Merritt College vs. San Diego City College

Comparable Facts

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

San Diego City College is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (13,242 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merritt College is located in Oakland, CA (Large City setting); San Diego City College is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Diego City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merritt College 33:1; San Diego City College 22:1.

Merritt College vs. San Diego City College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merritt College or San Diego 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 San Diego City College than Merritt College ($10,040 vs. $15,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merritt College are 27% lower than at San Diego City College ($22,820 vs. $31,243).
• Merritt College is 9.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Diego City College (about $112 more per year; $1,258.00 vs. $1,146.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.1% higher at San Diego City College than at Merritt College (about $104 more per year; $10,002.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Diego City College than at Merritt College (87% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego City College students is 111.2% larger than aid received by Merritt College students ($10,500 vs. $4,972).

Merritt College vs. San Diego City College Admissions comparison

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

Merritt College vs. San Diego City College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merritt College and San Diego 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 $6,600 more per year than San Diego City College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $33,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego City College graduates have a $7,000 lower median loan debt than Merritt College graduates ($4,500 vs. $11,500).
• Among borrowers, San Diego City College graduates have an estimated $72 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merritt College graduates ($46 vs. $118).
• More San Diego City College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt College students, three years after graduation. (30% 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.