Merced College vs. SBCC

Comparable Facts

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

Merced College is larger than SBCC based on total student enrollment (12,472 students vs. 12,334 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merced College is located in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Santa Barbara City College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting).
• Merced College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Barbara City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merced College 28:1; Santa Barbara City College 24:1.

Merced College vs. SBCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merced College or SBCC? 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 SBCC ($6,854 vs. $14,186).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merced College are 12% lower than at Santa Barbara City College ($19,432 vs. $22,086).
• Santa Barbara City College is 3.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merced College (about $40 more per year; $1,240.00 vs. $1,200.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 22.4% higher at SBCC than at Merced College (about $1,912 more per year; $10,432.00 vs. $8,520.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merced College than at Santa Barbara City College (88% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merced College students is 27% larger than aid received by Santa Barbara City College students ($7,480 vs. $5,889).

Merced College vs. SBCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Merced College or SBCC? 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 SBCC 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; SBCC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SBCC Aug 19, 2027.

Merced College vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merced College and SBCC? 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 Santa Barbara City College earn a median of about $10,100 more per year than Merced College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 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.