Southern California Seminary vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare Southern California Seminary in El Cajon, 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 Southern California Seminary based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 161 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Southern California Seminary is located in El Cajon, CA (Large Suburban setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Southern California Seminary is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Southern California Seminary 9:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Southern California Seminary vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Southern California Seminary 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 Southern California Seminary are 27.1% lower than at University of California Merced ($15,633 vs. $21,445).
• Southern California Seminary is 22.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Merced (about $3,457 more per year; $19,080.00 vs. $15,623.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 161.1% higher at UC Merced than at Southern California Seminary (about $30,743 more per year; $49,823.00 vs. $19,080.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at Southern California Seminary (89% vs. 0%).

Southern California Seminary vs. UC Merced Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Southern California Seminary 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 Southern California Seminary.

• Southern California Seminary reports an open admissions policy.
• 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: Southern California Seminary - Open admission; UC Merced - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.

Southern California Seminary vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Southern California Seminary 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).

• University of California Merced's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than Southern California Seminary's (33%).
• More UC Merced graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southern California Seminary students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 50%)

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.