Cal State LA vs UC Merced
California State University-Los Angeles (CSULA) and University of California-Merced (UC-Merced) are two distinct public universities in California, each offering unique educational experiences. CSULA, located in the vibrant city of Los Angeles, boasts a diverse student body and a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs. UC-Merced, situated in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, is a relatively young institution known for its strong research focus and commitment to serving the Central Valley region. While both universities share a commitment to academic excellence, they differ in several key aspects, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to discover which university better aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
|
|
California State University-Los Angeles |
University of California-Merced |
|---|---|---|
Overview |
||
| Location | Los Angeles, California | Merced, California |
| Campus setting | City: Large | Rural: Fringe |
| College type | 4 year | 4 year |
| Control/business model | Public | Public |
| Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
| Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
| Students retention rate | 73.0% | 79.0% |
Common app member
|
Yes | No |
| Religious affiliation | ||
|
|
||
Admission |
||
| Acceptance rate | 90.5% | 86.6% |
| Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$70
|
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$120
|
| SAT range | N/A | N/A |
| ACT range | N/A | N/A |
| Students submitting SAT score | ||
| Students submitting ACT score | ||
| Total number of applicants | 29,223 | 27,793 |
| Total number of admissions given out | 26,459 | 24,068 |
| Admitted students who chose to enroll | 4,095 | 2,410 |
| Yield rate | 15.5% | 10.0% |
| Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
| High school GPA | Required | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
| High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
| English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Required |
|
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
| Sticker price |
In state:
$32,619
Out of state:
$44,499
|
In state:
$28,870
Out of state:
$58,624
|
| Average net price | $2,695 | $11,586 |
| Tuition |
In state:
$5,742
Out of state:
$17,622
|
In state:
$11,442
Out of state:
$41,196
|
| Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$9,712
Meal plan:
$4,500
|
$18,901 |
| Available payment plans |
|
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
|
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
91.0%
Average amount $10,909 |
92.0%
Average amount $21,623 |
| Students receiving federal student loan |
11.0%
Average amount $4,458 |
18.0%
Average amount $4,470 |
| Students taking out private loans |
0.0%
Average amount $8,862 |
1.0%
Average amount $2,687 |
|
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
| Undergraduate students |
23,536
Men 40.6% Women 59.4% |
8,321
Men 47.7% Women 52.3% |
| Graduate students |
3,977
Men 36.4% Women 63.6% |
772
Men 55.8% Women 44.2% |
| Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
|
| Out-of-state students | 1.1% | 0.2% |
| International students | 5.9% | 8.7% |
| Campus local/setting | City: Large | Rural: Fringe |
| Dormitory capacity | 2,565 | 3,634 |
| First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
| Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | California Illinois Minnesota Hawaii Maryland | California Alaska Idaho Missouri Texas |
|
|
||
Academics |
||
| Popular study areas |
|
|
| Students to faculty ratio | 25:1 | 19:1 |
| Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
|
|
||
Outcome |
||
| Graduation rate | 51.9% | 71.6% |
| Dropout rate | 39.4% | 5.0% |
| Transferred out | 3.1% | 22.6% |
| Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Civil Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
|
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemistry (Bachelor's Degrees)
Cognitive Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
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