Merced College vs. San Diego Mesa College

Comparable Facts

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

San Diego Mesa College is larger than Merced College based on total student enrollment (19,212 students vs. 12,472 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Merced College vs. San Diego Mesa College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merced College or San Diego Mesa 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 San Diego Mesa College ($6,854 vs. $10,316).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merced College are 37.8% lower than at San Diego Mesa College ($19,432 vs. $31,243).
• Merced College is 4.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego Mesa College (about $54 more per year; $1,200.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.4% higher at San Diego Mesa College than at Merced College (about $1,482 more per year; $10,002.00 vs. $8,520.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merced College than at San Diego Mesa College (88% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego Mesa College students is 10.3% larger than aid received by Merced College students ($8,252 vs. $7,480).

Merced College vs. San Diego Mesa College Admissions comparison

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

Merced College vs. San Diego Mesa College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merced College and San Diego Mesa 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 San Diego Mesa College earn a median of about $11,300 more per year than Merced College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 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.