CDU vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles, CA with University of California Merced in Merced, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of California Merced is larger than CDU based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 852 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large Suburban setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science 4:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Merced are 35.2% lower than at Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science ($21,445 vs. $33,090).
• Out-of-state tuition is 116.6% higher at UC Merced than at Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science (about $26,823 more per year; $49,823 vs. $23,000).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science than at University of California Merced (100% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 538.3% larger than aid received by Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science students ($27,292 vs. $4,276).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are open admission at CDU, test-free at UC Merced.
• Typical fall application deadline: CDU Jul 30, 2027; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at UC Merced average a 3.55 high school GPA, 0.29 higher than at CDU (3.26).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 3.5% at CDU vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Merced graduates have a $1,420 lower median loan debt than CDU graduates ($19,899 vs. $21,319).
• Among borrowers, UC Merced graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CDU graduates ($205 vs. $220).
• More UC Merced graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CDU students, three years after graduation (64% vs. 56%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.