UC Merced vs. California Jazz Conservatory

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Merced in Merced, CA with California Jazz Conservatory in Berkeley, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Merced is larger than California Jazz Conservatory based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 6 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Merced is located in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting); California Jazz Conservatory is in Berkeley, CA (Midsize City setting).
• University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California Jazz Conservatory is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Merced 20:1; California Jazz Conservatory 4:1.

UC Merced vs. California Jazz Conservatory Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Merced or California Jazz Conservatory? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Jazz Conservatory are 46.8% lower than at University of California Merced ($11,403 vs. $21,445).
• University of California Merced is 4.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than California Jazz Conservatory (about $623 more per year; $15,623.00 vs. $15,000.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 232.2% higher at UC Merced than at California Jazz Conservatory (about $34,823 more per year; $49,823.00 vs. $15,000.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at California Jazz Conservatory (89% vs. 0%).

UC Merced vs. California Jazz Conservatory Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Merced or California Jazz Conservatory? 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 California Jazz Conservatory and UC Merced.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Merced 960/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Merced 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Merced - Test-free; California Jazz Conservatory - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• UC Merced has a higher acceptance rate (90.5%) than California Jazz Conservatory (66.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.2% at UC Merced vs. 50% at California Jazz Conservatory.

UC Merced vs. California Jazz Conservatory Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Merced and California Jazz Conservatory? 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).

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.