Irvine Valley College vs. Merced College

Comparable Facts

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

Irvine Valley College is larger than Merced College based on total student enrollment (13,018 students vs. 12,472 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Irvine Valley College is located in Irvine, CA (Midsize City setting); Merced College is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Irvine Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Merced College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Irvine Valley College 31:1; Merced College 28:1.

Irvine Valley College vs. Merced College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Irvine Valley 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 Irvine Valley College than Merced College ($5,821 vs. $6,854).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merced College are 24.6% lower than at Irvine Valley College ($19,432 vs. $25,769).
• Merced College is 3.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Irvine Valley College (about $44 more per year; $1,200.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 39.2% higher at Irvine Valley College than at Merced College (about $3,340 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $8,520.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merced College than at Irvine Valley College (88% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merced College students is 3.1% larger than aid received by Irvine Valley College students ($7,480 vs. $7,254).

Irvine Valley College vs. Merced College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Irvine Valley 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 Irvine Valley College.

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

Irvine Valley College vs. Merced College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Irvine Valley 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 Irvine Valley College earn a median of about $10,900 more per year than Merced College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,200 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.