Merritt College vs. West Valley College

Comparable Facts

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

West Valley College is larger than Merritt College based on total student enrollment (7,655 students vs. 7,022 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merritt College is located in Oakland, CA (Large City setting); West Valley College is in Saratoga, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Merritt College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. West Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merritt College 33:1; West Valley College 29:1.

Merritt College vs. West Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merritt College or West Valley 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 West Valley College than Merritt College ($7,270 vs. $15,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merritt College are 35.5% lower than at West Valley College ($22,820 vs. $35,361).
• West Valley College is 18.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merritt College (about $232 more per year; $1,490.00 vs. $1,258.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.7% higher at Merritt College than at West Valley College (about $1,196 more per year; $9,898.00 vs. $8,702.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at West Valley College than at Merritt College (81% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merritt College students is 3.5% larger than aid received by West Valley College students ($4,972 vs. $4,806).

Merritt College vs. West Valley College Admissions comparison

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

Merritt College vs. West Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merritt College and West Valley 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 West Valley College earn a median of about $1,300 more per year than Merritt College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,100 vs. $39,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More West Valley College 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.