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UC Riverside UCSC CSU UC Davis San Jose State Cal State Fullerton San Diego State Cal Poly California State Polytechnic University-Pomona San Francisco State Cal State Long Beach Sacramento State| Vanguard University of Southern California | University of California Merced | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Vanguard University of Southern California | UC Merced | ||
| Location | Costa Mesa, CA | Merced, CA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 2,256 | 9,103 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #660 | #605 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Assemblies of God Church | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | vanguard.edu | ucmerced.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Vanguard University of Southern California | UC Merced | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $38,000 | $11,564 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $38,000 | $41,636 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,290 | $19,340 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $24,279 | $13,549 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $28,914 | $25,868 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 83% |
Admission |
Vanguard University of Southern California | UC Merced | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,778 | 29,920 | ||
| Admitted | 2,079 | 26,766 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.8% | 89.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 26% | 8.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.31 | 3.55 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | 19/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 980/1200 | 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 | Aug 1, 2025 | Nov 30, 2024 |
Academics |
Vanguard University of Southern California | UC Merced | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 19:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Vanguard University of Southern California | UC Merced | ||
| Graduation Rate | 55% | 58% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $43,200 | N/A | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 64% | 64% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $19,899 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $205 |
Diversity |
Vanguard University of Southern California | UC Merced | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 33% | 51% | ||
| % Women | 67% | 49% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 45% | 13% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 36% | 48% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
Vanguard University of Southern California | UC Merced | ||
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| % In-State | 93% | 99% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 7% | 0% | ||
Campus |
Vanguard University of Southern California | 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 Vanguard University of Southern California based on total student enrollment (9,103 students vs. 2,256 students)
Vanguard University of Southern California vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Vanguard University of Southern California or UC Merced?
- Vanguard University of Southern California is 228.6% more expensive to attend than UC Merced for in-state tuition ($38,000.00 vs. $11,564.00)
- Out of state tuition is 9.6% higher at UC Merced than Vanguard University of Southern California ($41,636.00 vs. $38,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Merced than Vanguard University of Southern California ($13,549 vs. $24,279)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vanguard University of Southern California are 87.9% lower than costs at University of California Merced ($10,290 vs. $19,340)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Vanguard University of Southern California than University of California Merced (100% vs. 83%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Vanguard University of Southern California students is 11.8% larger than aid received University of California Merced ($28,914 vs. $25,868)
Vanguard University of Southern California vs. UC Merced Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Vanguard University of Southern California or UC Merced? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UC Merced or Vanguard University of Southern California .
- The average SAT score at University of California Merced (1025) is 50 points higher than at Vanguard University of Southern California (975)
- Incoming UC Merced students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Vanguard University of Southern California (21)
- Accepted freshman UC Merced students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Vanguard University of Southern California (3.31)
- UC Merced has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than Vanguard University of Southern California (74.8%)
Vanguard University of Southern California vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Vanguard University of Southern California 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 Vanguard University of Southern California.
- The graduation rate at UC Merced is higher than Vanguard University of Southern California (58% vs. 55%)
- University of California Merced students graduate with a $5,101 lower median federal student loan debt than Vanguard University of Southern California graduates. ($19,899 vs. $25,000)
- UC Merced graduates are paying $53 less per month on federal student loans than Vanguard University of Southern California graduates. ($205 vs. $258)
- More Vanguard University of Southern California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Merced students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 64%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/