Merritt College vs. PGCC

Comparable Facts

Compare Merritt College in Oakland, CA with Professional Golfers Career College in Temecula, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Merritt College is larger than PGCC based on total student enrollment (7,022 students vs. 70 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merritt College is located in Oakland, CA (Large City setting); Professional Golfers Career College is in Temecula, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Professional Golfers Career College is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merritt College 33:1; Professional Golfers Career College 17:1.

Merritt College vs. PGCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merritt College or PGCC? 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 Merritt College than PGCC ($15,581 vs. $35,686).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Professional Golfers Career College are 33.8% lower than at Merritt College ($15,113 vs. $22,820).
• Professional Golfers Career College is 1,397.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merritt College (about $17,582 more per year; $18,840.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 90.3% higher at PGCC than at Merritt College (about $8,942 more per year; $18,840.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merritt College than at Professional Golfers Career College (71% vs. 16%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merritt College students is 62.9% larger than aid received by Professional Golfers Career College students ($4,972 vs. $3,053).

Merritt College vs. PGCC Admissions comparison

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

Merritt College vs. PGCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merritt College and PGCC? 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 Professional Golfers Career College earn a median of about $11,100 more per year than Merritt College graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,900 vs. $39,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Merritt College graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than PGCC graduates ($11,500 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, Merritt College graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PGCC graduates ($118 vs. $124).
• More PGCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt College students, three years after graduation. (61% 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.