City College of San Francisco vs. Merritt College

Comparable Facts

Compare City College of San Francisco in San Francisco, CA with Merritt College in Oakland, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

City College of San Francisco is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (19,267 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

City College of San Francisco vs. Merritt College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, City College of San Francisco 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 City College of San Francisco than Merritt College ($9,616 vs. $15,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merritt College are 15.2% lower than at City College of San Francisco ($22,820 vs. $26,907).
• City College of San Francisco is 34.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merritt College (about $438 more per year; $1,696.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 48.1% higher at City College of San Francisco than at Merritt College (about $4,758 more per year; $14,656.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merritt College than at City College of San Francisco (71% vs. 56%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by City College of San Francisco students is 47.2% larger than aid received by Merritt College students ($7,318 vs. $4,972).

City College of San Francisco vs. Merritt College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, City College of San Francisco 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 City College of San Francisco.

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

City College of San Francisco vs. Merritt College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for City College of San Francisco 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 City College of San Francisco earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than Merritt College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,000 vs. $39,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, City College of San Francisco graduates have a $3,250 lower median loan debt than Merritt College graduates ($8,250 vs. $11,500).
• Among borrowers, City College of San Francisco graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merritt College graduates ($85 vs. $118).
• More City College of San Francisco graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt College students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.