Cogswell College vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Silicon Valley in San Jose, CA with University of California Merced in Merced, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Merced is larger than Cogswell College based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 477 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Silicon Valley is located in San Jose, CA (Rural Fringe setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• University of Silicon Valley is a private, for-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Silicon Valley 13:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Cogswell College vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cogswell College or UC Merced? 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 University of California Merced than Cogswell College ($13,690 vs. $31,594).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Silicon Valley are 7.1% lower than at University of California Merced ($19,926 vs. $21,445).
• University of Silicon Valley is 43.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Merced (about $6,857 more per year; $22,480.00 vs. $15,623.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 121.6% higher at UC Merced than at University of Silicon Valley (about $27,343 more per year; $49,823.00 vs. $22,480.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at University of Silicon Valley (89% vs. 85%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 333.7% larger than aid received by University of Silicon Valley students ($27,292 vs. $6,293).

Cogswell College vs. UC Merced Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cogswell College or UC Merced? 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 UC Merced and Cogswell College.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of California Merced 960/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of California Merced 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cogswell College - Test-free; UC Merced - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Merced students have a 0.78 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Cogswell College (2.77).
• UC Merced has a higher acceptance rate (90.5%) than Cogswell College (51.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 42% at Cogswell College vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Cogswell College vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cogswell College and UC Merced? 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).

• University of California Merced's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than University of Silicon Valley's (43%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Merced graduates have a $11,264 lower median loan debt than Cogswell College graduates ($19,899 vs. $31,163).
• Among borrowers, UC Merced graduates have an estimated $117 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cogswell College graduates ($205 vs. $322).
• More UC Merced graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cogswell College students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 60%)

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.