Bakersfield College vs. Merced College

Comparable Facts

Compare Bakersfield College in Bakersfield, CA with Merced College in Merced, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bakersfield College is larger than Merced College based on total student enrollment (30,746 students vs. 12,472 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bakersfield College is located in Bakersfield, CA (Large City setting); Merced College is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Bakersfield College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Merced College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bakersfield College 31:1; Merced College 28:1.

Bakersfield College vs. Merced College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bakersfield College or Merced 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 Merced College than Bakersfield College ($6,854 vs. $16,637).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merced College are 19.7% lower than at Bakersfield College ($19,432 vs. $24,192).
• Bakersfield College is 19.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merced College (about $230 more per year; $1,430.00 vs. $1,200.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.6% higher at Bakersfield College than at Merced College (about $2,780 more per year; $11,300.00 vs. $8,520.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merced College than at Bakersfield College (88% vs. 85%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merced College students is 25.9% larger than aid received by Bakersfield College students ($7,480 vs. $5,940).

Bakersfield College vs. Merced College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bakersfield College or Merced 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 Merced College and Bakersfield College.

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

Bakersfield College vs. Merced College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bakersfield College and Merced 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 Bakersfield College earn a median of about $4,600 more per year than Merced College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,900 vs. $30,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.