Merced College vs. Berkeley City College

Comparable Facts

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

Merced College is larger than Berkeley City College based on total student enrollment (12,472 students vs. 6,278 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merced College is located in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Berkeley City College is in Berkeley, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Merced College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Berkeley City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merced College 28:1; Berkeley City College 33:1.

Merced College vs. Berkeley City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merced College or Berkeley City 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 Berkeley City College ($6,854 vs. $12,695).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merced College are 14.8% lower than at Berkeley City College ($19,432 vs. $22,820).
• Berkeley City College is 4.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merced College (about $58 more per year; $1,258.00 vs. $1,200.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16.2% higher at Berkeley City College than at Merced College (about $1,378 more per year; $9,898.00 vs. $8,520.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merced College than at Berkeley City College (88% vs. 74%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merced College students is 38% larger than aid received by Berkeley City College students ($7,480 vs. $5,422).

Merced College vs. Berkeley City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Merced College or Berkeley City 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 Berkeley City College and Merced College.

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

Merced College vs. Berkeley City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merced College and Berkeley City 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 Berkeley City College earn a median of about $7,900 more per year than Merced College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,200 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.