Merritt College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Oakland, California. It enrolls 5,288 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.
Fair
46/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes12
Value43
Affordability20
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Merritt 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 Merritt 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 $14,021 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$14,021
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
11%
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)
$1,258
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$9,898
Room & Board (off-campus)
$22,820
Books & Supplies
$1,492
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,986
Total Cost of Attendance
$21,424
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
$13,744
$30,001 – $48,000
$14,102
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,825
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,528
Over $110,000
$20,036
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,00010%percentile
$4,50025%percentile
$16,00075%percentile
$23,00090%percentile
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 $6,000
—
Independent students $10,475
—
Female students $9,500
—
Male students $10,500
—
What this means:
11% of students receive Pell grants. Most cost is borne by families above Pell thresholds. Verify your individual aid offer before deciding.
Graduation Rate & Retention
9% of full-time students who enrolled at Merritt College graduate within six years, and 53% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
9%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
53%
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 Merritt College earn a median of $44,392 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$44,392
Earning > $25K
65%
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
$38,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$49,900
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,200, about 22% 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:
Solid return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$3.2 of median earnings 10 years out.
Who Studies Here
Merritt College is home to 5,288 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 55% are first-generation college students, 82% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
5,288
Part-Time
82%
First-Generation
55%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 29.3%1,549
Black 23.9%1,265
White 18.3%966
Asian 16.2%859
Other 7.0%368
International 0.6%34
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Merritt College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityOakland, California
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
51%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Merritt College offers
a varied set of programs:
28 distinct programs across
14 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 Merritt College is 29:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
29:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$3,007
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$106,277
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
73 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
73
100%
$106,277
Pros & Cons of Merritt College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Merritt College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
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
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Merritt College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Merritt College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Merritt College.
Is Merritt College hard to get into?
Merritt College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Merritt College?
Merritt College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Merritt College cost?
The average net price after aid at Merritt College is $14,021 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Merritt College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $44,392 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $14,021 per year. That's roughly 3.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Merritt College known for?
Merritt College is best known for its programs in Health Sciences, Liberal Arts, Social Sciences. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Merritt College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Merritt College are $44,392, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Merritt College accredited?
Yes. Merritt College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Merritt College?
Merritt College enrolls 5,288 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Merritt College?
Merritt College graduates 9% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Merritt College a public or private college?
Merritt College is a Public institution.
Where is Merritt College located?
Merritt College is located in Oakland, California.
What programs does Merritt College offer?
Merritt College offers 28 distinct programs. The most popular include Health Sciences, Liberal Arts, Social Sciences.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Merritt College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Merritt College is 29:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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