Los Angeles City College vs. Merritt College

Comparable Facts

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

Los Angeles City College is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (14,611 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Angeles City College is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Merritt College is in Oakland, CA (Large City setting).
• Los Angeles City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Los Angeles City College 30:1; Merritt College 33:1.

Los Angeles City College vs. Merritt College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Los Angeles City 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 Los Angeles City College than Merritt College ($11,836 vs. $15,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merritt College are 10.2% lower than at Los Angeles City College ($22,820 vs. $25,407).
• Merritt College is 1.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Los Angeles City College (about $20 more per year; $1,258.00 vs. $1,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.8% higher at Los Angeles City College than at Merritt College (about $674 more per year; $10,572.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Los Angeles City College than at Merritt College (75% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Los Angeles City College students is 40.7% larger than aid received by Merritt College students ($6,994 vs. $4,972).

Los Angeles City College vs. Merritt College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Los Angeles City 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 Los Angeles City College.

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

Los Angeles City College vs. Merritt College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Los Angeles City 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 $6,800 more per year than Los Angeles City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Los Angeles City College graduates have a $1,531 lower median loan debt than Merritt College graduates ($9,969 vs. $11,500).
• Among borrowers, Los Angeles City College graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merritt College graduates ($103 vs. $118).
• More Los Angeles City College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt College students, three years after graduation. (33% 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.