Merced College vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

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

Merced College is larger than CSM based on total student enrollment (12,472 students vs. 9,901 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merced College is located in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting); College of San Mateo is in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting).
• Merced College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. College of San Mateo is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merced College 28:1; College of San Mateo 24:1.

Merced College vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merced College or CSM? 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 College of San Mateo than Merced College ($5,831 vs. $6,854).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merced College are 37.9% lower than at College of San Mateo ($19,432 vs. $31,288).
• College of San Mateo is 11% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merced College (about $132 more per year; $1,332.00 vs. $1,200.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 33.6% higher at CSM than at Merced College (about $2,864 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $8,520.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merced College than at College of San Mateo (88% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merced College students is 70.5% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($7,480 vs. $4,386).

Merced College vs. CSM Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Merced College or CSM? 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 CSM 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; CSM - Open admission.

Merced College vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merced College and CSM? 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 College of San Mateo earn a median of about $14,500 more per year than Merced College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 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.