Harvey Mudd College
Claremont, California · Private Nonprofit · 12.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 92/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Harvey Mudd College scores 92 (Exceptional Value) on the CampusROI scale. The fundamentals are exceptional across nearly every metric: $87,200 average 6-year earnings, a 2.7-year payback period, 91.9% completion rate, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.287. Sticker tuition is $68,613 and net price is $35,924 - expensive in absolute terms but defensible at this earnings velocity. The repayment rate sub-score is 50 because Scorecard does not report repayment data for Harvey Mudd. The three programs reported are Mathematics and Computer Science (44 grads, A, $166,573 yr1), Computer Science (55 grads, A, $132,265 yr1), and Engineering General (53 grads, A, $92,491 yr1). Harvey Mudd is a small STEM-only liberal arts college in Claremont, California, with 921 students and a 12.7% admission rate. It is one of the Claremont Colleges. The 10-year median earnings of $138,687 confirms the sustained earnings trajectory for Mudd graduates.
Graduates recoup their total investment in just 2.7 years. The median across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Harvey Mudd College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $68,613/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $68,613/yr |
| Average net price | $35,924/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $143,696 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $138,687 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $87,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 2.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 91.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 921 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $68,613/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $35,924/year, or roughly $143,696 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $27,979/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $50,665/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,000, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($87,200) and comes to 0.29, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $27,979 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $23,883 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,968 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $25,468 |
| $110,001+ | $50,665 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $27,979 per year. Against $87,200 average 6-year earnings and a 2.7-year payback, even the lowest-income bracket achieves payback within any standard loan term. Mudd's financial aid for low-income students is strong relative to the sticker price; the 48001-75000 band ($17,968) is actually lower than the low-income band, reflecting need-based award calibration.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $17,968 (lower than the net price for the lowest income bracket, which may reflect aid formula interactions) and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $25,468. At $25,468, the 7.4-year payback at the institutional level is still very strong. Middle-income families at this bracket are paying a moderate amount for exceptional outcomes.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $50,665 per year. Over four years, roughly $202,000. Average 6-year earnings are $87,200 and the payback is 2.7 years. CS and Math/CS program graduates could retire their full four-year cost in a single year of post-graduation income.
Earnings by Major
Top 3 most popular majors at Harvey Mudd College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $198,257 | A |
| Engineering, General | $122,845 | A |
| Mathematics and Computer Science | $166,573 | A |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Mathematics and Computer Science
Mathematics and Computer Science (44 graduates) earns $166,573 year one (no year-four figure reported), with an A grade (debt-to-earnings 0.138, median debt $23,000). The debt ratio of 0.138 means graduates could theoretically pay off their debt in roughly two months of gross income.
Computer Science
Computer Science (55 graduates) earns $132,265 year one and $198,257 at year four, with an A grade (debt-to-earnings 0.174, median debt $22,949). Year-one earnings of $132k and four-year earnings approaching $200k confirm strong technology and software placement. The debt ratio of 0.174 is negligible relative to the earnings power.
Engineering, General
Engineering General (53 graduates) earns $92,491 year one and $122,845 at year four, with an A grade (debt-to-earnings 0.240, median debt $22,240). Year-one engineering earnings of $92k are well above the national median for engineering bachelor's graduates. This category aggregates across Mudd's engineering disciplines (electrical, mechanical, computer). The four-year trajectory to $123k is consistent with senior engineering roles in aerospace, defense, and technology.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | N/A | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | N/A | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | N/A | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | N/A | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Harvey Mudd College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 12.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 770-800 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 730-770 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 34-36 |
| Enrollment | 921 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 15.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $15,352 |
At 12.7%, Harvey Mudd is highly selective. ACT 34-36 composite. Admission evaluates exceptional mathematical and scientific preparation, research experience, and genuine STEM passion. Students without a demonstrated track record in competitive math, science, or engineering will find admission very difficult.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey Mudd College (this school) | 92 | $35,924 | $138,687 |
| The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art | 94 | $13,269 | $83,847 |
| Swarthmore College | 92 | $23,149 | $80,257 |
| Haverford College | 87 | $25,314 | $79,966 |
| Azusa Pacific University | 71 | $22,212 | $66,677 |
| Art Center College of Design | 56 | $48,661 | $71,958 |
Who Thrives Here
Harvey Mudd admits 12.7% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 770-800 Math and 730-770 Reading; ACT 34-36 composite. Enrollment of 921 is very small. Pell grant rate of 15.2% indicates a predominantly non-low-income student body, though the institution provides strong need-based aid. Harvey Mudd attracts students with exceptional quantitative ability and genuine interest in STEM research and innovation.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
If you're asking whether Harvey Mudd College is worth it, the short answer is yes - it's one of the strongest money decisions in higher education. Four years here run about $143,696 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $138,687 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 2.7 years, well ahead of most schools.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 91.9% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. Median debt of $25,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $87,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
Harvey Mudd College: Common Questions
Is Harvey Mudd College worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Harvey Mudd College pays off. It scores 92/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $35,924 a year after aid ($143,696 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $138,687 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 2.7 years to earn back.
How much does Harvey Mudd College cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $35,924 a year, or roughly $143,696 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Harvey Mudd College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $138,687 ten years after enrolling, roughly $96,887 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Harvey Mudd College?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 2.7 years for Harvey Mudd College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Harvey Mudd College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,000, against average earnings of $87,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29. In our view that is very manageable: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
What is the graduation rate at Harvey Mudd College?
The six-year graduation rate is 91.9%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.