Pacific Oaks College vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, CA with University of California Merced in Merced, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Merced is larger than Pacific Oaks College based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 1,068 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pacific Oaks College is located in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Pacific Oaks College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pacific Oaks College 11:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Pacific Oaks College vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pacific Oaks College or UC Merced? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Oaks College are 10.5% lower than at University of California Merced ($19,185 vs. $21,445).
• Pacific Oaks College is 108.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Merced (about $16,897 more per year; $32,520.00 vs. $15,623.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 53.2% higher at UC Merced than at Pacific Oaks College (about $17,303 more per year; $49,823.00 vs. $32,520.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at Pacific Oaks College (89% vs. 0%).

Pacific Oaks College vs. UC Merced Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pacific Oaks College or UC Merced? 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 UC Merced and Pacific Oaks College.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of California Merced 960/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of California Merced 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pacific Oaks College - Test optional; UC Merced - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• UC Merced has a higher acceptance rate (90.5%) than Pacific Oaks College (34.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.7% at Pacific Oaks College vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Pacific Oaks College vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pacific Oaks College and UC Merced? 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).

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Merced graduates have a $1,068 lower median loan debt than Pacific Oaks College graduates ($19,899 vs. $20,967).
• Among borrowers, UC Merced graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pacific Oaks College graduates ($205 vs. $216).
• More UC Merced graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pacific Oaks College 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.