University of Redlands vs. UC Merced

Should I go to University of Redlands or University of California Merced? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if University of Redlands or UC Merced is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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University of Redlands vs. University of California Merced comparison
University of Redlands University of California Merced College 3 College 4
University of Redlands University of California Merced
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Overview

University of Redlands UC Merced
Location Redlands, CA Merced, CA
Setting Small City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 3,460 9,103
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #248 #605
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website redlands.edu ucmerced.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of Redlands UC Merced
Tuition (In State) $55,328 $11,564
Tuition (Out of State) $55,328 $41,636
Room & Board $15,758 $19,340
Avg Net Price $28,157 $13,549
Avg Grant Aid $42,251 $25,868
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 83%

Admission

University of Redlands UC Merced
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,872 29,920
Admitted 3,170 26,766
Acceptance Rate 81.9% 89.5%
Enrolled % 17% 8.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.74 3.55
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Challenging Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 25/30 19/24
SAT Range 1113/1278 960/1140
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jul 1, 2025 Nov 30, 2024

Academics

University of Redlands UC Merced
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (44%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Health Professions (6%)
  • Psychology (22%)
  • Biology (21%)
  • Engineering (14%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Business (12%)

Outcomes

University of Redlands UC Merced
Graduation Rate 70% 58%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $56,400 N/A
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 64%
Median Student Loan Debt $28,500 $19,899
Median Loan Payment $294 $205

Diversity

University of Redlands UC Merced
% Men 39% 51%
% Women 61% 49%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 48% 13%
% Black 5% 5%
% Hispanic 27% 48%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 1%
% Two or More Races 5% 4%
% International 1% 5%
% Unknown Race 8% 1%

Students

University of Redlands UC Merced
% In-State 75% 99%
% Out-of-State 23% 0%

Campus

University of Redlands UC Merced
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of California Merced is larger than than University of Redlands based on total student enrollment (9,103 students vs. 3,460 students)

University of Redlands vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Redlands or UC Merced?

  • University of Redlands is 378.5% more expensive to attend than UC Merced for in-state tuition ($55,328.00 vs. $11,564.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 32.9% higher at University of Redlands than University of California Merced ($55,328.00 vs. $41,636.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Merced than University of Redlands ($13,549 vs. $28,157)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Redlands are 22.7% lower than costs at University of California Merced ($15,758 vs. $19,340)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Redlands than University of California Merced (94% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Redlands students is 63.3% larger than aid received University of California Merced ($42,251 vs. $25,868)

University of Redlands vs. UC Merced Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Redlands or UC Merced? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UC Merced or University of Redlands .

  • The average SAT score at University of Redlands (1130) is 105 points higher than at UC Merced (1025)
  • Incoming University of Redlands students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at UC Merced (23)
  • Accepted freshman University of Redlands students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at UC Merced (3.55)
  • UC Merced has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than University of Redlands (81.9%)

University of Redlands vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of Redlands or UC Merced? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between UC Merced and University of Redlands.

  • The graduation rate at University of Redlands is higher than University of California Merced (70% vs. 58%)
  • University of California Merced students graduate with a $8,601 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Redlands graduates. ($19,899 vs. $28,500)
  • UC Merced graduates are paying $89 less per month on federal student loans than University of Redlands graduates. ($205 vs. $294)
  • More University of Redlands graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Merced students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 64%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/