Merced College vs. Delta

Comparable Facts

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

San Joaquin Delta College is larger than Merced College based on total student enrollment (20,969 students vs. 12,472 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merced College is located in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting); San Joaquin Delta College is in Stockton, CA (Large City setting).
• Merced College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Joaquin Delta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merced College 28:1; San Joaquin Delta College 45:1.

Merced College vs. Delta Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merced College or Delta? 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 San Joaquin Delta College than Merced College ($3,293 vs. $6,854).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merced College are 10% lower than at San Joaquin Delta College ($19,432 vs. $21,600).
• Merced College is 1.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Delta (about $20 more per year; $1,200.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.7% higher at Delta than at Merced College (about $1,252 more per year; $9,772.00 vs. $8,520.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merced College than at San Joaquin Delta College (88% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merced College students is 18.5% larger than aid received by San Joaquin Delta College students ($7,480 vs. $6,311).

Merced College vs. Delta Admissions comparison

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

Merced College vs. Delta Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merced College and Delta? 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 Joaquin Delta College earn a median of about $4,600 more per year than Merced College graduates about ten years after starting college ($34,900 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.