Merced College vs. Orange Coast College

Comparable Facts

Compare Merced College in Merced, CA with Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Orange Coast College is larger than Merced College based on total student enrollment (17,096 students vs. 12,472 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merced College is located in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Orange Coast College is in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Merced College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Orange Coast College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merced College 28:1; Orange Coast College 27:1.

Merced College vs. Orange Coast College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merced College or Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College ($6,854 vs. $9,116).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Orange Coast College are 1.4% lower than at Merced College ($19,159 vs. $19,432).
• Orange Coast College is 16% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merced College (about $192 more per year; $1,392.00 vs. $1,200.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 36.6% higher at Orange Coast College than at Merced College (about $3,120 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $8,520.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merced College than at Orange Coast College (88% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merced College students is 36.2% larger than aid received by Orange Coast College students ($7,480 vs. $5,493).

Merced College vs. Orange Coast College Admissions comparison

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

Merced College vs. Orange Coast College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merced College and Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College earn a median of about $11,900 more per year than Merced College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 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.