Vanguard University of Southern California vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare Vanguard University of Southern California in Costa Mesa, 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 Vanguard University of Southern California based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 2,246 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Vanguard University of Southern California is located in Costa Mesa, CA (Midsize City setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Vanguard University of Southern California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Vanguard University of Southern California 13:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Vanguard University of Southern California are 37.3% lower than at University of California Merced ($13,450 vs. $21,445).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.5% higher at UC Merced than at Vanguard University of Southern California (about $8,123 more per year; $49,823 vs. $41,700).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Vanguard University of Southern California than at University of California Merced (100% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Vanguard University of Southern California students is 9.4% larger than aid received by University of California Merced students ($29,847 vs. $27,292).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at Vanguard University of Southern California than at UC Merced (22 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both Vanguard University of Southern California and UC Merced.
• Typical fall application deadline: Vanguard University of Southern California Aug 1, 2027; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at UC Merced average a 3.55 high school GPA, 0.24 higher than at Vanguard University of Southern California (3.31).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.7% at Vanguard University of Southern California vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Merced graduates have a $5,101 lower median loan debt than Vanguard University of Southern California graduates ($19,899 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, UC Merced graduates have an estimated $53 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Vanguard University of Southern California graduates ($205 vs. $258).
• More Vanguard University of Southern California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Merced students, three years after graduation (64% vs. 64%).

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