AJU vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare American Jewish University in Los Angeles, CA with University of California Merced in Merced, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Merced is larger than AJU based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 424 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• American Jewish University is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• American Jewish University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: American Jewish University 10:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

AJU vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AJU or UC Merced? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American Jewish University are 30.7% lower than at University of California Merced ($14,864 vs. $21,445).
• American Jewish University is 100.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Merced (about $15,771 more per year; $31,394.00 vs. $15,623.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 58.7% higher at UC Merced than at American Jewish University (about $18,429 more per year; $49,823.00 vs. $31,394.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at American Jewish University (89% vs. 0%).

AJU vs. UC Merced Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AJU or UC Merced? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UC Merced and AJU.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of California Merced 960/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of California Merced 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AJU - Not reported; UC Merced - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.

AJU vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AJU and UC Merced? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• University of California Merced's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than American Jewish University's (44%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, American Jewish University graduates have a $1,149 lower median loan debt than UC Merced graduates ($18,750 vs. $19,899).
• Among borrowers, AJU graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Merced graduates ($193 vs. $205).
• More UC Merced graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AJU students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 44%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.