University of California-Merced vs. San Francisco State University Overview
You’re wrestling with a tough question: “Should I go to UC Merced or San Francisco State University?“
University of California-Merced
San Francisco State University
Can you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesCan you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesThis complete guide analyzes both the quantitative and qualitative differences between University of California-Merced and San Francisco State University. 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 University of California-Merced and San Francisco State University
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s go through a general overview of the high-level differences between University of California-Merced and San Francisco State University. The table below summarizes some of the most important statistics around competitiveness, costs, etc.
| University of California-Merced | San Francisco State University | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state Tuition | $13,208 | $6,476 |
| Net Price | $13,011 | $12,768 |
| Average Financial Aid | $11,923 | $5,392 |
| Total Undergraduates | 6237 | 25867 |
| Average SAT Scores | 900 - 1120 | 860 - 1090 |
| Acceptance Rate | 61 | 68 |
| Location | 5200 North Lake Road | 1600 Holloway Ave |
| City Name | Merced | San Francisco |
WARNINGS: Based on net price alone, San Francisco State University is the cheaper option. However, this sticker price may not adequately represent the difference in living costs between Merced and San Francisco. UC Merced is in a Mountain and San Francisco State University is in a Mountain - sometimes off campus meals and housing costs can dramatically vary between schools
Is University of California-Merced or San Francisco State University Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into?
If you’re looking at acceptance rate alone, then University of California-Merced 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 University of California-Merced is a better school or will be more difficult for you specifically to get into. On the flipside, San Francisco State University 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 UC Merced Dorms Compare to housing Options at San Francisco State University?
Both colleges provide on-campus living options. UC Merced charges for on-campus living, while San Francisco State University charges N/A for on-campus living. Most importantly, though, check out the video below for a sample of dorm tours at each school.
UC Merced and San Francisco State University student body differences
The table below helps demonstrate the student body differences as well.
| University of California-Merced, % | San Francisco State University,% | |
|---|---|---|
| White | 12.75 | 20.62 |
| Hispanic | 48.47 | 29.28 |
| Black | 4.81 | 4.79 |
| Foreign | 5.29 | 5.800000000000001 |
| Others | 28.7 | 39.5 |
How different is the University of California-Merced campus compared to San Francisco State University campus?
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). The San Francisco State University campus is located in San Francisco, CA and is characterized as City: Large (population of 250,000 or more).
Which school gives more financial aid?
UC Merced provides $11,923 whereas San Francisco State University provides an average of $5,392.
How does UC Merced academics compare to San Francisco State University?
When analyzing academics between University of California-Merced and San Francisco State University 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 | UC Merced | San Francisco State University |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture agriculture operations and related sciences | N/A | N/A |
| Natural resources and conservation | N/A | 38 |
| Architecture and related services | N/A | N/A |
| Area ethnic cultural gender and group studies | N/A | 94 |
| Communication journalism and related programs | N/A | 549 |
| Computer and information sciences and support services | N/A | 156 |
| Communications technologies technicians and support services | N/A | N/A |
| Personal and culinary services | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering | 236 | 187 |
| Education | N/A | 163 |
| Engineering technologies and engineering related fields | N/A | N/A |
Which is better: University of California-Merced or San Francisco State University?
We’ve compared dorm life, costs, outcomes and more to provide the most complete comparison between UC Merced and San Francisco State University. 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 UC Merced social life compare to San Francisco State University?
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 UC Merced social life differs from San Francisco State University.
Check here.
Check here.