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UC Riverside UCSC CSU UC Davis San Jose State Cal State Fullerton San Diego State Cal Poly California State Polytechnic University-Pomona San Francisco State Cal State Long Beach Sacramento State| Fresno Pacific University | University of California Merced | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Fresno Pacific University | UC Merced | ||
| Location | Fresno, CA | Merced, CA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 2,921 | 9,147 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #494 | #542 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Mennonite Brethren Church | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | fresno.edu | ucmerced.edu | ||
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Costs |
Fresno Pacific University | UC Merced | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $34,960 | $11,834 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $34,960 | $42,611 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,148 | $20,293 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,668 | $13,232 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $27,472 | $24,868 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 81% |
Admission |
Fresno Pacific University | UC Merced | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 1,516 | 67,891 | ||
| Admitted | 872 | 26,598 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 57.5% | 39.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.7% | 9.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.54 | 3.55 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | High | ||
| ACT Range | 17/24 | 19/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 970/1240 | 960/1140 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2026 | Nov 30, 2025 |
Academics |
Fresno Pacific University | UC Merced | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 8:1 | 21:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Fresno Pacific University | UC Merced | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 58% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $43,600 | N/A | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 64% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,500 | $19,899 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $222 | $205 |
Diversity |
Fresno Pacific University | UC Merced | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 5% | ||
| % Women | 35% | 4% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 35% | 13% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 43% | 48% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 4% | ||
| % International | 2% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 1% |
Students |
Fresno Pacific University | UC Merced | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 88% | 99% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 5% | 0% | ||
Campus |
Fresno Pacific University | UC Merced | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of California Merced is larger than than Fresno Pacific University based on total student enrollment (9,147 students vs. 2,921 students)
Fresno Pacific University vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Fresno Pacific University or UC Merced?
- Fresno Pacific University is 195.4% more expensive to attend than UC Merced for in-state tuition ($34,960.00 vs. $11,834.00)
- Out of state tuition is 21.9% higher at UC Merced than Fresno Pacific University ($42,611.00 vs. $34,960.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Merced than Fresno Pacific University ($13,232 vs. $15,668)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fresno Pacific University are 100% lower than costs at University of California Merced ($10,148 vs. $20,293)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Fresno Pacific University than University of California Merced (99% vs. 81%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Fresno Pacific University students is 10.5% larger than aid received University of California Merced ($27,472 vs. $24,868)
Fresno Pacific University vs. UC Merced Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Fresno Pacific University or UC Merced? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UC Merced or Fresno Pacific University .
- The average SAT score at University of California Merced (1025) is 37 points higher than at Fresno Pacific University (988)
- Incoming UC Merced students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Fresno Pacific University (22)
- Accepted freshman UC Merced students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Fresno Pacific University (3.54)
- Fresno Pacific University has a higher acceptance rate (57.5%) than UC Merced (39.2%)
Fresno Pacific University vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Fresno Pacific University or UC Merced? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between UC Merced and Fresno Pacific University.
- The graduation rate at UC Merced is higher than Fresno Pacific University (58% vs. 50%)
- University of California Merced students graduate with a $1,601 lower median federal student loan debt than Fresno Pacific University graduates. ($19,899 vs. $21,500)
- UC Merced graduates are paying $17 less per month on federal student loans than Fresno Pacific University graduates. ($205 vs. $222)
- More UC Merced graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fresno Pacific University students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/