Saint Mary's College of California vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, 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 Saint Mary's College of California based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 2,734 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Saint Mary's College of California is located in Moraga, CA (Large Suburban setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Saint Mary's College of California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Saint Mary's College of California 10:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Saint Mary's College of California vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Saint Mary's College of California or UC Merced? 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 University of California Merced than Saint Mary's College of California ($13,690 vs. $35,332).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Mary's College of California are 17.9% lower than at University of California Merced ($17,600 vs. $21,445).
• Saint Mary's College of California is 270% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Merced (about $42,180 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $15,623.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16% higher at Saint Mary's College of California than at University of California Merced (about $7,980 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $49,823.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College of California than at University of California Merced (100% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College of California students is 55.4% larger than aid received by University of California Merced students ($42,407 vs. $27,292).

Saint Mary's College of California vs. UC Merced Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Saint Mary's College of California 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 Saint Mary's College of California.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Saint Mary's College of California (1160) is 110 points higher than at UC Merced (1050).
• Incoming Saint Mary's College of California students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 21 at UC Merced).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College of California 1070/1253; University of California Merced 960/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College of California 21/28; University of California Merced 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Saint Mary's College of California - Test-free; UC Merced - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Saint Mary's College of California Jan 15, 2027; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Saint Mary's College of California students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at UC Merced (3.55).
• UC Merced has a higher acceptance rate (90.5%) than Saint Mary's College of California (86.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.5% at Saint Mary's College of California vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Saint Mary's College of California vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Saint Mary's College of California 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).

• Saint Mary's College of California's six-year graduation rate (61%) is higher than University of California Merced's (58%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Merced graduates have a $5,101 lower median loan debt than Saint Mary's College of California graduates ($19,899 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, UC Merced graduates have an estimated $53 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saint Mary's College of California graduates ($205 vs. $258).
• More Saint Mary's College of California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Merced students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 64%)

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.