna 91%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • UCSC $50,400
  • Claremont McKenna $97,800
  • Making student loan payments
  • UCSC 74%
  • Claremont McKenna -
  • Median student loan debt
  • UCSC $19,959
  • Claremont McKenna $14,967
  • Median loan payment
  • UCSC $206
  • Claremont McKenna $154
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • UCSC 22:1
  • Claremont McKenna 8:1
  • Popular majors
  • UCSC
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
  • Claremont McKenna
    • Social Sciences (44%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Business (7%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • Location
  • UCSC Santa Cruz, CA
  • Claremont McKenna Claremont, CA
  • Setting
  • UCSC Small City
  • Claremont McKenna Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSC 19,938
  • Claremont McKenna 1,393
  • Type
  • UCSC Public 4 Year
  • Claremont McKenna Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • UCSC #255
  • Claremont McKenna #17

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Santa Cruz is larger than Claremont McKenna based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 1,393 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Santa Cruz are 4.2% lower than at Claremont McKenna College ($19,948 vs. $20,830).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 35.4% higher at Claremont McKenna than at University of California Santa Cruz (about $17,775 more per year; $67,980 vs. $50,205).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Santa Cruz than at Claremont McKenna College (57% vs. 43%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Claremont McKenna College students is 131% larger than aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students ($52,605 vs. $22,774).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 5 points higher at Claremont McKenna than at UCSC (34 vs. 29, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at UCSC, test optional at Claremont McKenna.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026; Claremont McKenna Jan 5, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Claremont McKenna average a 3.89 high school GPA, 0.26 higher than at UCSC (3.63).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 53.8% at Claremont McKenna.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Claremont McKenna College graduates have a $4,992 lower median loan debt than UCSC graduates ($14,967 vs. $19,959).
  • Among borrowers, Claremont McKenna graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSC graduates ($154 vs. $206).

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

Change schools

You can add up to two more colleges. Each one gets its own column.

University of California Santa Cruz
Claremont McKenna College
Add a college Compare up to 4

Frequently compared to these colleges