Fullerton College vs. Merritt College

Comparable Facts

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

Fullerton College is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (19,521 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Fullerton College is located in Fullerton, CA (Midsize City setting); Merritt College is in Oakland, CA (Large City setting).
• Fullerton College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Fullerton College 25:1; Merritt College 33:1.

Fullerton College vs. Merritt College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fullerton 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 Fullerton College than Merritt College ($8,306 vs. $15,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fullerton College are 3.2% lower than at Merritt College ($22,086 vs. $22,820).
• Merritt College is 9.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fullerton College (about $108 more per year; $1,258.00 vs. $1,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 25.1% higher at Fullerton College than at Merritt College (about $2,481 more per year; $12,379.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fullerton College than at Merritt College (87% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fullerton College students is 6.6% larger than aid received by Merritt College students ($5,301 vs. $4,972).

Fullerton College vs. Merritt College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fullerton 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 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; Merritt College - Open admission.

Fullerton College vs. Merritt College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fullerton 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 $2,500 more per year than Fullerton College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Fullerton 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.