Merritt College vs. Las Positas College

Comparable Facts

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

Las Positas College is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (8,103 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merritt College is located in Oakland, CA (Large City setting); Las Positas College is in Livermore, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Las Positas College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merritt College 33:1; Las Positas College 25:1.

Merritt College vs. Las Positas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merritt College or Las Positas 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 Las Positas College than Merritt College ($8,669 vs. $15,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merritt College are 1.1% lower than at Las Positas College ($22,820 vs. $23,076).
• Merritt College is 7.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Las Positas College (about $90 more per year; $1,258.00 vs. $1,168.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.9% higher at Merritt College than at Las Positas College (about $90 more per year; $9,898.00 vs. $9,808.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Merritt College as at Las Positas College (71% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merritt College students is 29.5% larger than aid received by Las Positas College students ($4,972 vs. $3,839).

Merritt College vs. Las Positas College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Merritt College or Las Positas 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 Las Positas 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; Las Positas College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Las Positas College Aug 1, 2027.

Merritt College vs. Las Positas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merritt College and Las Positas 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 Las Positas College earn a median of about $1,900 more per year than Merritt College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,700 vs. $39,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More Las Positas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt College students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.