Cabrillo College vs. Merced College

Comparable Facts

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

Merced College is larger than Cabrillo College based on total student enrollment (12,472 students vs. 9,457 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cabrillo College is located in Aptos, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Merced College is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Cabrillo College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Merced College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cabrillo College 20:1; Merced College 28:1.

Cabrillo College vs. Merced College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cabrillo 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 Cabrillo College ($6,854 vs. $20,716).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merced College are 23.1% lower than at Cabrillo College ($19,432 vs. $25,281).
• Cabrillo College is 5.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merced College (about $70 more per year; $1,270.00 vs. $1,200.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15.8% higher at Cabrillo College than at Merced College (about $1,342 more per year; $9,862.00 vs. $8,520.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merced College than at Cabrillo College (88% vs. 85%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merced College students is 33.6% larger than aid received by Cabrillo College students ($7,480 vs. $5,600).

Cabrillo College vs. Merced College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cabrillo 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 Cabrillo College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cabrillo College - Open admission; Merced College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cabrillo College Apr 9, 2027.

Cabrillo College vs. Merced College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cabrillo 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 Cabrillo College earn a median of about $9,900 more per year than Merced College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,200 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.