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UC Riverside UCSC CSU UC Davis San Jose State La Verne Cal State Fullerton San Diego State Cal Poly California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Biola University San Francisco State| Azusa Pacific University | University of California Merced | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Azusa Pacific University | UC Merced | ||
| Location | Azusa, CA | Merced, CA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 6,487 | 9,147 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #230 | #542 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Undenominational | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | apu.edu | ucmerced.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Azusa Pacific University | UC Merced | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $42,900 | $11,834 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $42,900 | $42,611 | ||
| Room & Board | $9,724 | $20,293 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $26,117 | $13,232 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $28,652 | $24,868 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 81% |
Admission |
Azusa Pacific University | UC Merced | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,850 | 67,891 | ||
| Admitted | 3,060 | 26,598 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 79.5% | 39.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.7% | 9.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.74 | 3.55 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | 18/26 | 19/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 994/1314 | 960/1140 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jun 1, 2026 | Nov 30, 2025 |
Academics |
Azusa Pacific University | UC Merced | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 21:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Azusa Pacific University | UC Merced | ||
| Graduation Rate | 63% | 58% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $54,200 | N/A | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 66% | 64% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,500 | $19,899 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $232 | $205 |
Diversity |
Azusa Pacific University | UC Merced | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 15% | 5% | ||
| % Women | 39% | 4% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 44% | 13% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 29% | 48% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 8% | 4% | ||
| % International | 2% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
Azusa Pacific University | UC Merced | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 66% | 99% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 15% | 0% | ||
Campus |
Azusa Pacific University | UC Merced | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of California Merced is larger than than Azusa Pacific University based on total student enrollment (9,147 students vs. 6,487 students)
Azusa Pacific University vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Azusa Pacific University or UC Merced?
- Azusa Pacific University is 262.5% more expensive to attend than UC Merced for in-state tuition ($42,900.00 vs. $11,834.00)
- Out of state tuition is 0.7% higher at Azusa Pacific University than University of California Merced ($42,900.00 vs. $42,611.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Merced than Azusa Pacific University ($13,232 vs. $26,117)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Azusa Pacific University are 108.7% lower than costs at University of California Merced ($9,724 vs. $20,293)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Azusa Pacific University than University of California Merced (100% vs. 81%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Azusa Pacific University students is 15.2% larger than aid received University of California Merced ($28,652 vs. $24,868)
Azusa Pacific University vs. UC Merced Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Azusa Pacific University or UC Merced? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UC Merced or Azusa Pacific University .
- The average SAT score at Azusa Pacific University (1080) is 55 points higher than at UC Merced (1025)
- Incoming Azusa Pacific University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (24) than students at UC Merced (23)
- Accepted freshman Azusa Pacific University students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at UC Merced (3.55)
- Azusa Pacific University has a higher acceptance rate (79.5%) than UC Merced (39.2%)
Azusa Pacific University vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Azusa Pacific University or UC Merced? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between UC Merced and Azusa Pacific University.
- The graduation rate at Azusa Pacific University is higher than University of California Merced (63% vs. 58%)
- University of California Merced students graduate with a $2,601 lower median federal student loan debt than Azusa Pacific University graduates. ($19,899 vs. $22,500)
- UC Merced graduates are paying $27 less per month on federal student loans than Azusa Pacific University graduates. ($205 vs. $232)
- More Azusa Pacific University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Merced students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 64%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/