East Los Angeles College vs. Merritt College

Comparable Facts

Compare East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park, CA with Merritt College in Oakland, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

East Los Angeles College is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (33,677 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• East Los Angeles College is located in Monterey Park, CA (Small City setting); Merritt College is in Oakland, CA (Large City setting).
• East Los Angeles College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: East Los Angeles College 33:1; Merritt College 33:1.

East Los Angeles College vs. Merritt College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, East Los Angeles 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 East Los Angeles College than Merritt College ($11,700 vs. $15,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merritt College are 10.2% lower than at East Los Angeles College ($22,820 vs. $25,407).
• Merritt College is 1.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than East Los Angeles College (about $20 more per year; $1,258.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.8% higher at East Los Angeles College than at Merritt College (about $674 more per year; $10,572.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at East Los Angeles College than at Merritt College (85% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by East Los Angeles College students is 42.8% larger than aid received by Merritt College students ($7,098 vs. $4,972).

East Los Angeles College vs. Merritt College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, East Los Angeles 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 East Los Angeles College.

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

East Los Angeles College vs. Merritt College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for East Los Angeles 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 $5,400 more per year than East Los Angeles College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $34,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, East Los Angeles College graduates have a $5,684 lower median loan debt than Merritt College graduates ($5,816 vs. $11,500).
• Among borrowers, East Los Angeles College graduates have an estimated $58 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merritt College graduates ($60 vs. $118).
• More East Los Angeles College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt College students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.