Westmont College vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare Westmont College in Santa Barbara, 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 Westmont College based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 1,310 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Westmont College is located in Santa Barbara, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Westmont College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Westmont College 10:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Westmont College are 20.9% lower than at University of California Merced ($16,960 vs. $21,445).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.5% higher at Westmont College than at University of California Merced (about $3,761 more per year; $53,584 vs. $49,823).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Westmont College than at University of California Merced (100% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Westmont College students is 42.7% larger than aid received by University of California Merced students ($38,956 vs. $27,292).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 7 points higher at Westmont College than at UC Merced (28 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test optional at Westmont College, test-free at UC Merced.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at Westmont College average a 3.59 high school GPA, 0.04 higher than at UC Merced (3.55).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.9% at Westmont College vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Merced graduates have a $5,224 lower median loan debt than Westmont College graduates ($19,899 vs. $25,123).
• Among borrowers, UC Merced graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Westmont College graduates ($205 vs. $259).
• More Westmont College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Merced students, three years after graduation (86% vs. 64%).

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