Merced College vs. PGCC

Comparable Facts

Compare Merced College in Merced, CA with Professional Golfers Career College in Temecula, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Merced College is larger than PGCC based on total student enrollment (12,472 students vs. 70 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merced College is located in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Professional Golfers Career College is in Temecula, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Merced College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Professional Golfers Career College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merced College 28:1; Professional Golfers Career College 17:1.

Merced College vs. PGCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merced College or PGCC? 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 PGCC ($6,854 vs. $35,686).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Professional Golfers Career College are 22.2% lower than at Merced College ($15,113 vs. $19,432).
• Professional Golfers Career College is 1,470% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merced College (about $17,640 more per year; $18,840.00 vs. $1,200.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 121.1% higher at PGCC than at Merced College (about $10,320 more per year; $18,840.00 vs. $8,520.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merced College than at Professional Golfers Career College (88% vs. 16%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merced College students is 145% larger than aid received by Professional Golfers Career College students ($7,480 vs. $3,053).

Merced College vs. PGCC Admissions comparison

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

Merced College vs. PGCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merced College and PGCC? 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 Professional Golfers Career College earn a median of about $20,600 more per year than Merced College graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,900 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.