Pacific Oaks College vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, 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 Pacific Oaks College based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 1,068 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pacific Oaks College is located in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Pacific Oaks 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: Pacific Oaks College 11:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Oaks College are 10.5% lower than at University of California Merced ($19,185 vs. $21,445).
• Out-of-state tuition is 53.2% higher at UC Merced than at Pacific Oaks College (about $17,303 more per year; $49,823 vs. $32,520).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at Pacific Oaks College (89% vs. 0%).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test optional at Pacific Oaks College, test-free at UC Merced.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.7% at Pacific Oaks College vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Merced graduates have a $1,068 lower median loan debt than Pacific Oaks College graduates ($19,899 vs. $20,967).
• Among borrowers, UC Merced graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pacific Oaks College graduates ($205 vs. $216).
• More UC Merced graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pacific Oaks College students, three years after graduation (64% vs. 51%).

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