Merced College vs. West Los Angeles College

Comparable Facts

Compare Merced College in Merced, CA with West Los Angeles College in Culver City, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Merced College is larger than West Los Angeles College based on total student enrollment (12,472 students vs. 9,255 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merced College is located in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting); West Los Angeles College is in Culver City, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Merced College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. West Los Angeles College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merced College 28:1; West Los Angeles College 26:1.

Merced College vs. West Los Angeles College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merced College or West Los Angeles 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 West Los Angeles College ($6,854 vs. $11,164).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merced College are 23.5% lower than at West Los Angeles College ($19,432 vs. $25,407).
• West Los Angeles College is 3.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merced College (about $38 more per year; $1,238.00 vs. $1,200.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 24.1% higher at West Los Angeles College than at Merced College (about $2,052 more per year; $10,572.00 vs. $8,520.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merced College than at West Los Angeles College (88% vs. 83%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merced College students is 27.7% larger than aid received by West Los Angeles College students ($7,480 vs. $5,857).

Merced College vs. West Los Angeles College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Merced College or West Los Angeles 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 West Los Angeles 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; West Los Angeles College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: West Los Angeles College Jun 1, 2027.

Merced College vs. West Los Angeles College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merced College and West Los Angeles 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 West Los Angeles College earn a median of about $5,400 more per year than Merced College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,700 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.