College of Alameda vs. Merced College

Comparable Facts

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

Merced College is larger than College of Alameda based on total student enrollment (12,472 students vs. 6,141 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Alameda is located in Alameda, CA (Large Suburban setting); Merced College is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• College of Alameda is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Merced College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Alameda 38:1; Merced College 28:1.

College of Alameda vs. Merced College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of Alameda 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 College of Alameda ($6,854 vs. $12,506).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merced College are 14.8% lower than at College of Alameda ($19,432 vs. $22,820).
• College of Alameda is 4.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merced College (about $58 more per year; $1,258.00 vs. $1,200.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.2% higher at College of Alameda than at Merced College (about $1,378 more per year; $9,898.00 vs. $8,520.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merced College than at College of Alameda (88% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merced College students is 38.9% larger than aid received by College of Alameda students ($7,480 vs. $5,385).

College of Alameda vs. Merced College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of Alameda 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 College of Alameda.

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

College of Alameda vs. Merced College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of Alameda 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 College of Alameda earn a median of about $6,400 more per year than Merced College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,700 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.