Cerritos College vs. Merritt College

Comparable Facts

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

Cerritos College is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (21,859 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cerritos College is located in Norwalk, CA (Small City setting); Merritt College is in Oakland, CA (Large City setting).
• Cerritos College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cerritos College 26:1; Merritt College 33:1.

Cerritos College vs. Merritt College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cerritos 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 Cerritos College than Merritt College ($4,325 vs. $15,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cerritos College are 3.2% lower than at Merritt College ($22,088 vs. $22,820).
• Cerritos College is 8.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merritt College (about $106 more per year; $1,364.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 21.3% higher at Cerritos College than at Merritt College (about $2,106 more per year; $12,004.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cerritos College than at Merritt College (89% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cerritos College students is 19.2% larger than aid received by Merritt College students ($5,925 vs. $4,972).

Cerritos College vs. Merritt College Admissions comparison

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

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cerritos College - Open admission; Merritt College - Open admission.

Cerritos College vs. Merritt College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cerritos 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 $4,800 more per year than Cerritos College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cerritos College graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than Merritt College graduates ($6,000 vs. $11,500).
• Among borrowers, Cerritos College graduates have an estimated $56 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merritt College graduates ($62 vs. $118).
• More Cerritos College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt College students, three years after graduation. (35% 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.