Menlo vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare Menlo College in Atherton, 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 Menlo based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 810 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Menlo College is located in Atherton, CA (Large Suburban setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Menlo College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Menlo College 14:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Menlo vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Menlo 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 Menlo ($13,690 vs. $32,563).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Menlo College are 15% lower than at University of California Merced ($18,236 vs. $21,445).
• Menlo College is 243.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Merced (about $38,007 more per year; $53,630.00 vs. $15,623.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.6% higher at Menlo than at University of California Merced (about $3,807 more per year; $53,630.00 vs. $49,823.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Menlo College than at University of California Merced (100% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Menlo College students is 43.5% larger than aid received by University of California Merced students ($39,174 vs. $27,292).

Menlo vs. UC Merced Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Menlo 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 Menlo.

• 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: Menlo - Test-free; UC Merced - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Menlo Apr 1, 2027; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Merced students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Menlo (3.3).
• UC Merced has a higher acceptance rate (90.5%) than Menlo (68.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 5.3% at Menlo vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Menlo vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Menlo 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 Menlo College's (34%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Merced graduates have a $1,163 lower median loan debt than Menlo graduates ($19,899 vs. $21,062).
• Among borrowers, UC Merced graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Menlo graduates ($205 vs. $217).
• More UC Merced graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Menlo students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 55%)

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.