Laguna College of Art and Design vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare Laguna College of Art and Design in Laguna Beach, CA with University of California Merced in Merced, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Merced is larger than Laguna College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 775 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Laguna College of Art and Design is located in Laguna Beach, CA (Rural Fringe setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Laguna College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Laguna College of Art and Design 9:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Laguna College of Art and Design vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Laguna College of Art and Design 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 University of California Merced than Laguna College of Art and Design ($13,690 vs. $47,702).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Laguna College of Art and Design are 8.8% lower than at University of California Merced ($19,553 vs. $21,445).
• Laguna College of Art and Design is 140% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Merced (about $21,877 more per year; $37,500.00 vs. $15,623.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.9% higher at UC Merced than at Laguna College of Art and Design (about $12,323 more per year; $49,823.00 vs. $37,500.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Laguna College of Art and Design than at University of California Merced (100% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 144.7% larger than aid received by Laguna College of Art and Design students ($27,292 vs. $11,153).

Laguna College of Art and Design vs. UC Merced Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Laguna College of Art and Design 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 Laguna College of Art and Design.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity 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: Laguna College of Art and Design - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind); UC Merced - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind).
• Typical fall application deadline: Laguna College of Art and Design Aug 15, 2027; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Laguna College of Art and Design students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at UC Merced (3.55).
• Laguna College of Art and Design has a higher acceptance rate (94.3%) than UC Merced (90.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.1% at Laguna College of Art and Design vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Laguna College of Art and Design vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Laguna College of Art and Design 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 Laguna College of Art and Design's (56%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Merced graduates have a $6,800 lower median loan debt than Laguna College of Art and Design graduates ($19,899 vs. $26,699).
• Among borrowers, UC Merced graduates have an estimated $71 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Laguna College of Art and Design graduates ($205 vs. $276).
• More UC Merced graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Laguna College of Art and Design students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 61%)

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.