Laney College vs. Merritt College

Comparable Facts

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

Laney College is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (9,328 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Laney College vs. Merritt College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Laney 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 Merritt College than Laney College ($15,581 vs. $17,741).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Laney College and Merritt College ($22,820).
• Laney College and Merritt College have the same published in-state tuition ($1,258.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is the same at Laney College as at Merritt College ($9,898.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Laney College than at Merritt College (77% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Laney College students is 3.9% larger than aid received by Merritt College students ($5,164 vs. $4,972).

Laney College vs. Merritt College Admissions comparison

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

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

Laney College vs. Merritt College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Laney 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 $5,500 more per year than Laney College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $34,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Laney College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Merritt College graduates ($10,500 vs. $11,500).
• Among borrowers, Laney College graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merritt College graduates ($108 vs. $118).
• More Laney College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt College students, three years after graduation. (38% 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.