Merced College vs. Pasadena City College

Comparable Facts

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

Pasadena City College is larger than Merced College based on total student enrollment (24,597 students vs. 12,472 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merced College is located in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Pasadena City College is in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Merced College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Pasadena City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merced College 28:1; Pasadena City College 23:1.

Merced College vs. Pasadena City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merced College or Pasadena 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 Pasadena City College ($6,854 vs. $6,888).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pasadena City College are 0% lower than at Merced College ($19,431 vs. $19,432).
• Merced College is 1.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pasadena City College (about $20 more per year; $1,200.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15.3% higher at Pasadena City College than at Merced College (about $1,300 more per year; $9,820.00 vs. $8,520.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merced College than at Pasadena City College (88% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merced College students is 10.7% larger than aid received by Pasadena City College students ($7,480 vs. $6,759).

Merced College vs. Pasadena City College Admissions comparison

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

Merced College vs. Pasadena City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merced College and Pasadena 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 Pasadena City College earn a median of about $7,600 more per year than Merced College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,900 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.