Merced Rankings and Evaluation
Community Colleges
#86 in Community Colleges
Merced College is ranked 86th in Community Colleges.
The following statements evaluate Merced College by comparing key academic facts to Public, 2-4 Years Colleges in California.
- Its tuition & fees of $8,520 is comparable to similar schools.
- It has average number of students of 12,472.
- The financial aid amount ($5,329) is average.
- It offers very diverse area of study (157 programs).
Undergraduate Tuition & Fees
The 2025 undergraduate tuition & fees of Merced are $8,520 (out-of-state rate) and it is average compared to Public, 2-4 Years Colleges in California.
Merced College $8,520
All U.S. Colleges $17,692
Public, 2-4 Years Colleges $8,177
2-4 Years Colleges $13,123
Public, 2-4 Years Colleges in California $7,935
Graduation Rate
The average graduation rate at Merced is 36% and it is average compared to Public, 2-4 Years Colleges in California.
Merced College 36%
All U.S. Colleges 56%
Public, 2-4 Years Colleges 34%
2-4 Years Colleges 47%
Public, 2-4 Years Colleges in California 33%
Transfer-out Rate
The average transfer-out rate at Merced is 7% and it is lower (small number of students transferred-out) compared to Public, 2-4 Years Colleges in California.
Merced College 7%
All U.S. Colleges 21%
Public, 2-4 Years Colleges 17%
2-4 Years Colleges 16%
Public, 2-4 Years Colleges in California 10%
Retention Rate
The average retention rate at Merced is 63% and it is average compared to Public, 2-4 Years Colleges in California.
Merced College 63%
All U.S. Colleges 69%
Public, 2-4 Years Colleges 61%
2-4 Years Colleges 65%
Public, 2-4 Years Colleges in California 70%
Student Population
The total student population at Merced is 12,472 and its population average compared to Public, 2-4 Years Colleges in California.
Merced College 12,472
All U.S. Colleges 2,931
Public, 2-4 Years Colleges 5,796
2-4 Years Colleges 3,035
Public, 2-4 Years Colleges in California 11,761
Financial Aid Amount
The average amount of financial aid received at Merced is $5,329 which is 62.55% of tuition & fees. The rate of the financial aid over its tuition is average compared to Public, 2-4 Years Colleges in California.
Merced College $5,329
All U.S. Colleges $7,676
Public, 2-4 Years Colleges $4,837
2-4 Years Colleges $4,948
Public, 2-4 Years Colleges in California $4,718
Student to Faculty Ratio
The students to faculty ratio at Merced is 28 to 1 and the ratio is higher (more students per class/faculty) compared to Public, 2-4 Years Colleges in California.
Merced College 28 to 1
All U.S. Colleges 15 to 1
Public, 2-4 Years Colleges 18 to 1
2-4 Years Colleges 17 to 1
Public, 2-4 Years Colleges in California 25 to 1
Number of Programs
Merced offers 157 programs and it means very diverse area of study compared to Public, 2-4 Years Colleges in California.
Merced College 157
All U.S. Colleges 37
Public, 2-4 Years Colleges 68
2-4 Years Colleges 39
Public, 2-4 Years Colleges in California 97
Number of Online Programs
Merced offers 3 online programs and it means limited online classes compared to Public, 2-4 Years Colleges in California.
