Citrus College vs. Merritt College

Comparable Facts

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

Citrus College is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (10,429 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Citrus College is located in Glendora, CA (Large Suburban setting); Merritt College is in Oakland, CA (Large City setting).
• Citrus College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Citrus College 24:1; Merritt College 33:1.

Citrus College vs. Merritt College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Citrus 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 Citrus College than Merritt College ($6,607 vs. $15,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Citrus College are 3.2% lower than at Merritt College ($22,086 vs. $22,820).
• Merritt College is 4.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Citrus College (about $54 more per year; $1,258.00 vs. $1,204.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.5% higher at Citrus College than at Merritt College (about $738 more per year; $10,636.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merritt College than at Citrus College (71% vs. 69%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Citrus College students is 43.8% larger than aid received by Merritt College students ($7,152 vs. $4,972).

Citrus College vs. Merritt College Admissions comparison

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

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

Citrus College vs. Merritt College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Citrus 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 $5,900 more per year than Citrus College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $33,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Citrus College graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than Merritt College graduates ($5,500 vs. $11,500).
• Among borrowers, Citrus College graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merritt College graduates ($56 vs. $118).
• More Citrus College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt College students, three years after graduation. (32% 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.