Public
Accredited · Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Oakland, California
Merritt College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
$22,559Annual Cost
$44,392Grad Salary
9.4%Pell Grant
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Avg Net Price
$14,742
Need-Based Aid
9.4% receive Pell
Merritt College is a vital educational institution serving Oakland and the East Bay region from its 125-acre hillside campus with panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay. Established in 1953 as part of the Peralta Community College District, the college has developed particular strengths in health sciences, public safety, and environmental studies that reflect its urban community's needs. Merritt's renowned nursing program operates from the state-of-the-art Health Sciences Building, while its administration of justice and fire science programs train first responders for the entire Bay Area.
The campus features unique facilities including a licensed child development center, a horticulture nursery with drought-tolerant plant displays, and the Peralta Colleges Television Studio. Merritt's 'Peralta Promise' program provides tuition-free education for first-time students, while its 'Umoja' and 'Puente' programs support African American and Latino student success. The college maintains strong partnerships with Highland Hospital and other community organizations, and its sustainability initiatives include organic gardens, a food forest, and one of California's first community college-based urban agriculture programs. Merritt College combines academic excellence with deep community engagement to serve its diverse student population.
Merritt College Acceptance Rate
Merritt College (Merced Community College District) runs an open-access admission policy — with a 100% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Slightly below-average GPA? A strong test score or clear leadership track record can still keep you competitive.
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Merritt College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Merritt College follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Merced Community College District reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Check Your Admission Chances at Merced Community College District
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Merritt College's verified institutional data
--%
Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Merritt College (Merced Community College District) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Merced Community College District is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Merced Community College District Without SAT or ACT?
Merced Community College District's test-score policy isn't published. As a default, submit your score only if it's at or above the state/national average — a below-average score can work against you.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Merced Community College District
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Merced Community College District's open-access model means the real strategic decisions happen after enrollment: course planning, advising, and whether to transfer later.
Use the Chancellor's Advisory Model formula to calculate your real odds before applying to nursing
Merritt's ADN admission uses California's Chancellor's Advisory Model, scoring four specific weighted areas (overall cumulative GPA, college-level English GPA, core Biology GPA in A&P/Micro, plus other factors) - applicants need an 80%+ composite score to advance, and each course repetition (any grade including withdrawal) deducts points, with three repetitions eliminating eligibility entirely. Calculate your actual Chancellor's Score using this specific formula before applying rather than estimating from your overall GPA alone.
Hit the exact TEAS 7 timing and take it seriously on the first attempt
Applicants must complete the TEAS 7 and submit scores electronically by a specific mid-May deadline, with a required 62%+ score; scoring below sends you to remediation and a future reapplication cycle rather than an immediate retake. Treat your first TEAS sitting as the one that counts, since a low score doesn't just lower your rank - it removes you from the current admission cycle entirely.
Know that nursing admission is a lottery among qualified applicants, not pure ranking
After the Chancellor's Advisory Model and TEAS screening, qualified applicants are entered into a random lottery to determine the admitted class - meaning even a strong application doesn't guarantee a seat. Apply broadly to backup nursing programs in the same cycle if nursing is your firm goal, since Merritt's process has a genuine chance element beyond your control.
Explore Merritt's Landscape Horticulture concentrations by name if that field interests you
Merritt offers distinct AS/AA/Certificate tracks within Landscape Horticulture - Nursery Management, Landscape Architecture, Landscape Design and Construction, Landscape and Parks Maintenance, and Arboriculture - with documented graduate outcomes including students launching their own companies (e.g., Mission Blue Landscape). Naming a specific concentration and career outcome, not generic "love of plants," signals real program fit.
Expert Insight:
Because nursing admission at Merritt combines a formula-based score, a mandatory TEAS threshold, AND a final random lottery, applicants sometimes assume that once they clear the 80% Chancellor's Score they're effectively admitted. They're not - the lottery is a real, final randomizing step, and a missed mandatory ADN orientation after selection results in immediate disqualification regardless of how strong the application was.
Merced Community College District Profile
Full Name
Merritt College (Merced Community College District)
City
Oakland
State
California
ZIP Code
94619-3196
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (WASCJC)
Is a Merced Community College District Degree Worth It?
Merced Community College District offers a rigorous academic environment, but 'worth it' is a personal calculation of cost, program fit, and outcomes — the figures below are a starting point.
The average household income among admitted students is $61,400, with a graduate unemployment rate of 4.91%.
How much does a degree from Merced Community College District Cost?
The sticker price is $22,559/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is closer to $14,742.
9.4% of students receive a Pell Grant and 0.3% take federal loans at Merced Community College District — file your FAFSA early and list Merced Community College District as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Merced Community College District Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $44,392 — about 9% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Degree Programs at Merced Community College District
Associate Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Merced Community College District Admissions
Median earnings for Merritt College graduates sit around $44,392 a year.
At about $22,559 a year, Merritt College is on the more affordable end.
Pell Grant data isn't published for Merritt College. Contact the financial aid office directly about need- and merit-based options.
Merritt College follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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