Merritt College vs. SMC

Comparable Facts

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

Santa Monica College is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (23,453 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Merritt College vs. SMC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merritt College or SMC? 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 Monica College than Merritt College ($5,685 vs. $15,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merritt College are 11.9% lower than at Santa Monica College ($22,820 vs. $25,908).
• Merritt College is 8.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than SMC (about $102 more per year; $1,258.00 vs. $1,156.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.2% higher at SMC than at Merritt College (about $810 more per year; $10,708.00 vs. $9,898.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merritt College than at Santa Monica College (71% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Santa Monica College students is 11.4% larger than aid received by Merritt College students ($5,540 vs. $4,972).

Merritt College vs. SMC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Merritt College or SMC? 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 SMC 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; SMC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: SMC Aug 30, 2027.

Merritt College vs. SMC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merritt College and SMC? 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 $800 more per year than SMC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,800 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Santa Monica College graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than Merritt College graduates ($6,500 vs. $11,500).
• Among borrowers, SMC graduates have an estimated $51 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merritt College graduates ($67 vs. $118).
• More SMC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merritt College students, three years after graduation. (45% 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.