UC Merced vs. SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Merced in Merced, CA with SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary in El Dorado Hills, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Merced is larger than SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 319 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Merced is located in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting); SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary is in El Dorado Hills, CA (Large City setting).
• University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Merced 20:1; SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary 18:1.

UC Merced vs. SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Merced or SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary? 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 SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary ($13,690 vs. $22,276).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary are 65.6% lower than at University of California Merced ($7,380 vs. $21,445).
• University of California Merced is 49.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary (about $5,163 more per year; $15,623.00 vs. $10,460.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 376.3% higher at UC Merced than at SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary (about $39,363 more per year; $49,823.00 vs. $10,460.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary (89% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 918.4% larger than aid received by SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary students ($27,292 vs. $2,680).

UC Merced vs. SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Merced or SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary? 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 SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary and UC Merced.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Merced 960/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Merced 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Merced - Test-free; SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Merced Nov 30, 2026; SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary Aug 1, 2027.
• UC Merced has a higher acceptance rate (90.5%) than SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary (40.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.2% at UC Merced vs. 100% at SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary.

UC Merced vs. SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Merced and SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary? 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).

• SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary's six-year graduation rate (100%) is higher than University of California Merced's (58%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Merced graduates have a $9,905 lower median loan debt than SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary graduates ($19,899 vs. $29,804).
• Among borrowers, UC Merced graduates have an estimated $103 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary graduates ($205 vs. $308).
• More UC Merced graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 33%)

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.