UC Merced vs. SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Merced in Merced, CA with SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary in El Dorado Hills, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of California Merced is larger than SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 319 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Merced is located in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting); SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary is in El Dorado Hills, CA (Large City setting).
• University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Merced 20:1; SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary 18:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary are 65.6% lower than at University of California Merced ($7,380 vs. $21,445).
• Out-of-state tuition is 376.3% higher at UC Merced than at SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary (about $39,363 more per year; $49,823 vs. $10,460).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary (89% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 918.4% larger than aid received by SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary students ($27,292 vs. $2,680).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both UC Merced and SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Merced Nov 30, 2026; SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary Aug 1, 2027.
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.2% at UC Merced vs. 100% at SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Merced graduates have a $9,905 lower median loan debt than SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary graduates ($19,899 vs. $29,804).
• Among borrowers, UC Merced graduates have an estimated $103 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary graduates ($205 vs. $308).
• More UC Merced graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUM Bible College and Theological Seminary students, three years after graduation (64% vs. 33%).

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