College comparison

Claremont McKenna vs UC Santa Barbara

A side-by-side of acceptance rate, test scores, and cost — source-cited estimates, not guarantees. Want the number that actually matters for your student? Model your admit odds at each.

Metric	Claremont McKenna Claremont, CA	UC Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA
Acceptance rateClaremont McKenna College is more selective	10%	33%
SAT (25–75)	1470–1560	—
ACT (25–75)	—	—
Undergrad enrollment	1,388	23,113
Avg net price	$28,849	$16,109
Median earnings (10 yr)Claremont McKenna reports higher median earnings	$104,736	$74,915
Graduation rate	91%	83%
Median debt	$13,500	$13,993
Economic mobility	3.0%	3.1%
Test policy	—	—
Type	Private (nonprofit)	Public

Quick answers

Is Claremont McKenna College or University of California-Santa Barbara harder to get into?

Claremont McKenna College is more selective: Claremont McKenna College's acceptance rate is approximately 10% and University of California-Santa Barbara's is approximately 33% (estimates from public and primary sources).

What SAT score do you need for Claremont McKenna College vs University of California-Santa Barbara?

The middle-50% SAT range is 1470–1560 at Claremont McKenna College and — at University of California-Santa Barbara. Scores outside these bands are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

Figures are estimates compiled from public datasets (College Scorecard / IPEDS) and primary sources; verify with each institution before relying on them.

These outputs are estimates from a baseline model — not guarantees of admission, cost, or outcome.