California College of ASU vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare California College of ASU in Los Angeles, 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 California College of ASU based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 71 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California College of ASU is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California College of ASU is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California College of ASU 7:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

California College of ASU vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California College of ASU 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 California College of ASU ($13,690 vs. $28,425).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Merced are 2.9% lower than at California College of ASU ($21,445 vs. $22,086).
• California College of ASU is 61.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Merced (about $9,563 more per year; $25,186.00 vs. $15,623.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 97.8% higher at UC Merced than at California College of ASU (about $24,637 more per year; $49,823.00 vs. $25,186.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California College of ASU than at University of California Merced (100% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 203.5% larger than aid received by California College of ASU students ($27,292 vs. $8,991).

California College of ASU vs. UC Merced Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California College of ASU or UC Merced? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UC Merced and California College of ASU.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresUniversity of California Merced 960/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresUniversity of California Merced 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California College of ASU - Not reported; UC Merced - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled freshman UC Merced students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at California College of ASU (3.2).

California College of ASU vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California College of ASU and UC Merced? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• University of California Merced's six-year graduation rate is 58%. Comparable graduation rate data is not available for California College of ASU.
• Graduates from California College of ASU have median earnings of about $36,100 about ten years after starting college (College Scorecard). Comparable earnings data is not available for UC Merced.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Merced graduates have a $5,124 lower median loan debt than California College of ASU graduates ($19,899 vs. $25,023).
• Among borrowers, UC Merced graduates have an estimated $53 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California College of ASU graduates ($205 vs. $258).
• More UC Merced graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California College of ASU students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 41%)

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.