Cleveland State vs. UC Merced

Cleveland State University and University of California Merced side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Cleveland State University
University of California Merced

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: UC Merced (90.5% admitted vs 91.3%). Typical SAT 1050 vs 1010.
  • Cheaper after aid: UC Merced. Average net price is $13,690 vs $16,230 at Cleveland State.
  • Graduation: Cleveland State 30% vs UC Merced 58%.
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Key differences

Cleveland State University University of California Merced
Acceptance rate
UC Merced more selective
Cleveland State91.3%
UC Merced90.5%
SAT range (middle 50%)
UC Merced higher
Cleveland State880-1130
UC Merced960-1140
Average net price
UC Merced $2,540 less
Cleveland State$16,230
UC Merced$13,690
In-state tuition
Cleveland State $2,635 less
Cleveland State$12,988
UC Merced$15,623
Out-of-state tuition
Cleveland State $31,313 less
Cleveland State$18,510
UC Merced$49,823
Graduation rate
UC Merced +28 pts
Cleveland State30%
UC Merced58%
Median earnings (10 years)
Cleveland State +$44,200
Cleveland State$44,200
UC Merced-

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Cleveland State 11,050
  • UC Merced 31,928
  • Admitted
  • Cleveland State 10,089
  • UC Merced 28,906
  • Acceptance rate
  • Cleveland State 91.3%
  • UC Merced 90.5%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Cleveland State 15.7%
  • UC Merced 7.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cleveland State 1010
  • UC Merced 1050
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cleveland State 21
  • UC Merced 21
  • Average high school GPA
  • Cleveland State 3.31
  • UC Merced 3.55
  • Typical high school grades
  • Cleveland State B+
  • UC Merced A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Cleveland State Very Easy
  • UC Merced Very Easy
  • Applicant competition
  • Cleveland State
  • UC Merced
  • SAT range
  • Cleveland State 880-1130
  • UC Merced 960-1140
  • ACT range
  • Cleveland State 18-25
  • UC Merced 19-24
  • Submit test scores
  • Cleveland State Test-free
  • UC Merced Test-free
  • Application deadline
  • Cleveland State Aug 15, 2027
  • UC Merced Nov 30, 2026
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Cleveland State $12,988
  • UC Merced $15,623
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Cleveland State $18,510
  • UC Merced $49,823
  • Room & board
  • Cleveland State $15,104
  • UC Merced $21,445
  • Average net price
  • Cleveland State $16,230
  • UC Merced $13,690
  • Average grant aid
  • Cleveland State $9,795
  • UC Merced $27,292
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Cleveland State 90%
  • UC Merced 89%
  • Graduation rate
  • Cleveland State 30%
  • UC Merced 58%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Cleveland State $44,200
  • UC Merced N/A
  • Making student loan payments
  • Cleveland State 47%
  • UC Merced 64%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Cleveland State $21,500
  • UC Merced $19,899
  • Median loan payment
  • Cleveland State $222
  • UC Merced $205
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Cleveland State 16:1
  • UC Merced 20:1
  • Popular majors
  • Cleveland State
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Health Professions (12%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • UC Merced
    • Psychology (22%)
    • Biology (21%)
    • Engineering (14%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Business (12%)
  • Location
  • Cleveland State Cleveland, OH
  • UC Merced Merced, CA
  • Setting
  • Cleveland State Large City
  • UC Merced Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • Cleveland State 14,074
  • UC Merced 9,110
  • Type
  • Cleveland State Public 4 Year
  • UC Merced Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Cleveland State #784
  • UC Merced #642

Comparable Facts

Compare Cleveland State University in Cleveland, OH with University of California Merced in Merced, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Cleveland State University is larger than UC Merced based on total student enrollment (14,074 students vs. 9,110 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cleveland State University is located in Cleveland, OH (Large City setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Cleveland State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Cleveland State University 16:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cleveland State University are 29.6% lower than at University of California Merced ($15,104 vs. $21,445).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 169.2% higher at UC Merced than at Cleveland State University (about $31,313 more per year; $49,823 vs. $18,510).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cleveland State University than at University of California Merced (90% vs. 89%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 178.6% larger than aid received by Cleveland State University students ($27,292 vs. $9,795).

Admissions details

  • Incoming Cleveland State students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 21) as students at UC Merced (21).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both Cleveland State and UC Merced.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Cleveland State Aug 15, 2027; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
  • Enrolled first-year students at UC Merced average a 3.55 high school GPA, 0.24 higher than at Cleveland State (3.31).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.7% at Cleveland State vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Merced graduates have a $1,601 lower median loan debt than Cleveland State graduates ($19,899 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UC Merced graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cleveland State graduates ($205 vs. $222).
  • More UC Merced graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cleveland State students, three years after graduation (64% vs. 47%).

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

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