Merced College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Merced, California. It enrolls 10,001 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
71/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes35
Value86
Affordability69
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Merced College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Merced College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $5,040 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$5,040
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
38%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
1%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$1,200
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$8,520
Room & Board (off-campus)
$19,432
Books & Supplies
$938
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,192
Total Cost of Attendance
$14,485
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$4,155
$30,001 – $48,000
$4,862
$48,001 – $75,000
$5,562
$75,001 – $110,000
$9,933
Over $110,000
$10,902
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Dependent students $3,150
—
Independent students $4,750
—
What this means:
38% of students receive Pell grants. Most cost is borne by families above Pell thresholds. Verify your individual aid offer before deciding.
Graduation Rate & Retention
8% of full-time students who enrolled at Merced College graduate within six years, and 63% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
8%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
63%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Merced College earn a median of $37,815 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$37,815
Earning > $25K
61%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$27,800
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$36,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $8,500, about 23% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means:
Strong return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$7.5 of median earnings 10 years out.
Who Studies Here
Merced College is home to 10,001 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 59% are first-generation college students, 51% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
10,001
Part-Time
51%
First-Generation
59%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 67.3%6,726
White 15.4%1,543
Asian 6.8%676
Black 4.0%396
Other 3.8%376
International 0.5%45
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Merced College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityMerced, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
30%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Merced College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
71 distinct programs across
27 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Merced College is 27:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
27:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$4,435
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$9.8M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$84,752
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
201 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Instructors
201
100%
$84,752
Pros & Cons of Merced College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Merced College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Merced College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Merced College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Merced College.
Is Merced College hard to get into?
Merced College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Merced College?
Merced College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Merced College cost?
The average net price after aid at Merced College is $5,040 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Merced College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $37,815 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $5,040 per year. That's roughly 7.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Merced College known for?
Merced College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Psychology, Social Sciences. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Merced College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Merced College are $37,815, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Merced College accredited?
Yes. Merced College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Merced College?
Merced College enrolls 10,001 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Merced College?
Merced College graduates 8% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Merced College a public or private college?
Merced College is a Public institution.
Where is Merced College located?
Merced College is located in Merced, California.
What programs does Merced College offer?
Merced College offers 71 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Psychology, Social Sciences.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Merced College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Merced College is 27:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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