Merritt College vs. San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia

Comparable Facts

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

Merritt College is larger than San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia based on total student enrollment (7,022 students vs. 2,318 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merritt College is located in Oakland, CA (Large City setting); San Joaquin Valley College Visalia is in Visalia, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. San Joaquin Valley College Visalia is a private, for-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merritt College 33:1; San Joaquin Valley College Visalia 28:1.

Merritt College vs. San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merritt College or San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia? 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 San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia ($15,581 vs. $27,525).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at San Joaquin Valley College Visalia are 61.6% lower than at Merritt College ($8,764 vs. $22,820).
• San Joaquin Valley College Visalia is 1,220% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merritt College (about $15,348 more per year; $16,606.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 67.8% higher at San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia than at Merritt College (about $6,708 more per year; $16,606.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Joaquin Valley College Visalia than at Merritt College (85% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Joaquin Valley College Visalia students is 9.2% larger than aid received by Merritt College students ($5,430 vs. $4,972).

Merritt College vs. San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Merritt College or San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia? 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 Joaquin Valley College-Visalia 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 Joaquin Valley College-Visalia - Open admission.

Merritt College vs. San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merritt College and San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia? 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 $7,700 more per year than San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $32,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Merritt College graduates have a $4,300 lower median loan debt than San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia graduates ($11,500 vs. $15,800).
• Among borrowers, Merritt College graduates have an estimated $45 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia graduates ($118 vs. $163).
• More San Joaquin Valley College-Visalia graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt College students, three years after graduation. (29% 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.