Merritt College vs. MiraCosta College

Comparable Facts

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

MiraCosta College is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (11,478 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merritt College is located in Oakland, CA (Large City setting); MiraCosta College is in Oceanside, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. MiraCosta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merritt College 33:1; MiraCosta College 18:1.

Merritt College vs. MiraCosta College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merritt College or MiraCosta 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 MiraCosta College than Merritt College ($9,044 vs. $15,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merritt College are 33.5% lower than at MiraCosta College ($22,820 vs. $34,328).
• Merritt College is 8.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than MiraCosta College (about $100 more per year; $1,258.00 vs. $1,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.5% higher at Merritt College than at MiraCosta College (about $148 more per year; $9,898.00 vs. $9,750.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at MiraCosta College than at Merritt College (81% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by MiraCosta College students is 0.8% larger than aid received by Merritt College students ($5,013 vs. $4,972).

Merritt College vs. MiraCosta College Admissions comparison

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

Merritt College vs. MiraCosta College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merritt College and MiraCosta 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 $6,800 more per year than MiraCosta College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $33,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have a $7,000 lower median loan debt than Merritt College graduates ($4,500 vs. $11,500).
• Among borrowers, MiraCosta College graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merritt College graduates ($46 vs. $118).
• More MiraCosta College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt College students, three years after graduation. (46% 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.