UC Merced vs. John Paul the Great Catholic University

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Merced in Merced, CA with John Paul the Great Catholic University in Escondido, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Merced is larger than John Paul the Great Catholic University based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 286 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Merced is located in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting); John Paul the Great Catholic University is in Escondido, CA (Large City setting).
• University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. John Paul the Great Catholic University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Merced 20:1; John Paul the Great Catholic University 15:1.

UC Merced vs. John Paul the Great Catholic University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Merced or John Paul the Great Catholic University? 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 John Paul the Great Catholic University ($13,690 vs. $35,175).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at John Paul the Great Catholic University are 54% lower than at University of California Merced ($9,868 vs. $21,445).
• John Paul the Great Catholic University is 93.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Merced (about $14,642 more per year; $30,265.00 vs. $15,623.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 64.6% higher at UC Merced than at John Paul the Great Catholic University (about $19,558 more per year; $49,823.00 vs. $30,265.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at John Paul the Great Catholic University than at University of California Merced (100% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 60.7% larger than aid received by John Paul the Great Catholic University students ($27,292 vs. $16,982).

UC Merced vs. John Paul the Great Catholic University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Merced or John Paul the Great Catholic University? 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 John Paul the Great Catholic University and UC Merced.

• John Paul the Great Catholic University reports an open admissions policy.
• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at John Paul the Great Catholic University (1120) is 70 points higher than at UC Merced (1050).
• Incoming John Paul the Great Catholic University 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: University of California Merced 960/1140; John Paul the Great Catholic University 975/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Merced 19/24; John Paul the Great Catholic University 21/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Merced - Test-free; John Paul the Great Catholic University - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman John Paul the Great Catholic University students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at UC Merced (3.55).
• UC Merced has a higher acceptance rate (90.5%) than John Paul the Great Catholic University (79.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.2% at UC Merced vs. 43% at John Paul the Great Catholic University.

UC Merced vs. John Paul the Great Catholic University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Merced and John Paul the Great Catholic University? 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 $5,851 lower median loan debt than John Paul the Great Catholic University graduates ($19,899 vs. $25,750).
• Among borrowers, UC Merced graduates have an estimated $61 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than John Paul the Great Catholic University graduates ($205 vs. $266).

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.