Merced College Tuition, Demographics & Completion (2026)
Merced College is a public community college in Merced, California, with about 10,001 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $5,040 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $1,200. Student demographics in federal data include Hispanic or Latino (67.2%) and White (15.4%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $1,200
- 2024 Average Net Price: $5,040 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 10,001 49.0% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 35.72%
- Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional
- First-Generation Students: 59.4%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 10.2% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 35.8%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 18,818
- Room & Board: $19,432 annual estimate
Merced College: what the data shows
Common questions about Merced College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Merced College?
Merced College is located in Merced, CA (ZIP 95348-2806).
NCES locale classification: Town.
Is Merced College public or private?
Merced College is a Public institution.
How much does Merced College cost?
Published tuition: $1,200 in-state, $8,520 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $5,040.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $4,155 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $4,862 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $5,562 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $9,933 |
| $110,001+ | $10,902 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $4,800.
How big is Merced College?
Total enrollment: 10,001 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 18,818 students.
About 49% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Merced College?
150%-time completion rate: 35.72%.
First-year retention: 63.3%.
What do graduates of Merced College earn?
Median earnings: $31,468 six years after entry; $37,815 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
37.50% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Merced College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (860 completions)
- Psychology, General (370 completions)
- Social Sciences, General (188 completions)
- Welding Technology/Welder (160 completions)
- Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide (144 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (107 completions)
- Sociology, General (101 completions)
- Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician (99 completions)
- Health Professions and Related Programs (99 completions)
- Child Care Provider/Assistant (82 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Merced College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 35.72%; median earnings $37,815 at 10 years; net price $5,040. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$1,200
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Merced College was $1,200.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$5,040
2024 Value
In 2024 Merced College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $5,040.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$20,160 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$5,040 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$4,800 4-Year In-State Tuition
$34,080 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$19,432 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$938 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$21,570 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$86,280 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Merced College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
37.50% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
0.83% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Merced College was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Merced College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $1,138 | $5,890 | $3,034 |
| 2014 | $1,138 | $5,890 | $9,236 |
| 2015 | $1,141 | $6,133 | $9,008 |
| 2016 | $1,150 | $6,142 | $8,592 |
| 2017 | $1,150 | $6,115 | $8,686 |
| 2018 | $1,150 | $6,115 | $8,486 |
| 2019 | $1,158 | $6,318 | $10,565 |
| 2020 | $1,180 | $6,340 | $11,522 |
| 2021 | $1,180 | $7,444 | $11,546 |
| 2022 | $1,194 | $7,890 | $4,745 |
| 2023 | $1,194 | $8,154 | $4,260 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Merced College reported total enrollment of about 10,001 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 42% male and 58% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (67.2%), White (15.4%), and Asian (6.8%). About 37.50% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 59.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
49.0% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Merced College in 2024 is 10,001 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 18,818 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
63.3%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is Hispanic or Latino at 67.2%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
13.23% 100% Completion Time
35.72% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 13.23% of students graduating from Merced College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 35% male / 65% female
- Psychology, General: 25% male / 75% female
- Social Sciences, General: 26% male / 74% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: Hispanic or Latino.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Merced College.
Return on Investment
$37,815 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
1775.74% Return on Investment
Financial value analysis for Merced College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 73 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 860 completions
2. Psychology, General: 370 completions
3. Social Sciences, General: 188 completions
4. Welding Technology/Welder: 160 completions
5. Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide: 144 completions
6. Business Administration and Management, General: 107 completions
7. Sociology, General: 101 completions
8. Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician: 99 completions
9. Health Professions and Related Programs: 99 completions
Most popular programs at Merced College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Merced College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Merced College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 35.8%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $10,419
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $6,012
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Merced College is a public institution located in Merced, CA, classified as Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Psychology, General, Social Sciences, General. Enrollment is approximately 10,001 students. Student body composition includes Hispanic or Latino (67.2%), White (15.4%), Asian (6.8%). The 150%-time completion rate is 35.72%. Approximately 37.50% of students receive Pell Grants. About 59.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Associate's Colleges: High Transfer-High Traditional
Location
Merced, CA 95348-2806
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 35.72% graduation rate at Merced College falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 73 distinct degree programs, Merced College provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Merced College located?
Merced College is located in Merced, CA.
How much does Merced College cost?
Reported tuition is $1,200 and average net price is $5,040 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $19,432 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Merced College?
Merced College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 18,818 students, Hispanic or Latino (67.2%), White (15.4%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Merced College?
About 59.4% of students at Merced College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Merced College earn?
Median earnings are $31,468 six years after entry and $37,815 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Merced College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 35.7% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
Is Merced College public or private?
Merced College is a public institution located in Merced, CA.
Is Merced College an HBCU?
No. Merced College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Merced College a tribal college?
No. Merced College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Merced College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—Merced College reports 67.2% Hispanic enrollment share.
Is Merced College religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Merced College in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- California college profile
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- California trade schools profile
- Merced, California city profile
- Far West regional profile
- Town college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- California trade schools profile
- Merced, California city profile
- Far West regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.