UC Merced vs. Purdue Northwest

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

University of California Merced
Purdue University Northwest

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Purdue Northwest (72.4% admitted vs 90.5%). Typical SAT 1020 vs 1050.
  • Cheaper after aid: Purdue Northwest. Average net price is $7,916 vs $13,690 at UC Merced.
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Key differences

University of California Merced Purdue University Northwest
Acceptance rate
Purdue Northwest more selective
UC Merced90.5%
Purdue Northwest72.4%
SAT range (middle 50%)
UC Merced higher
UC Merced960-1140
Purdue Northwest890-1140
Average net price
Purdue Northwest $5,774 less
UC Merced$13,690
Purdue Northwest$7,916
In-state tuition
Purdue Northwest $6,948 less
UC Merced$15,623
Purdue Northwest$8,675
Out-of-state tuition
Purdue Northwest $33,729 less
UC Merced$49,823
Purdue Northwest$16,094
Graduation rate
UC Merced +58 pts
UC Merced58%
Purdue Northwest-
Median earnings (10 years)
UC Merced-
Purdue Northwest-

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • UC Merced 31,928
  • Purdue Northwest 8,617
  • Admitted
  • UC Merced 28,906
  • Purdue Northwest 6,235
  • Acceptance rate
  • UC Merced 90.5%
  • Purdue Northwest 72.4%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • UC Merced 7.2%
  • Purdue Northwest 18.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UC Merced 1050
  • Purdue Northwest 1020
  • Typical ACT score
  • UC Merced 21
  • Purdue Northwest 20
  • Average high school GPA
  • UC Merced 3.55
  • Purdue Northwest 3.19
  • Typical high school grades
  • UC Merced A-
  • Purdue Northwest B+
  • Admissions standards
  • UC Merced Very Easy
  • Purdue Northwest Very Easy
  • Applicant competition
  • UC Merced
  • Purdue Northwest Low
  • SAT range
  • UC Merced 960-1140
  • Purdue Northwest 890-1140
  • ACT range
  • UC Merced 19-24
  • Purdue Northwest 16-24
  • Submit test scores
  • UC Merced Test-free
  • Purdue Northwest Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • UC Merced Nov 30, 2026
  • Purdue Northwest Aug 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • UC Merced $15,623
  • Purdue Northwest $8,675
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • UC Merced $49,823
  • Purdue Northwest $16,094
  • Room & board
  • UC Merced $21,445
  • Purdue Northwest $8,907
  • Average net price
  • UC Merced $13,690
  • Purdue Northwest $7,916
  • Average grant aid
  • UC Merced $27,292
  • Purdue Northwest $6,992
  • % receiving grant aid
  • UC Merced 89%
  • Purdue Northwest 89%
  • Graduation rate
  • UC Merced 58%
  • Purdue Northwest -
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • UC Merced N/A
  • Purdue Northwest N/A
  • Making student loan payments
  • UC Merced 64%
  • Purdue Northwest -
  • Median student loan debt
  • UC Merced $19,899
  • Purdue Northwest N/A
  • Median loan payment
  • UC Merced $205
  • Purdue Northwest N/A
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • UC Merced 20:1
  • Purdue Northwest 17:1
  • Popular majors
  • UC Merced
    • Psychology (22%)
    • Biology (21%)
    • Engineering (14%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Business (12%)
  • Purdue Northwest
  • Location
  • UC Merced Merced, CA
  • Purdue Northwest Hammond, Indiana
  • Setting
  • UC Merced Rural Fringe
  • Purdue Northwest Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UC Merced 9,110
  • Purdue Northwest 9,051
  • Type
  • UC Merced Public 4 Year
  • Purdue Northwest Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • UC Merced #642
  • Purdue Northwest

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Merced in Merced, CA with Purdue University Northwest in Hammond, Indiana on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of California Merced is larger than Purdue Northwest based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 9,051 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Merced is located in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Purdue University Northwest is in Hammond, Indiana (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Purdue University Northwest is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Merced 20:1; Purdue University Northwest 17:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Northwest are 58.5% lower than at University of California Merced ($8,907 vs. $21,445).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 209.6% higher at UC Merced than at Purdue University Northwest (about $33,729 more per year; $49,823 vs. $16,094).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced as at Purdue University Northwest (89% vs. 89%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 290.3% larger than aid received by Purdue University Northwest students ($27,292 vs. $6,992).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at UC Merced than at Purdue Northwest (21 vs. 20, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at UC Merced, test optional at Purdue Northwest.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UC Merced Nov 30, 2026; Purdue Northwest Aug 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at UC Merced average a 3.55 high school GPA, 0.36 higher than at Purdue Northwest (3.19).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.2% at UC Merced vs. 18.3% at Purdue Northwest.

Loans and repayment

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

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