University of California-Merced vs. Santa Clara University (SCU) Overview
You’re wrestling with a tough question: “Should I go to UC Merced or SCU?“
University of California-Merced
Santa Clara University (SCU)
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 Santa Clara University (SCU). 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 Santa Clara University (SCU)
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 Santa Clara University (SCU). The table below summarizes some of the most important statistics around competitiveness, costs, etc.
| University of California-Merced | Santa Clara University (SCU) | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state Tuition | $13,208 | $45,300 |
| Net Price | $13,011 | $34,425 |
| Average Financial Aid | $11,923 | $24,812 |
| Total Undergraduates | 6237 | 5344 |
| Average SAT Scores | 900 - 1120 | 1210 - 1400 |
| Acceptance Rate | 61 | 49 |
| Location | 5200 North Lake Road | 500 El Camino Real |
| City Name | Merced | Santa Clara |
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 Merced and Santa Clara. UC Merced is in a Mountain and SCU is in a Mountain - sometimes off campus meals and housing costs can dramatically vary between schools
Is University of California-Merced or Santa Clara University (SCU) 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 UC Merced Dorms Compare to housing Options at SCU?
Both colleges provide on-campus living options. UC Merced charges for on-campus living, while SCU 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 SCU student body differences
The table below helps demonstrate the student body differences as well.
| University of California-Merced, % | SCU,% | |
|---|---|---|
| White | 12.75 | 48.69 |
| Hispanic | 48.47 | 17.44 |
| Black | 4.81 | 3.18 |
| Foreign | 5.29 | 3.29 |
| Others | 28.7 | 27.4 |
How different is the University of California-Merced campus compared to Santa Clara University (SCU) 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 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).
Which school gives more financial aid?
UC Merced provides $11,923 whereas SCU provides an average of $24,812.
How does UC Merced academics compare to SCU?
When analyzing academics between University of California-Merced and Santa Clara University (SCU) 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 | SCU |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture agriculture operations and related sciences | N/A | N/A |
| Natural resources and conservation | N/A | 45 |
| Architecture and related services | N/A | N/A |
| Area ethnic cultural gender and group studies | N/A | 7 |
| Communication journalism and related programs | N/A | 119 |
| Computer and information sciences and support services | N/A | 11 |
| Communications technologies technicians and support services | N/A | N/A |
| Personal and culinary services | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering | 236 | 235 |
| Education | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering technologies and engineering related fields | N/A | N/A |
Which is better: University of California-Merced or Santa Clara University (SCU)?
We’ve compared dorm life, costs, outcomes and more to provide the most complete comparison between UC Merced and SCU. 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 SCU?
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 SCU.
Check here.
Check here.