Merced College vs. Mt. SAC

Comparable Facts

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

Mt San Antonio College is larger than Merced College based on total student enrollment (29,971 students vs. 12,472 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merced College is located in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Mt San Antonio College is in Walnut, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Merced College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Mt San Antonio College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merced College 28:1; Mt San Antonio College 26:1.

Merced College vs. Mt. SAC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merced College or Mt. SAC? 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 Mt. SAC ($6,854 vs. $8,516).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merced College are 24.1% lower than at Mt San Antonio College ($19,432 vs. $25,587).
• Mt San Antonio College is 13.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merced College (about $164 more per year; $1,364.00 vs. $1,200.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 22.8% higher at Mt. SAC than at Merced College (about $1,944 more per year; $10,464.00 vs. $8,520.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merced College than at Mt San Antonio College (88% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merced College students is 8.2% larger than aid received by Mt San Antonio College students ($7,480 vs. $6,911).

Merced College vs. Mt. SAC Admissions comparison

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

Merced College vs. Mt. SAC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merced College and Mt. SAC? 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 Mt San Antonio College earn a median of about $8,800 more per year than Merced College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,100 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.