Merritt College vs. Orange Coast College

Comparable Facts

Compare Merritt College in Oakland, CA with Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Orange Coast College is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (17,096 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merritt College is located in Oakland, CA (Large City setting); Orange Coast College is in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Orange Coast College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merritt College 33:1; Orange Coast College 27:1.

Merritt College vs. Orange Coast College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merritt College or Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College than Merritt College ($9,116 vs. $15,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Orange Coast College are 16% lower than at Merritt College ($19,159 vs. $22,820).
• Orange Coast College is 10.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merritt College (about $134 more per year; $1,392.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.6% higher at Orange Coast College than at Merritt College (about $1,742 more per year; $11,640.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merritt College than at Orange Coast College (71% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Orange Coast College students is 10.5% larger than aid received by Merritt College students ($5,493 vs. $4,972).

Merritt College vs. Orange Coast College Admissions comparison

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

Merritt College vs. Orange Coast College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merritt College and Orange Coast 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 Orange Coast College earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than Merritt College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $39,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Orange Coast College graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than Merritt College graduates ($6,500 vs. $11,500).
• Among borrowers, Orange Coast College graduates have an estimated $51 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merritt College graduates ($67 vs. $118).
• More Orange Coast College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt College students, three years after graduation. (51% 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.