Cypress College vs. Merritt College

Comparable Facts

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

Cypress College is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (15,924 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Cypress College vs. Merritt College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cypress College 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 Cypress College than Merritt College ($7,253 vs. $15,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cypress College are 3.2% lower than at Merritt College ($22,086 vs. $22,820).
• Merritt College is 9.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cypress College (about $108 more per year; $1,258.00 vs. $1,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 25.1% higher at Cypress College than at Merritt College (about $2,481 more per year; $12,379.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cypress College than at Merritt College (89% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cypress College students is 27.6% larger than aid received by Merritt College students ($6,345 vs. $4,972).

Cypress College vs. Merritt College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cypress College 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 Cypress College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cypress College - Open admission; Merritt College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cypress College Aug 25, 2027.

Cypress College vs. Merritt College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cypress College 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 $500 more per year than Cypress College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $39,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cypress College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Merritt College graduates ($9,500 vs. $11,500).
• Among borrowers, Cypress College graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merritt College graduates ($98 vs. $118).
• More Cypress College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt College students, three years after graduation. (38% 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.