Pierce College vs. Merced College

Comparable Facts

Compare Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland Hills, CA with Merced College in Merced, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Los Angeles Pierce College is larger than Merced College based on total student enrollment (16,906 students vs. 12,472 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Los Angeles Pierce College is located in Woodland Hills, CA (Large City setting); Merced College is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Los Angeles Pierce College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Merced College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Los Angeles Pierce College 30:1; Merced College 28:1.

Pierce College vs. Merced College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pierce 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 Merced College than Pierce College ($6,854 vs. $14,469).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merced College are 23.5% lower than at Los Angeles Pierce College ($19,432 vs. $25,407).
• Los Angeles Pierce College is 3.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merced College (about $38 more per year; $1,238.00 vs. $1,200.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 24.1% higher at Pierce College than at Merced College (about $2,052 more per year; $10,572.00 vs. $8,520.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merced College than at Los Angeles Pierce College (88% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merced College students is 16.9% larger than aid received by Los Angeles Pierce College students ($7,480 vs. $6,398).

Pierce College vs. Merced College Admissions comparison

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

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pierce College - Open admission; Merced College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pierce College Aug 20, 2027.

Pierce College vs. Merced College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pierce 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 Los Angeles Pierce College earn a median of about $9,500 more per year than Merced College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 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.