Merritt College vs. SBCC

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Barbara City College is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (12,334 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merritt College is located in Oakland, CA (Large City setting); Santa Barbara City College is in Santa Barbara, CA (Small City setting).
• Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Santa Barbara City College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merritt College 33:1; Santa Barbara City College 24:1.

Merritt College vs. SBCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merritt College or SBCC? 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 Santa Barbara City College than Merritt College ($14,186 vs. $15,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Santa Barbara City College are 3.2% lower than at Merritt College ($22,086 vs. $22,820).
• Merritt College is 1.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than SBCC (about $18 more per year; $1,258.00 vs. $1,240.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.4% higher at SBCC than at Merritt College (about $534 more per year; $10,432.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merritt College than at Santa Barbara City College (71% vs. 41%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Barbara City College students is 18.4% larger than aid received by Merritt College students ($5,889 vs. $4,972).

Merritt College vs. SBCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Merritt College or SBCC? 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 SBCC 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; SBCC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SBCC Aug 19, 2027.

Merritt College vs. SBCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merritt College and SBCC? 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 Santa Barbara City College earn a median of about $600 more per year than Merritt College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,400 vs. $39,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Barbara City College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Merritt College graduates ($9,500 vs. $11,500).
• Among borrowers, SBCC graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merritt College graduates ($98 vs. $118).
• More SBCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt College students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.