Merritt College vs. CSM

Comparable Facts

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

College of San Mateo is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (9,901 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merritt College is located in Oakland, CA (Large City setting); College of San Mateo is in San Mateo, CA (Small City setting).
• Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. College of San Mateo is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merritt College 33:1; College of San Mateo 24:1.

Merritt College vs. CSM Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merritt College or CSM? 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 College of San Mateo than Merritt College ($5,831 vs. $15,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merritt College are 27.1% lower than at College of San Mateo ($22,820 vs. $31,288).
• College of San Mateo is 5.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merritt College (about $74 more per year; $1,332.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15% higher at CSM than at Merritt College (about $1,486 more per year; $11,384.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of San Mateo than at Merritt College (80% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merritt College students is 13.4% larger than aid received by College of San Mateo students ($4,972 vs. $4,386).

Merritt College vs. CSM Admissions comparison

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

Merritt College vs. CSM Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merritt College and CSM? 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 College of San Mateo earn a median of about $5,000 more per year than Merritt College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $39,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of San Mateo graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Merritt College graduates ($7,000 vs. $11,500).
• Among borrowers, CSM graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merritt College graduates ($72 vs. $118).
• More CSM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt College students, three years after graduation. (58% 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.