Merritt College vs. Saddleback College

Comparable Facts

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

Saddleback College is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (20,764 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merritt College is located in Oakland, CA (Large City setting); Saddleback College is in Mission Viejo, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Saddleback College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merritt College 33:1; Saddleback College 27:1.

Merritt College vs. Saddleback College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merritt College or Saddleback 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 Saddleback College than Merritt College ($8,122 vs. $15,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merritt College are 11.4% lower than at Saddleback College ($22,820 vs. $25,769).
• Merritt College is 8.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saddleback College (about $102 more per year; $1,258.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.8% higher at Saddleback College than at Merritt College (about $1,962 more per year; $11,860.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saddleback College than at Merritt College (77% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merritt College students is 8% larger than aid received by Saddleback College students ($4,972 vs. $4,603).

Merritt College vs. Saddleback College Admissions comparison

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

Merritt College vs. Saddleback College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merritt College and Saddleback 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 Saddleback College earn a median of about $4,500 more per year than Merritt College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,300 vs. $39,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Saddleback College graduates have a $5,380 lower median loan debt than Merritt College graduates ($6,120 vs. $11,500).
• Among borrowers, Saddleback College graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merritt College graduates ($63 vs. $118).
• More Saddleback 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.