CalArts vs. UC Merced

Should I go to California Institute of the Arts or University of California Merced? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CalArts or UC Merced is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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California Institute of the Arts vs. University of California Merced comparison
California Institute of the Arts University of California Merced College 3 College 4
California Institute of the Arts University of California Merced
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Overview

CalArts UC Merced
Location Valencia, CA Merced, CA
Setting Midsize Suburban Rural Fringe
Enrollment 1,440 9,103
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #605
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calarts.edu ucmerced.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CalArts UC Merced
Tuition (In State) $54,440 $11,564
Tuition (Out of State) $54,440 $41,636
Room & Board $12,446 $19,340
Avg Net Price $55,225 $13,549
Avg Grant Aid $20,474 $25,868
% Receiving Grant Aid 59% 83%

Admission

CalArts UC Merced
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,120 29,920
Admitted 525 26,766
Acceptance Rate 24.8% 89.5%
Enrolled % 36% 8.9%
Avg High School GPA - 3.55
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Very Easy
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 19/24
SAT Range 960/1140
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 5, 2025 Nov 30, 2024

Academics

CalArts UC Merced
Student to Faculty Ratio 7:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)
  • Psychology (22%)
  • Biology (21%)
  • Engineering (14%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Business (12%)

Outcomes

CalArts UC Merced
Graduation Rate 65% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,400 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 64% 64%
Median Student Loan Debt $28,500 $19,899
Median Loan Payment $294 $205

Diversity

CalArts UC Merced
% Men 38% 51%
% Women 62% 49%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 42% 13%
% Black 7% 5%
% Hispanic 15% 48%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 1%
% Two or More Races 6% 4%
% International 7% 5%
% Unknown Race 8% 1%

Students

CalArts UC Merced
% In-State 32% 99%
% Out-of-State 38% 0%

Campus

CalArts 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 CalArts based on total student enrollment (9,103 students vs. 1,440 students)

CalArts vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or UC Merced?

  • California Institute of the Arts is 370.8% more expensive to attend than UC Merced for in-state tuition ($54,440.00 vs. $11,564.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 30.8% higher at CalArts than University of California Merced ($54,440.00 vs. $41,636.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Merced than CalArts ($13,549 vs. $55,225)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Institute of the Arts are 55.4% lower than costs at University of California Merced ($12,446 vs. $19,340)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of California Merced than California Institute of the Arts (83% vs. 59%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 26.3% larger than aid received California Institute of the Arts ($25,868 vs. $20,474)

CalArts vs. UC Merced Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CalArts or UC Merced? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UC Merced or CalArts .

  • UC Merced has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than CalArts (24.8%)

CalArts vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CalArts 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 CalArts.

  • The graduation rate at CalArts is higher than University of California Merced (65% vs. 58%)
  • University of California Merced students graduate with a $8,601 lower median federal student loan debt than CalArts graduates. ($19,899 vs. $28,500)
  • UC Merced graduates are paying $89 less per month on federal student loans than CalArts graduates. ($205 vs. $294)
  • More CalArts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Merced students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 64%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/