CMA vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Maritime Academy in Vallejo, CA with University of California Merced in Merced, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Merced is larger than CMA based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 837 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Maritime Academy is located in Vallejo, CA (Midsize City setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California State University Maritime Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Maritime Academy 11:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

CMA vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CMA or UC Merced? 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 University of California Merced than CMA ($13,690 vs. $19,040).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Maritime Academy are 32.2% lower than at University of California Merced ($14,536 vs. $21,445).
• University of California Merced is 57.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than CMA (about $5,679 more per year; $15,623.00 vs. $9,944.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 121% higher at UC Merced than at California State University Maritime Academy (about $27,279 more per year; $49,823.00 vs. $22,544.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at California State University Maritime Academy (89% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 147.3% larger than aid received by California State University Maritime Academy students ($27,292 vs. $11,038).

CMA vs. UC Merced Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CMA or UC Merced? 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 UC Merced and CMA.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of California Merced 960/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of California Merced 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CMA - Test-free; UC Merced - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CMA Dec 15, 2026; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Merced students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at CMA (3.43).
• CMA has a higher acceptance rate (95%) than UC Merced (90.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.7% at CMA vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

CMA vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CMA and UC Merced? 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).

• California State University Maritime Academy's six-year graduation rate (62%) is higher than University of California Merced's (58%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Merced graduates have a $5,627 lower median loan debt than CMA graduates ($19,899 vs. $25,526).
• Among borrowers, UC Merced graduates have an estimated $58 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CMA graduates ($205 vs. $263).
• More CMA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Merced students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 64%)

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.