Nicholls State University vs. UC Merced

Should I go to Nicholls State University or University of California Merced? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Nicholls State University or UC Merced is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Nicholls State University vs. University of California Merced comparison
Nicholls State University University of California Merced College 3 College 4
Nicholls State University University of California Merced
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Overview

Nicholls State University UC Merced
Location Thibodaux, LA Merced, CA
Setting Small City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 5,883 9,103
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #910 #605
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nicholls.edu ucmerced.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Nicholls State University UC Merced
Tuition (In State) $4,922 $11,564
Tuition (Out of State) $6,015 $41,636
Room & Board $10,602 $19,340
Avg Net Price $12,365 $13,549
Avg Grant Aid $9,310 $25,868
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 83%

Admission

Nicholls State University UC Merced
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,289 29,920
Admitted 2,253 26,766
Acceptance Rate 98.4% 89.5%
Enrolled % 43.1% 8.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.34 3.55
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/24 19/24
SAT Range 938/1130 960/1140
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Nov 30, 2024

Academics

Nicholls State University UC Merced
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (19%)
  • Health Professions (16%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Personal and Culinary Services (7%)
  • Psychology (22%)
  • Biology (21%)
  • Engineering (14%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Business (12%)

Outcomes

Nicholls State University UC Merced
Graduation Rate 38% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,600 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 51% 64%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,848 $19,899
Median Loan Payment $205 $205

Diversity

Nicholls State University UC Merced
% Men 35% 51%
% Women 65% 49%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 68% 13%
% Black 20% 5%
% Hispanic 3% 48%
% Native American 2% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 2% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 1%

Students

Nicholls State University UC Merced
% In-State 92% 99%
% Out-of-State 6% 0%

Campus

Nicholls State University UC Merced
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of California Merced is larger than than Nicholls State University based on total student enrollment (9,103 students vs. 5,883 students)

Nicholls State University vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Nicholls State University or UC Merced?

  • University of California Merced is 134.9% more expensive to attend than Nicholls State University for in-state tuition ($11,564.00 vs. $4,922.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 592.2% higher at UC Merced than Nicholls State University ($41,636.00 vs. $6,015.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Nicholls State University than UC Merced ($12,365 vs. $13,549)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Nicholls State University are 82.4% lower than costs at University of California Merced ($10,602 vs. $19,340)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Nicholls State University than University of California Merced (100% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 177.9% larger than aid received Nicholls State University ($25,868 vs. $9,310)

Nicholls State University vs. UC Merced Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Nicholls State University or UC Merced? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UC Merced or Nicholls State University .

  • The average SAT score at Nicholls State University (1030) is 5 points higher than at UC Merced (1025)
  • Incoming UC Merced students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Nicholls State University (22)
  • Accepted freshman UC Merced students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Nicholls State University (3.34)
  • Nicholls State University has a higher acceptance rate (98.4%) than UC Merced (89.5%)

Nicholls State University vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Nicholls State University or UC Merced? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between UC Merced and Nicholls State University.

  • The graduation rate at UC Merced is higher than Nicholls State University (58% vs. 38%)
  • Nicholls State University students graduate with a $51 lower median federal student loan debt than UC Merced graduates. ($19,848 vs. $19,899)
  • University of California Merced and Nicholls State University graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($205 vs. $205)
  • More UC Merced graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Nicholls State University students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 51%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/