Art Center College of Design vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA with University of California Merced in Merced, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Merced is larger than Art Center College of Design based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 2,308 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Art Center College of Design is located in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Art Center College of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Art Center College of Design 9:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Art Center College of Design vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Art Center College of Design or UC Merced? 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 University of California Merced than Art Center College of Design ($13,690 vs. $53,271).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Art Center College of Design are 8.5% lower than at University of California Merced ($19,632 vs. $21,445).
• Art Center College of Design is 246.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Merced (about $38,547 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $15,623.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.7% higher at Art Center College of Design than at University of California Merced (about $4,347 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $49,823.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at Art Center College of Design (89% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 21.8% larger than aid received by Art Center College of Design students ($27,292 vs. $22,412).

Art Center College of Design vs. UC Merced Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Art Center College of Design or UC Merced? 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 UC Merced and Art Center College of Design.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of California Merced 960/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of California Merced 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Art Center College of Design - Test-free; UC Merced - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• UC Merced has a higher acceptance rate (90.5%) than Art Center College of Design (74.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.5% at Art Center College of Design vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Art Center College of Design vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Art Center College of Design and UC Merced? 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).

• University of California Merced's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than Art Center College of Design's (54%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Merced graduates have a $11,351 lower median loan debt than Art Center College of Design graduates ($19,899 vs. $31,250).
• Among borrowers, UC Merced graduates have an estimated $118 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Art Center College of Design graduates ($205 vs. $323).
• More Art Center College of Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Merced students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 64%)

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.