Sonoma State University vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, 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 Sonoma State University based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 5,891 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Sonoma State University is located in Rohnert Park, CA (Large Suburban setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Sonoma 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: Sonoma State University 17:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sonoma State University are 21.7% lower than at University of California Merced ($16,802 vs. $21,445).
• Out-of-state tuition is 134.7% higher at UC Merced than at Sonoma State University (about $28,599 more per year; $49,823 vs. $21,224).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at Sonoma State University (89% vs. 83%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 200.1% larger than aid received by Sonoma State University students ($27,292 vs. $9,094).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at UC Merced than at Sonoma State University (21 vs. 20, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both Sonoma State University and 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, 0.15 higher than at Sonoma State University (3.4).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.3% at Sonoma State University vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sonoma State University graduates have a $2,399 lower median loan debt than UC Merced graduates ($17,500 vs. $19,899).
• Among borrowers, Sonoma State University graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Merced graduates ($180 vs. $205).
• More Sonoma State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Merced students, three years after graduation (69% vs. 64%).

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