Chaffey College vs. Merced College

Comparable Facts

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

Chaffey College is larger than Merced College based on total student enrollment (22,460 students vs. 12,472 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Chaffey College is located in Rancho Cucamonga, CA (Large Suburban setting); Merced College is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Chaffey College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Merced College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Chaffey College 25:1; Merced College 28:1.

Chaffey College vs. Merced College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Chaffey 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 Chaffey College ($6,854 vs. $7,809).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merced College are 22.4% lower than at Chaffey College ($19,432 vs. $25,038).
• Merced College is 1.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Chaffey College (about $16 more per year; $1,200.00 vs. $1,184.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 30.5% higher at Chaffey College than at Merced College (about $2,600 more per year; $11,120.00 vs. $8,520.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merced College than at Chaffey College (88% vs. 87%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merced College students is 29.3% larger than aid received by Chaffey College students ($7,480 vs. $5,787).

Chaffey College vs. Merced College Admissions comparison

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

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

Chaffey College vs. Merced College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Chaffey 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 Chaffey College earn a median of about $5,000 more per year than Merced College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,300 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.