Academic Comparison between Whittier College and UC Merced

Whittier College and University of California-Merced are frequently compared when students or parents prepare college admissions. Whittier College is a four-year, private (not-for-profit) school located in Whittier, CA and UC Merced is a four-year, public school located in Merced, CA.

Comparison at a Glance

The following list compares two colleges briefly in important perspectives. You can compare them with comprehensive information on full comparison page.

  • Whittier College is a private (not-for-profit) and UC Merced is a public school and both are four-year schools.
  • Whittier College has more expensive tuition & fees ($49,864) than UC Merced ($44,944).
  • It is harder to admit to UC Merced than Whittier College.
  • UC Merced has more students with 9,103 students while Whittier College has 1,192 students.
  • Whittier College has a lower number of students per faculty with 10 to 1 while UC Merced's ratio is 19 to 1.
  • UC Merced has more full-time faculties with 450 faculties while Whittier College has 114 full-time faculties.
Which school is more in your mind and would you like to go to?
Whittier College UC Merced
Vote to see the other's choices.

Comparison Table with important Academic Factors

Whittier Collegevs.University of California-Merced
Whittier, CaliforniaLocationMerced, California
Four-year, Private (not-for-profit)School Typefour-year, Public
Master's degreeHighest Degree OfferedDoctor's degree
Baccalaureate College - Arts & SciencesCarnegie ClassificationResearch University (high research activity)
$49,8642024 Tuition & Fees
In-State$14,167
Out-Of-State$44,944
99%% Receiving Financial Aid88%
$35,076Average Amount of Financial Aid$24,089
84.98 %Acceptance Rates39.00 %
6.02 %Yield (Enrollment Rates)9.00 %
-SAT Score-
-ACT Score-
65 %Graduation Rate67 %
26 %Transfer-out Rate22 %
70 %Retention Rate82 %
1,192Student Population9,103
114Number of Faculties450
10 to 1Students to Faculty Ratio19 to 1
Distance Learning (Online Classes), ROTC, Study Abroad, Teacher CertificationSpecial Learning OpportunitiesDistance Learning (Online Classes), ROTC, Study Abroad
Academic/career counseling service, Employment services, Placement servicesOn Campus Student ServicesAcademic/career counseling service, Employment services, On-campus daycare