College of the Canyons vs. Merritt College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, CA with Merritt College in Oakland, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College of the Canyons is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (18,075 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Canyons is located in Santa Clarita, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Merritt College is in Oakland, CA (Large City setting).
• College of the Canyons is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Canyons 25:1; Merritt College 33:1.

College of the Canyons vs. Merritt College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Canyons 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 College of the Canyons than Merritt College ($5,760 vs. $15,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Canyons are 3.2% lower than at Merritt College ($22,086 vs. $22,820).
• Merritt College is 7.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Canyons (about $92 more per year; $1,258.00 vs. $1,166.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.7% higher at College of the Canyons than at Merritt College (about $1,060 more per year; $10,958.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Canyons than at Merritt College (83% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merritt College students is 8.2% larger than aid received by College of the Canyons students ($4,972 vs. $4,597).

College of the Canyons vs. Merritt College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Canyons 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 College of the Canyons.

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

College of the Canyons vs. Merritt College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Canyons 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 College of the Canyons earn a median of about $7,200 more per year than Merritt College graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,000 vs. $39,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of the Canyons graduates have a $1,303 lower median loan debt than Merritt College graduates ($10,197 vs. $11,500).
• Among borrowers, College of the Canyons graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merritt College graduates ($105 vs. $118).
• More College of the Canyons graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt College students, three years after graduation. (36% 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.