Foothill College vs. Merritt College

Comparable Facts

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

Foothill College is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (12,949 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Foothill College is located in Los Altos Hills, CA (Large Suburban setting); Merritt College is in Oakland, CA (Large City setting).
• Foothill College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Foothill College 26:1; Merritt College 33:1.

Foothill College vs. Merritt College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Foothill 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 Foothill College than Merritt College ($10,805 vs. $15,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Foothill College are 8.9% lower than at Merritt College ($20,793 vs. $22,820).
• Foothill College is 24.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merritt College (about $307 more per year; $1,565.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 27.2% higher at Foothill College than at Merritt College (about $2,692 more per year; $12,590.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merritt College than at Foothill College (71% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merritt College students is 17.7% larger than aid received by Foothill College students ($4,972 vs. $4,223).

Foothill College vs. Merritt College Admissions comparison

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

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

Foothill College vs. Merritt College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Foothill 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 Foothill College earn a median of about $19,600 more per year than Merritt College graduates about ten years after starting college ($59,400 vs. $39,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Foothill College graduates have a $2,528 lower median loan debt than Merritt College graduates ($8,972 vs. $11,500).
• Among borrowers, Foothill College graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merritt College graduates ($92 vs. $118).
• More Foothill College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt College students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.