ARC vs. Merritt College

Comparable Facts

Compare American River College in Sacramento, CA with Merritt College in Oakland, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American River College is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (30,462 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• American River College is located in Sacramento, CA (Large Suburban setting); Merritt College is in Oakland, CA (Large City setting).
• American River College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: American River College 29:1; Merritt College 33:1.

ARC vs. Merritt College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ARC or Merritt College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at American River College than Merritt College ($9,488 vs. $15,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American River College are 3.2% lower than at Merritt College ($22,086 vs. $22,820).
• American River College is 2.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merritt College (about $30 more per year; $1,288.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 27.5% higher at ARC than at Merritt College (about $2,718 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at American River College than at Merritt College (89% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by American River College students is 9.7% larger than aid received by Merritt College students ($5,456 vs. $4,972).

ARC vs. Merritt College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ARC or Merritt College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Merritt College and ARC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ARC - Open admission; Merritt College - Open admission.

ARC vs. Merritt College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ARC and Merritt College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Merritt College earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than ARC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $36,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Merritt College graduates have a $733 lower median loan debt than ARC graduates ($11,500 vs. $12,233).
• Among borrowers, Merritt College graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ARC graduates ($118 vs. $126).
• More Merritt College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ARC students, three years after graduation. (27% vs. 26%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.