NSU vs. UC Merced

Northeastern State University and University of California Merced side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Northeastern State University
University of California Merced

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: UC Merced (90.5% admitted vs 99.6%). Typical SAT 1050 vs 1000.
  • Cheaper after aid: NSU. Average net price is $12,410 vs $13,690 at UC Merced.
  • Graduation: NSU 26% vs UC Merced 58%.
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Key differences

Northeastern State University University of California Merced
Acceptance rate
UC Merced more selective
NSU99.6%
UC Merced90.5%
SAT range (middle 50%)
UC Merced higher
NSU866-1136
UC Merced960-1140
Average net price
NSU $1,280 less
NSU$12,410
UC Merced$13,690
In-state tuition
NSU $7,813 less
NSU$7,810
UC Merced$15,623
Out-of-state tuition
NSU $32,533 less
NSU$17,290
UC Merced$49,823
Graduation rate
UC Merced +32 pts
NSU26%
UC Merced58%
Median earnings (10 years)
NSU +$40,200
NSU$40,200
UC Merced-

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • NSU 1,727
  • UC Merced 31,928
  • Admitted
  • NSU 1,720
  • UC Merced 28,906
  • Acceptance rate
  • NSU 99.6%
  • UC Merced 90.5%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • NSU 39%
  • UC Merced 7.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NSU 1000
  • UC Merced 1050
  • Typical ACT score
  • NSU 20
  • UC Merced 21
  • Average high school GPA
  • NSU 3.49
  • UC Merced 3.55
  • Typical high school grades
  • NSU B+
  • UC Merced A-
  • Admissions standards
  • NSU Extremely Easy
  • UC Merced Very Easy
  • Applicant competition
  • NSU
  • UC Merced
  • SAT range
  • NSU 866-1136
  • UC Merced 960-1140
  • ACT range
  • NSU 18-23
  • UC Merced 19-24
  • Submit test scores
  • NSU Test optional
  • UC Merced Test-free
  • Application deadline
  • NSU
  • UC Merced Nov 30, 2026
  • Tuition (in state)
  • NSU $7,810
  • UC Merced $15,623
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • NSU $17,290
  • UC Merced $49,823
  • Room & board
  • NSU $11,120
  • UC Merced $21,445
  • Average net price
  • NSU $12,410
  • UC Merced $13,690
  • Average grant aid
  • NSU $8,893
  • UC Merced $27,292
  • % receiving grant aid
  • NSU 83%
  • UC Merced 89%
  • Graduation rate
  • NSU 26%
  • UC Merced 58%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • NSU $40,200
  • UC Merced N/A
  • Making student loan payments
  • NSU 48%
  • UC Merced 64%
  • Median student loan debt
  • NSU $18,000
  • UC Merced $19,899
  • Median loan payment
  • NSU $186
  • UC Merced $205
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • NSU 16:1
  • UC Merced 20:1
  • Popular majors
  • NSU
    • Education (22%)
    • Business (18%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • UC Merced
    • Psychology (22%)
    • Biology (21%)
    • Engineering (14%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Business (12%)
  • Location
  • NSU Tahlequah, OK
  • UC Merced Merced, CA
  • Setting
  • NSU Remote Town
  • UC Merced Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • NSU 6,751
  • UC Merced 9,110
  • Type
  • NSU Public 4 Year
  • UC Merced Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • NSU #1039
  • UC Merced #642

Comparable Facts

Compare Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK 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 NSU based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 6,751 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northeastern State University is located in Tahlequah, OK (Remote Town setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Northeastern State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northeastern State University 16:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northeastern State University are 48.1% lower than at University of California Merced ($11,120 vs. $21,445).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 188.2% higher at UC Merced than at Northeastern State University (about $32,533 more per year; $49,823 vs. $17,290).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at Northeastern State University (89% vs. 83%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 206.9% larger than aid received by Northeastern State University students ($27,292 vs. $8,893).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at UC Merced than at NSU (21 vs. 20, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at NSU, test-free at 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, 0.06 higher than at NSU (3.49).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 39% at NSU vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Northeastern State University graduates have a $1,899 lower median loan debt than UC Merced graduates ($18,000 vs. $19,899).
  • Among borrowers, NSU graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Merced graduates ($186 vs. $205).
  • More UC Merced graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation (64% vs. 48%).

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

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