CRC vs. Merritt College

Comparable Facts

Compare Cosumnes River College in Sacramento, CA with Merritt College in Oakland, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Cosumnes River College is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (15,744 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Cosumnes River College is located in Sacramento, CA (Large City setting); Merritt College is in Oakland, CA (Large City setting).
• Cosumnes River College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Cosumnes River College 29:1; Merritt College 33:1.

CRC vs. Merritt College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CRC 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 Cosumnes River College than Merritt College ($8,043 vs. $15,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cosumnes River College are 3.2% lower than at Merritt College ($22,086 vs. $22,820).
• Cosumnes River College is 2.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merritt College (about $30 more per year; $1,288.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 27.5% higher at CRC than at Merritt College (about $2,718 more per year; $12,616.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cosumnes River College than at Merritt College (92% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cosumnes River College students is 0.9% larger than aid received by Merritt College students ($5,017 vs. $4,972).

CRC vs. Merritt College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CRC 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 CRC.

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

CRC vs. Merritt College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CRC 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 Merritt College earn a median of about $8,000 more per year than CRC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $31,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cosumnes River College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Merritt College graduates ($9,500 vs. $11,500).
• Among borrowers, CRC graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merritt College graduates ($98 vs. $118).
• More CRC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt College students, three years after graduation. (28% 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.