Merced College vs. Las Positas College

Comparable Facts

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

Merced College is larger than Las Positas College based on total student enrollment (12,472 students vs. 8,103 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merced College is located in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Las Positas College is in Livermore, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Merced College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Las Positas College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merced College 28:1; Las Positas College 25:1.

Merced College vs. Las Positas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merced College or Las Positas 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 Las Positas College ($6,854 vs. $8,669).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merced College are 15.8% lower than at Las Positas College ($19,432 vs. $23,076).
• Merced College is 2.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Las Positas College (about $32 more per year; $1,200.00 vs. $1,168.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15.1% higher at Las Positas College than at Merced College (about $1,288 more per year; $9,808.00 vs. $8,520.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merced College than at Las Positas College (88% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merced College students is 94.8% larger than aid received by Las Positas College students ($7,480 vs. $3,839).

Merced College vs. Las Positas College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Merced College or Las Positas 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 Las Positas 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; Las Positas College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Las Positas College Aug 1, 2027.

Merced College vs. Las Positas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merced College and Las Positas 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 Las Positas College earn a median of about $11,400 more per year than Merced College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,700 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.