Irvine Valley College vs. Merritt College

Comparable Facts

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

Irvine Valley College is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (13,018 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Irvine Valley College is located in Irvine, CA (Midsize City setting); Merritt College is in Oakland, CA (Large City setting).
• Irvine Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Irvine Valley College 31:1; Merritt College 33:1.

Irvine Valley College vs. Merritt College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Irvine Valley 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 Irvine Valley College than Merritt College ($5,821 vs. $15,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merritt College are 11.4% lower than at Irvine Valley College ($22,820 vs. $25,769).
• Merritt College is 8.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Irvine Valley College (about $102 more per year; $1,258.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.8% higher at Irvine Valley College than at Merritt College (about $1,962 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merritt College than at Irvine Valley College (71% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Irvine Valley College students is 45.9% larger than aid received by Merritt College students ($7,254 vs. $4,972).

Irvine Valley College vs. Merritt College Admissions comparison

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

Irvine Valley College vs. Merritt College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Irvine Valley 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 Irvine Valley College earn a median of about $1,400 more per year than Merritt College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,200 vs. $39,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Irvine Valley College graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than Merritt College graduates ($6,000 vs. $11,500).
• Among borrowers, Irvine Valley College graduates have an estimated $56 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merritt College graduates ($62 vs. $118).
• More Irvine Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt College students, three years after graduation. (44% 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.