Life Pacific University vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare Life Pacific University in San Dimas, 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 Life Pacific University based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 621 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Life Pacific University is located in San Dimas, CA (Large Suburban setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Life Pacific 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: Life Pacific University 12:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Life Pacific University are 43.2% lower than at University of California Merced ($12,190 vs. $21,445).
• Out-of-state tuition is 125.3% higher at UC Merced than at Life Pacific University (about $27,705 more per year; $49,823 vs. $22,118).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Life Pacific University than at University of California Merced (100% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 99.3% larger than aid received by Life Pacific University students ($27,292 vs. $13,696).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at UC Merced than at Life Pacific University (21 vs. 20, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both Life Pacific University and UC Merced.
• Typical fall application deadline: Life Pacific University May 1, 2027; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at UC Merced average a 3.55 high school GPA, 0.64 higher than at Life Pacific University (2.91).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.8% at Life Pacific University vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Merced graduates have a $631 lower median loan debt than Life Pacific University graduates ($19,899 vs. $20,530).
• Among borrowers, UC Merced graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Life Pacific University graduates ($205 vs. $212).
• More UC Merced graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Life Pacific University students, three years after graduation (64% vs. 54%).

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