Merritt College vs. Delta

Comparable Facts

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

San Joaquin Delta College is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (20,969 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merritt College is located in Oakland, CA (Large City setting); San Joaquin Delta College is in Stockton, CA (Large City setting).
• Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Joaquin Delta College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merritt College 33:1; San Joaquin Delta College 45:1.

Merritt College vs. Delta Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merritt College or Delta? 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 Joaquin Delta College than Merritt College ($3,293 vs. $15,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at San Joaquin Delta College are 5.3% lower than at Merritt College ($21,600 vs. $22,820).
• Merritt College is 6.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Delta (about $78 more per year; $1,258.00 vs. $1,180.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.3% higher at Merritt College than at San Joaquin Delta College (about $126 more per year; $9,898.00 vs. $9,772.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merritt College than at San Joaquin Delta College (71% vs. 58%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Joaquin Delta College students is 26.9% larger than aid received by Merritt College students ($6,311 vs. $4,972).

Merritt College vs. Delta Admissions comparison

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

Merritt College vs. Delta Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merritt College and Delta? 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 $4,900 more per year than Delta graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $34,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Joaquin Delta College graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Merritt College graduates ($7,000 vs. $11,500).
• Among borrowers, Delta graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merritt College graduates ($72 vs. $118).
• More Merritt College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Delta students, three years after graduation. (27% vs. 24%)

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.