Merritt College vs. Berkeley City College

Comparable Facts

Compare Merritt College in Oakland, CA with Berkeley City College in Berkeley, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Merritt College is larger than Berkeley City College based on total student enrollment (7,022 students vs. 6,278 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merritt College is located in Oakland, CA (Large City setting); Berkeley City College is in Berkeley, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Berkeley City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merritt College 33:1; Berkeley City College 33:1.

Merritt College vs. Berkeley City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merritt College or Berkeley City 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 Berkeley City College than Merritt College ($12,695 vs. $15,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Merritt College and Berkeley City College ($22,820).
• Merritt College and Berkeley City College have the same published in-state tuition ($1,258.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is the same at Merritt College as at Berkeley City College ($9,898.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Berkeley City College than at Merritt College (74% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Berkeley City College students is 9.1% larger than aid received by Merritt College students ($5,422 vs. $4,972).

Merritt College vs. Berkeley City College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Merritt College or Berkeley City 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 Berkeley City College and Merritt College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Merritt College - Open admission; Berkeley City College - Open admission.

Merritt College vs. Berkeley City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merritt College and Berkeley City 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 Merritt College earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than Berkeley City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $38,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Berkeley City College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt College students, three years after graduation. (35% vs. 27%)

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.