La Sierra University vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare La Sierra University in Riverside, 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 La Sierra University based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 1,574 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• La Sierra University is located in Riverside, CA (Large City setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• La Sierra 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: La Sierra University 12:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at La Sierra University are 37.4% lower than at University of California Merced ($13,431 vs. $21,445).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.1% higher at UC Merced than at La Sierra University (about $12,113 more per year; $49,823 vs. $37,710).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at La Sierra University than at University of California Merced (98% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by La Sierra University students is 1.3% larger than aid received by University of California Merced students ($27,646 vs. $27,292).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at La Sierra University than at UC Merced (23 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both La Sierra University and UC Merced.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at UC Merced average a 3.55 high school GPA, 0.01 higher than at La Sierra University (3.54).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.3% at La Sierra University vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Merced graduates have a $10,101 lower median loan debt than La Sierra University graduates ($19,899 vs. $30,000).
• Among borrowers, UC Merced graduates have an estimated $105 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than La Sierra University graduates ($205 vs. $310).
• More UC Merced graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former La Sierra University students, three years after graduation (64% vs. 52%).

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