DUofC vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare Dominican University of California in San Rafael, 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 DUofC based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 1,900 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dominican University of California is located in San Rafael, CA (Small City setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Dominican University of California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dominican University of California 8:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

DUofC vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DUofC 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 DUofC ($13,690 vs. $37,456).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dominican University of California are 24.5% lower than at University of California Merced ($16,191 vs. $21,445).
• Dominican University of California is 233.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Merced (about $36,538 more per year; $52,161.00 vs. $15,623.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.7% higher at DUofC than at University of California Merced (about $2,338 more per year; $52,161.00 vs. $49,823.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dominican University of California than at University of California Merced (100% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dominican University of California students is 25.4% larger than aid received by University of California Merced students ($34,224 vs. $27,292).

DUofC vs. UC Merced Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DUofC or UC Merced? 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 UC Merced and DUofC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Dominican University of California (1260) is 210 points higher than at UC Merced (1050).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dominican University of California 1210/1300; University of California Merced 960/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of California Merced 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: DUofC - Test optional; UC Merced - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman DUofC students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at UC Merced (3.55).
• UC Merced has a higher acceptance rate (90.5%) than DUofC (83.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.7% at DUofC vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

DUofC vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DUofC and UC Merced? 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).

• University of California Merced's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than Dominican University of California's (56%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Merced graduates have a $7,101 lower median loan debt than DUofC graduates ($19,899 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, UC Merced graduates have an estimated $74 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than DUofC graduates ($205 vs. $279).
• More DUofC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Merced students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 64%)

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.