San Francisco Conservatory of Music vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare San Francisco Conservatory of Music in San Francisco, 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 San Francisco Conservatory of Music based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 439 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• San Francisco Conservatory of Music is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• San Francisco Conservatory of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: San Francisco Conservatory of Music 5:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

San Francisco Conservatory of Music vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, San Francisco Conservatory of Music 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 San Francisco Conservatory of Music ($13,690 vs. $43,746).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Merced are 6.5% lower than at San Francisco Conservatory of Music ($21,445 vs. $22,930).
• San Francisco Conservatory of Music is 259.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Merced (about $40,527 more per year; $56,150.00 vs. $15,623.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.7% higher at San Francisco Conservatory of Music than at University of California Merced (about $6,327 more per year; $56,150.00 vs. $49,823.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at San Francisco Conservatory of Music than at University of California Merced (100% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by San Francisco Conservatory of Music students is 32.1% larger than aid received by University of California Merced students ($36,052 vs. $27,292).

San Francisco Conservatory of Music vs. UC Merced Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, San Francisco Conservatory of Music or UC Merced? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UC Merced and San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresUniversity of California Merced 960/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresUniversity of California Merced 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: San Francisco Conservatory of Music - Test-free; UC Merced - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: San Francisco Conservatory of Music Dec 7, 2026; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• UC Merced has a higher acceptance rate (90.5%) than San Francisco Conservatory of Music (54.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.2% at San Francisco Conservatory of Music vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

San Francisco Conservatory of Music vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for San Francisco Conservatory of Music and UC Merced? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• San Francisco Conservatory of Music's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than University of California Merced's (58%).
• Graduates from San Francisco Conservatory of Music have median earnings of about $30,200 about ten years after starting college (College Scorecard). Comparable earnings data is not available for UC Merced.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Merced graduates have a $6,351 lower median loan debt than San Francisco Conservatory of Music graduates ($19,899 vs. $26,250).
• Among borrowers, UC Merced graduates have an estimated $66 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than San Francisco Conservatory of Music graduates ($205 vs. $271).
• More San Francisco Conservatory of Music graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Merced students, three years after graduation. (66% 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.