UC Merced vs. The Chicago School at San Diego

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Merced in Merced, CA with The Chicago School at San Diego in San Diego, California on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Merced is larger than The Chicago School at San Diego based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 112 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Merced is located in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting); The Chicago School at San Diego is in San Diego, California (Large City setting).
• University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The Chicago School at San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Merced 20:1; The Chicago School at San Diego 11:1.

UC Merced vs. The Chicago School at San Diego Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Merced or The Chicago School at San Diego? 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 The Chicago School at San Diego are 13.6% lower than at University of California Merced ($18,536 vs. $21,445).
• The Chicago School at San Diego is 39.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Merced (about $6,157 more per year; $21,780.00 vs. $15,623.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 128.8% higher at UC Merced than at The Chicago School at San Diego (about $28,043 more per year; $49,823.00 vs. $21,780.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at The Chicago School at San Diego (89% vs. 0%).

UC Merced vs. The Chicago School at San Diego Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Merced or The Chicago School at San Diego? 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 The Chicago School at San Diego 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; The Chicago School at San Diego - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.

UC Merced vs. The Chicago School at San Diego Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Merced and The Chicago School at San Diego? 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).

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.