Private Nonprofit Graduate Average 40/100

Samuel Merritt University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Oakland, California

About Samuel Merritt University

Samuel Merritt University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Oakland, California. It enrolls 718 students (a small, tight-knit 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.

Acceptance
Graduation
92.6%
Net Price
Median Earnings (10yr)
$143,238
Enrollment
718
Student : Faculty
7:1

Accreditor Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic Calendar Trimester

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 (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Average
40/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes
Value
Affordability 14
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Admissions data is not yet reported for Samuel Merritt University.

Acceptance Rate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Samuel Merritt University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. Net-price data is not yet reported for this school.

Average Net Price
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
18%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
91%
Borrowing to attend

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.

$9,500
10% percentile
$15,000
25% percentile
$20,825
Median percentile
$20,949
75% percentile
$26,750
90% 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
Pell recipients $25,000 ↑ $4,175
No Pell $20,825
Dependent students $15,651 ↓ $5,174
Independent students $20,825
Female students $20,825
Male students $20,825
Pell recipients: 20.2% (4,200 students)No Pell: 16.8% (3,499 students)Dependent students: 12.6% (2,630 students)Independent students: 16.8% (3,499 students)Female students: 16.8% (3,499 students)Male students: 16.8% (3,499 students)Overall Median$20,825
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $19,375, close to what completers borrow ($20,825) but without the degree to show for it.

Graduation Rate & Retention

93% of full-time students who enrolled at Samuel Merritt University graduate within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
93%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
Returning for their second year
What this means: Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Samuel Merritt University earn a median of $143,238 ten years after first enrolling. That's well above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$143,238
Earning > $25K
95%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$143,000$144,000$146,000$147,000$149,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

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
$105,400

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$138,200

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$106,400

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$119,800

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$113,500

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $32,800, about 24% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt 17.6 pts across 6 years
78.7%1yr93.4%3yr94.6%5yr96.3%7yr
What this signals: Excellent. 96% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Samuel Merritt University is home to 718 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 32% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled
718
Part-Time
17%
First-Generation
32%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 27.7% 199
Asian 24.9% 179
White 24.0% 172
Other 14.5% 104
Black 6.3% 45
International 0.4% 3
Hispanic: 27.7% (199 students)Asian: 24.9% (179 students)White: 24.0% (172 students)Other: 14.5% (104 students)Black: 6.3% (45 students)International: 0.4% (3 students)Total718

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Samuel Merritt University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Large City Oakland, California
Housing
Commuter campus No on-campus housing
Adult Learners
82% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Trimester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Samuel Merritt University offers a focused set of programs: 8 distinct programs across 1 major. 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.

8 Programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Samuel Merritt University is 7:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).

Student : Faculty
7:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$269M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$100,959
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

163 instructional faculty across 4 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
Full Professors 16 10% $136,044
Associate Professors 18 11% $103,580
Assistant Professors 101 62% $100,567
Instructors 28 17% $80,637

Pros & Cons of Samuel Merritt University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Samuel Merritt University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
  • Tight-knit, close community feel
  • Strong six-year graduation rate
  • Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
  • Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
  • Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
  • Most students take on federal loans
  • Narrow program catalog compared to mid-sized peers
Best for: Based on the data, Samuel Merritt University is a fit for students prioritizing post-graduation earnings; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Samuel Merritt University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Samuel Merritt University.

What is Samuel Merritt University known for?
Samuel Merritt University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Nursing, Rehabilitation. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Samuel Merritt University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Samuel Merritt University are $143,238, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Samuel Merritt University accredited?
Yes. Samuel Merritt University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend Samuel Merritt University?
Samuel Merritt University enrolls 718 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Samuel Merritt University?
Samuel Merritt University graduates 93% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Samuel Merritt University a public or private college?
Samuel Merritt University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Samuel Merritt University located?
Samuel Merritt University is located in Oakland, California.
What programs does Samuel Merritt University offer?
Samuel Merritt University offers 8 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Nursing, Rehabilitation.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Samuel Merritt University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Samuel Merritt University is 7:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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