Cabrillo College vs. Merritt College

Comparable Facts

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

Cabrillo College is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (9,457 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cabrillo College is located in Aptos, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Merritt College is in Oakland, CA (Large City setting).
• Cabrillo College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cabrillo College 20:1; Merritt College 33:1.

Cabrillo College vs. Merritt College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cabrillo 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 Cabrillo College ($15,581 vs. $20,716).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merritt College are 9.7% lower than at Cabrillo College ($22,820 vs. $25,281).
• Cabrillo College is 1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merritt College (about $12 more per year; $1,270.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.4% higher at Merritt College than at Cabrillo College (about $36 more per year; $9,898.00 vs. $9,862.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cabrillo College than at Merritt College (85% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cabrillo College students is 12.6% larger than aid received by Merritt College students ($5,600 vs. $4,972).

Cabrillo College vs. Merritt College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cabrillo 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 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; Merritt College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cabrillo College Apr 9, 2027.

Cabrillo College vs. Merritt College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cabrillo 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 Cabrillo College earn a median of about $400 more per year than Merritt College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,200 vs. $39,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cabrillo College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Merritt College graduates ($10,500 vs. $11,500).
• Among borrowers, Cabrillo College graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merritt College graduates ($108 vs. $118).
• More Cabrillo College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt College students, three years after graduation. (40% vs. 27%)

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.