DVC vs. Merritt College

Comparable Facts

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

Diablo Valley College is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (17,228 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

DVC vs. Merritt College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DVC 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 Diablo Valley College than Merritt College ($11,001 vs. $15,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merritt College are 1.8% lower than at Diablo Valley College ($22,820 vs. $23,238).
• Diablo Valley College is 4.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merritt College (about $54 more per year; $1,312.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.3% higher at DVC than at Merritt College (about $422 more per year; $10,320.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merritt College than at Diablo Valley College (71% vs. 61%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merritt College students is 12% larger than aid received by Diablo Valley College students ($4,972 vs. $4,441).

DVC vs. Merritt College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DVC 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 DVC.

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

DVC vs. Merritt College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DVC 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 Diablo Valley College earn a median of about $5,000 more per year than Merritt College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $39,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More DVC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt College students, three years after graduation. (52% 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.