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Overview |
California Lutheran University | UC Merced | ||
| Location | Thousand Oaks, CA | Merced, CA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 3,615 | 9,103 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #347 | #605 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | callutheran.edu | ucmerced.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
California Lutheran University | UC Merced | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $47,500 | $11,564 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $47,500 | $41,636 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,490 | $19,340 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $30,416 | $13,549 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $30,597 | $25,868 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 83% |
Admission |
California Lutheran University | UC Merced | ||
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| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 5,150 | 29,920 | ||
| Admitted | 4,490 | 26,766 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 87.2% | 89.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.4% | 8.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.73 | 3.55 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 26/30 | 19/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 1150/1320 | 960/1140 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 1, 2024 | Nov 30, 2023 |
Academics |
California Lutheran University | UC Merced | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 19:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
California Lutheran University | UC Merced | ||
| Graduation Rate | 64% | 58% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $57,900 | N/A | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 70% | 64% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,000 | $19,899 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $237 | $205 |
Diversity |
California Lutheran University | UC Merced | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 43% | 51% | ||
| % Women | 57% | 49% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 49% | 13% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 27% | 48% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 4% | ||
| % International | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 1% |
Students |
California Lutheran University | UC Merced | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 80% | 99% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 17% | 0% | ||
Campus |
California Lutheran University | UC Merced | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of California Merced is larger than than California Lutheran University based on total student enrollment (9,103 students vs. 3,615 students)
California Lutheran University vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, California Lutheran University or UC Merced?
- California Lutheran University is 310.8% more expensive to attend than UC Merced for in-state tuition ($47,500.00 vs. $11,564.00)
- Out of state tuition is 14.1% higher at California Lutheran University than University of California Merced ($47,500.00 vs. $41,636.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Merced than California Lutheran University ($13,549 vs. $30,416)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Lutheran University are 24.9% lower than costs at University of California Merced ($15,490 vs. $19,340)
- More students receive financial grant aid at California Lutheran University than University of California Merced (99% vs. 83%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by California Lutheran University students is 18.3% larger than aid received University of California Merced ($30,597 vs. $25,868)
California Lutheran University vs. UC Merced Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, California Lutheran University or UC Merced? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UC Merced or California Lutheran University .
- The average SAT score at California Lutheran University (1109) is 84 points higher than at UC Merced (1025)
- Incoming California Lutheran University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at UC Merced (23)
- Accepted freshman California Lutheran University students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at UC Merced (3.55)
- UC Merced has a higher acceptance rate (89.5%) than California Lutheran University (87.2%)
California Lutheran University vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, California Lutheran University or UC Merced? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between UC Merced and California Lutheran University.
- The graduation rate at California Lutheran University is higher than University of California Merced (64% vs. 58%)
- University of California Merced students graduate with a $3,101 lower median federal student loan debt than California Lutheran University graduates. ($19,899 vs. $23,000)
- UC Merced graduates are paying $32 less per month on federal student loans than California Lutheran University graduates. ($205 vs. $237)
- More California Lutheran University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Merced students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 64%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/