Fresno City College vs. Merced College

Comparable Facts

Compare Fresno City College in Fresno, CA with Merced College in Merced, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Fresno City College is larger than Merced College based on total student enrollment (28,071 students vs. 12,472 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Fresno City College is located in Fresno, CA (Large City setting); Merced College is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Fresno City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Merced College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Fresno City College 29:1; Merced College 28:1.

Fresno City College vs. Merced College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fresno City College or Merced 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 Merced College than Fresno City College ($6,854 vs. $9,618).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fresno City College are 7.5% lower than at Merced College ($17,982 vs. $19,432).
• Fresno City College is 11.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merced College (about $134 more per year; $1,334.00 vs. $1,200.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.2% higher at Fresno City College than at Merced College (about $1,634 more per year; $10,154.00 vs. $8,520.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fresno City College than at Merced College (92% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merced College students is 3.7% larger than aid received by Fresno City College students ($7,480 vs. $7,210).

Fresno City College vs. Merced College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fresno City College or Merced 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 Merced College and Fresno City College.

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

Fresno City College vs. Merced College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fresno City College and Merced 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 Fresno City College earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than Merced College graduates about ten years after starting college ($31,700 vs. $30,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.