Chaffey College vs. Merritt College

Comparable Facts

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

Chaffey College is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (22,460 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Chaffey College is located in Rancho Cucamonga, CA (Large Suburban setting); Merritt College is in Oakland, CA (Large City setting).
• Chaffey College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Chaffey College 25:1; Merritt College 33:1.

Chaffey College vs. Merritt College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Chaffey 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 Chaffey College than Merritt College ($7,809 vs. $15,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merritt College are 8.9% lower than at Chaffey College ($22,820 vs. $25,038).
• Merritt College is 6.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Chaffey College (about $74 more per year; $1,258.00 vs. $1,184.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.3% higher at Chaffey College than at Merritt College (about $1,222 more per year; $11,120.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Chaffey College than at Merritt College (87% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Chaffey College students is 16.4% larger than aid received by Merritt College students ($5,787 vs. $4,972).

Chaffey College vs. Merritt College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Chaffey 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 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; Merritt College - Open admission.

Chaffey College vs. Merritt College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Chaffey 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 $4,500 more per year than Chaffey College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $35,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Chaffey 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.