Fullerton College vs. Merced College

Comparable Facts

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

Fullerton College is larger than Merced College based on total student enrollment (19,521 students vs. 12,472 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Fullerton College is located in Fullerton, CA (Midsize City setting); Merced College is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Fullerton College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Merced College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Fullerton College 25:1; Merced College 28:1.

Fullerton College vs. Merced College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fullerton 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 Fullerton College ($6,854 vs. $8,306).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merced College are 12% lower than at Fullerton College ($19,432 vs. $22,086).
• Merced College is 4.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fullerton College (about $50 more per year; $1,200.00 vs. $1,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 45.3% higher at Fullerton College than at Merced College (about $3,859 more per year; $12,379.00 vs. $8,520.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merced College than at Fullerton College (88% vs. 87%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merced College students is 41.1% larger than aid received by Fullerton College students ($7,480 vs. $5,301).

Fullerton College vs. Merced College Admissions comparison

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

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

Fullerton College vs. Merced College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fullerton 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 Fullerton College earn a median of about $7,000 more per year than Merced College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,300 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.