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How to Get Into Harvey Mudd College

Claremont, CA · Private nonprofit · 2025-2026 cycle · Verified data

Harvey Mudd College Admissions Statistics

12.7%
Acceptance Rate
730-770
SAT Reading (mid 50%)
770-800
SAT Math (mid 50%)
34-36
ACT (mid 50%)
921
Undergrads
92%
Graduation Rate

How to Actually Get Into Harvey Mudd College

Understand what 12.7% really means

Below roughly a 15% admit rate, admissions stops being something you earn cleanly and becomes probabilistic. Nearly everyone who applies to Harvey Mudd College has strong stats, so strong stats get you into contention, not into the class. Treat Harvey Mudd College as a reach no matter your profile, and build real targets and a real safety underneath it. If your list is all schools like this one, your expected outcome is mostly rejections, regardless of how strong you are.

Position your scores against the real bands

The middle 50% of enrolled students sits around 1500-1570 combined SAT or 34-36 ACT. Above the 75th percentile, scores work for you, though at this tier they only buy you a ticket. Below the 25th percentile, the rest of your application has to carry the file, treat it as a reach. Since scores are not required (test-optional) here, submit only if you're inside or above the band; a below-band score is information you don't have to volunteer.

Use the Early Decision round deliberately

Harvey Mudd College offers Early Decision, which is binding. The early bump is real but overstated (hooked applicants cluster early and inflate it). Spend ED once, on the school where it actually moves you a tier, and only if the money works without comparing aid offers. If that school is Harvey Mudd College, the deadline table below is your calendar.

The bigger picture: no single school decides your outcome, the shape of your whole list does. Read how top counselors build a college list before you finalize where Harvey Mudd College fits.

Harvey Mudd College Application Deadlines (2025-2026)

Round Deadline
Early Decision (ED) November 15, 2025
Early Decision II (ED II) January 5, 2026
Regular Decision (RD) January 5, 2026

Deadlines verified from official sources for the 2025-2026 cycle. Rounds change year to year, always confirm on the school's site before submitting.

Application Requirements & Costs

Application platform Common App
Application fee $70
Test scores Not required (test-optional)
Writing supplement Not required
Counselor recommendation Not required
Teacher evaluations 2

Harvey Mudd College Cost & Financial Aid

Total cost of attendance (sticker, per year) $90,165
Tuition & fees $68,613
Room & board (on campus) $22,318
Average net price (aid-receiving families) $35,924

What You'd Actually Pay, by Family Income

Average net price per year (after grants and scholarships) for aid-receiving families, from federal College Scorecard data:

Family income Average net price / year
$0-30k $27,979
$30-48k $23,883
$48-75k $17,968
$75-110k $25,468
$110k+ $50,665
15.2%
Students receiving Pell Grants
33%
Students taking federal loans
96%
Freshman retention rate
8:1
Student-faculty ratio

These are averages, not your number. Get your family's actual price in about 10 minutes:

Use Harvey Mudd College's Official Net Price Calculator →

More Harvey Mudd College Data, Coming Soon

We're building the deepest per-school database in admissions. Rolling out for Harvey Mudd College:

Programs & Majors Soon Every degree program at Harvey Mudd College, with outcomes
Transfer Pathways Soon How to transfer into Harvey Mudd College, and where transfers come from
Institutional Aid Soon Harvey Mudd College's own grants and how they're awarded
Private Scholarships Soon Outside scholarships Harvey Mudd College students actually win

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