Lehman vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare CUNY Lehman College in Bronx, NY with University of California Merced in Merced, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

CUNY Lehman College is larger than UC Merced based on total student enrollment (13,324 students vs. 9,110 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• CUNY Lehman College is located in Bronx, NY (Large City setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• CUNY Lehman College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY Lehman College 15:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Lehman vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

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

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at CUNY Lehman College than UC Merced ($3,961 vs. $13,690).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Merced are 3.7% lower than at CUNY Lehman College ($21,445 vs. $22,260).
• University of California Merced is 110.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lehman (about $8,213 more per year; $15,623.00 vs. $7,410.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 224.4% higher at UC Merced than at CUNY Lehman College (about $34,463 more per year; $49,823.00 vs. $15,360.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Lehman College than at University of California Merced (94% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 168.9% larger than aid received by CUNY Lehman College students ($27,292 vs. $10,151).

Lehman vs. UC Merced Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lehman 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 Lehman.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Merced (1050) is 50 points higher than at Lehman (1000).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: CUNY Lehman College 850/1150; University 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: Lehman - Test optional; UC Merced - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Merced students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Lehman (3.2).
• UC Merced has a higher acceptance rate (90.5%) than Lehman (56.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.2% at Lehman vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Lehman vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lehman 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 CUNY Lehman College's (40%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Lehman College graduates have a $9,699 lower median loan debt than UC Merced graduates ($10,200 vs. $19,899).
• Among borrowers, Lehman graduates have an estimated $100 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Merced graduates ($105 vs. $205).
• More UC Merced graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lehman students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 49%)

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.