Quad

Head-to-head

U. California-Merced
California State University-Northridge

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    California State University-Northridge has 3.9× as many undergrads as U. California-Merced

    Undergrads
  2. 2

    U. California-Merced's grants cover 59% of its full price on average, vs. 43% at California State University-Northridge

    Aid generosity
  3. 3

    California State University-Northridge's yield is 11 pts higher than U. California-Merced's

    Yield rate
  4. 4

    U. California-Merced grads earn $5.3K more ten years out than California State University-Northridge's ($64,368 vs. $59,115)

    Median earnings, 10 yrs
  5. 5

    U. California-Merced has 4 pts more first-gen students than California State University-Northridge (57% vs. 54%)

    First-generation students
  6. 6

    California State University-Northridge costs about $2.6K less per year on average than U. California-Merced ($14,207 vs. $16,772, all students)

    Average cost, all students

The shape of each school

Each axis is a national rank among 4-year colleges; further out = more of it.

SelectivityTest scoresSizePell shareFirst-genDiversity

Hollow dots at the center mean that measure isn't reported.

Who's hardest to get into

U. California-Merced admits 91%, California State University-Northridge 93%; California State University-Northridge's yield is higher, at 18%.

Acceptance rate
U. California-Merced91%
California State University-Northridge93%
Quad's selectivity
  • U. California-MercedAccessible
  • California State University-NorthridgeOpen
SAT middle 50%
U. California-MercedTest-blind
California State University-NorthridgeTest-blind
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • U. California-MercedGPA, school record, and prep program required
  • California State University-NorthridgeGPA, school record, and prep program required

Who's on each campus

California State University-Northridge has 3.9× as many undergrads as U. California-Merced; U. California-Merced has the larger Pell share.

Undergrads
U. California-Merced8.4K
California State University-Northridge32.7K
Pell Grant share
U. California-Merced59%
California State University-Northridge56%

Majors and faculty

Research and Experimental Psychology leads at U. California-Merced, and Business Administration and Management at California State University-Northridge.

Students per faculty member
U. California-Merced20 to 1
California State University-Northridge25 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • U. California-MercedResearch and Experimental Psychology, Other19%
  • California State University-NorthridgeBusiness Administration and Management, General15%

What each costs

California State University-Northridge costs about $2.6K less a year than U. California-Merced on average.

Average cost, all students
U. California-Merced$16.8K
California State University-Northridge$14.2K
Aid generosity
U. California-Merced59%
California State University-Northridge43%

What each pays off

U. California-Merced's former students earn more, a median $64.4K ten years after enrolling; both graduate more than 70% within six years.

Median earnings, 10 years
U. California-Merced$64.4K
California State University-Northridge$59.1K
Graduation rate
U. California-Merced72%
California State University-Northridge71%

How each has changed

Applications grew at U. California-Merced but held steady at California State University-Northridge; both got less selective.

Applications, 10-year change
  • U. California-MercedGrowing+96%
  • California State University-NorthridgeSteady−1%
All the numbersEvery figure for these colleges in one table, with differences highlighted.
Sources for this comparisonEvery dataset and year behind the numbers in this comparison; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D), Fall 2024;IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2024–25 graduates;College Scorecard, 2023–24;IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients), Entered fall 2018About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why