Santa Clara University (SCU) vs. University of California-Merced Overview
You’re wrestling with a tough question: “Should I go to SCU or UC Merced?“
Santa Clara University (SCU)
University of California-Merced
Can you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesCan you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesThis complete guide analyzes both the quantitative and qualitative differences between Santa Clara University (SCU) and University of California-Merced. This comparison is particularly valuable at understanding the cultural nuances between the colleges since it uses student videos to capture the “vibes” of campus - these videos are exclusively available on CampusReel :)
Differences between Santa Clara University (SCU) and University of California-Merced
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s go through a general overview of the high-level differences between Santa Clara University (SCU) and University of California-Merced. The table below summarizes some of the most important statistics around competitiveness, costs, etc.
| Santa Clara University (SCU) | University of California-Merced | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state Tuition | $45,300 | $13,208 |
| Net Price | $34,425 | $13,011 |
| Average Financial Aid | $24,812 | $11,923 |
| Total Undergraduates | 5344 | 6237 |
| Average SAT Scores | 1210 - 1400 | 900 - 1120 |
| Acceptance Rate | 49 | 61 |
| Location | 500 El Camino Real | 5200 North Lake Road |
| City Name | Santa Clara | Merced |
WARNINGS: Based on net price alone, University of California-Merced is the cheaper option. However, this sticker price may not adequately represent the difference in living costs between Santa Clara and Merced. SCU is in a Mountain and UC Merced is in a Mountain - sometimes off campus meals and housing costs can dramatically vary between schools
Is Santa Clara University (SCU) or University of California-Merced Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into?
If you’re looking at acceptance rate alone, then Santa Clara University (SCU) is more difficult to get into. However, each college is looking to fill its incoming class with a variety of students with different strengths, backgrounds, etc.
Therefore, the acceptance rate alone is not a good indicator that Santa Clara University (SCU) is a better school or will be more difficult for you specifically to get into. On the flipside, University of California-Merced is easier to get into based on acceptance rate alone.
You can use the below college admissions predictor to determine your likelihood of acceptance at either school.
How Do SCU Dorms Compare to housing Options at UC Merced?
Both colleges provide on-campus living options. SCU charges for on-campus living, while UC Merced charges N/A for on-campus living. Most importantly, though, check out the video below for a sample of dorm tours at each school.
SCU and UC Merced student body differences
The table below helps demonstrate the student body differences as well.
| Santa Clara University (SCU), % | UC Merced,% | |
|---|---|---|
| White | 48.69 | 12.75 |
| Hispanic | 17.44 | 48.47 |
| Black | 3.18 | 4.81 |
| Foreign | 3.29 | 5.29 |
| Others | 27.4 | 28.7 |
How different is the Santa Clara University (SCU) campus compared to University of California-Merced campus?
The SCU campus is located in Santa Clara, CA and is characterized as City: Midsize (population of at least 100,000 but less than 250,000). The UC Merced campus is located in Merced, CA and is characterized as Rural: Fringe (rural territory up to 5 miles from an urbanized area or up to 2.5 miles from an urban cluster).
Which school gives more financial aid?
SCU provides $24,812 whereas UC Merced provides an average of $11,923.
How does SCU academics compare to UC Merced?
When analyzing academics between Santa Clara University (SCU) and University of California-Merced we’ll look at both what current students are studying and also where they end up after graduation. After all, college should prepare you for a career! Analyzing each school’s outcomes is super valuable to understand the value of the degree.
| Majors | SCU | UC Merced |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture agriculture operations and related sciences | N/A | N/A |
| Natural resources and conservation | 45 | N/A |
| Architecture and related services | N/A | N/A |
| Area ethnic cultural gender and group studies | 7 | N/A |
| Communication journalism and related programs | 119 | N/A |
| Computer and information sciences and support services | 11 | N/A |
| Communications technologies technicians and support services | N/A | N/A |
| Personal and culinary services | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering | 235 | 236 |
| Education | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering technologies and engineering related fields | N/A | N/A |
Which is better: Santa Clara University (SCU) or University of California-Merced?
We’ve compared dorm life, costs, outcomes and more to provide the most complete comparison between SCU and UC Merced. But, you’re smart enough to know that numbers paint a terrible picture for truly understanding what each college and community is like. And, the real answer to which school is better is: the school that’s right for you. No matter who you ask, if they know what they’re talking about, the answer is the same: the “better” school is whatever is the best fit for you personally. That’s why it’s extremely important to check out all the videos on CampusReel for each school.
How does SCU social life compare to UC Merced?
It’s tough to understand the nuances of social life with data alone. That’s why we’ve brought in real student videos to show how SCU social life differs from UC Merced.
Check here.
Check here.