UC Merced vs. Pathways College

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Merced in Merced, CA with Pathways College in Phoenix, California on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of California Merced is larger than Pathways College based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 196 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Merced is located in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Pathways College is in Phoenix, California (Midsize City setting).
• University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Pathways College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Merced 20:1; Pathways College 7:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Merced are 9.6% lower than at Pathways College ($21,445 vs. $23,712).
• Out-of-state tuition is 706.2% higher at UC Merced than at Pathways College (about $43,643 more per year; $49,823 vs. $6,180).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at Pathways College (89% vs. 0%).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at UC Merced, not reported at Pathways College.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.

Loans and repayment

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