Merced College vs. Saddleback College

Comparable Facts

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

Saddleback College is larger than Merced College based on total student enrollment (20,764 students vs. 12,472 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merced College is located in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Saddleback College is in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Merced College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Saddleback College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merced College 28:1; Saddleback College 27:1.

Merced College vs. Saddleback College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merced College or Saddleback 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 Saddleback College ($6,854 vs. $8,122).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merced College are 24.6% lower than at Saddleback College ($19,432 vs. $25,769).
• Merced College is 3.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $44 more per year; $1,200.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 39.2% higher at Saddleback College than at Merced College (about $3,340 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $8,520.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merced College than at Saddleback College (88% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merced College students is 62.5% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($7,480 vs. $4,603).

Merced College vs. Saddleback College Admissions comparison

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

Merced College vs. Saddleback College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merced College and Saddleback 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 Saddleback College earn a median of about $14,000 more per year than Merced College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 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.