Merritt College vs. Pasadena City College

Comparable Facts

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

Pasadena City College is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (24,597 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merritt College is located in Oakland, CA (Large City setting); Pasadena City College is in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting).
• Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Pasadena City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merritt College 33:1; Pasadena City College 23:1.

Merritt College vs. Pasadena City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merritt College or Pasadena City 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 Pasadena City College than Merritt College ($6,888 vs. $15,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pasadena City College are 14.9% lower than at Merritt College ($19,431 vs. $22,820).
• Merritt College is 6.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pasadena City College (about $78 more per year; $1,258.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.8% higher at Merritt College than at Pasadena City College (about $78 more per year; $9,898.00 vs. $9,820.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pasadena City College than at Merritt College (78% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pasadena City College students is 35.9% larger than aid received by Merritt College students ($6,759 vs. $4,972).

Merritt College vs. Pasadena City College Admissions comparison

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

Merritt College vs. Pasadena City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merritt College and Pasadena City 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 $1,900 more per year than Pasadena City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $37,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pasadena City College graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than Merritt College graduates ($5,500 vs. $11,500).
• Among borrowers, Pasadena City College graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merritt College graduates ($56 vs. $118).
• More Pasadena City College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt College students, three years after graduation. (36% 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.