Bakersfield College vs. Merritt College

Comparable Facts

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

Bakersfield College is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (30,746 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bakersfield College is located in Bakersfield, CA (Large City setting); Merritt College is in Oakland, CA (Large City setting).
• Bakersfield College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bakersfield College 31:1; Merritt College 33:1.

Bakersfield College vs. Merritt College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bakersfield College 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 Merritt College than Bakersfield College ($15,581 vs. $16,637).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merritt College are 5.7% lower than at Bakersfield College ($22,820 vs. $24,192).
• Bakersfield College is 13.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merritt College (about $172 more per year; $1,430.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.2% higher at Bakersfield College than at Merritt College (about $1,402 more per year; $11,300.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bakersfield College than at Merritt College (85% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bakersfield College students is 19.5% larger than aid received by Merritt College students ($5,940 vs. $4,972).

Bakersfield College vs. Merritt College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bakersfield College 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 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; Merritt College - Open admission.

Bakersfield College vs. Merritt College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bakersfield College 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 $4,900 more per year than Bakersfield College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $34,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bakersfield College graduates have a $2,545 lower median loan debt than Merritt College graduates ($8,955 vs. $11,500).
• Among borrowers, Bakersfield College graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merritt College graduates ($92 vs. $118).
• More Merritt College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bakersfield College 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.