Merritt College vs. Mt. SAC

Comparable Facts

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

Mt San Antonio College is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (29,971 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merritt College is located in Oakland, CA (Large City setting); Mt San Antonio College is in Walnut, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Mt San Antonio College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merritt College 33:1; Mt San Antonio College 26:1.

Merritt College vs. Mt. SAC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merritt College or Mt. SAC? 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 Mt San Antonio College than Merritt College ($8,516 vs. $15,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merritt College are 10.8% lower than at Mt San Antonio College ($22,820 vs. $25,587).
• Mt San Antonio College is 8.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merritt College (about $106 more per year; $1,364.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.7% higher at Mt. SAC than at Merritt College (about $566 more per year; $10,464.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mt San Antonio College than at Merritt College (76% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mt San Antonio College students is 39% larger than aid received by Merritt College students ($6,911 vs. $4,972).

Merritt College vs. Mt. SAC Admissions comparison

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

Merritt College vs. Mt. SAC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merritt College and Mt. SAC? 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 $700 more per year than Mt. SAC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mt San Antonio College graduates have a $7,000 lower median loan debt than Merritt College graduates ($4,500 vs. $11,500).
• Among borrowers, Mt. SAC graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merritt College graduates ($46 vs. $118).
• More Mt. SAC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt College students, three years after graduation. (45% 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.