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Merced College
Merced, California · Public community college
Address: 3600 M St, Merced, CA 95348 · Phone: (209) 384-6000 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Merced College is a public trade and career school in Merced, California, offering welding, CNA, and auto mechanic programs, accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
Merced College has a 35.7% completion rate, below the California state average of 64.2%, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Median earnings ten years after entry are $37,815; median graduate debt is not reported for this campus.
Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Merced College; contact the school for current tuition. Federal financial aid can be used here, and about 37.5% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $44,520 | $58,060 | $70,400 |
| Nursing assistants | $40,110 | $47,630 | $54,800 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $38,180 | $64,980 | $77,060 |
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $64,390 | $79,750 | $93,720 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $38,740 | $46,380 | $59,180 |
| Electricians | $46,800 | $76,160 | $103,000 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | $70,210 | $121,260 | $137,770 |
| Chefs and head cooks | $37,380 | $64,500 | $81,040 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in California (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 141 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, under 300 hours | 68 | not reported | $45,696 | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 1–2 years | 37 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Associate degree | 31 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 30 | not reported | $45,696 | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 29 | $77,678 | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 24 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Certificate, 1–2 years | 21 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 2–4 years | 12 | $77,678 | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 11 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 9 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Electrical and Power Transmission Installers | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Associate degree | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Merced College is a public trade and career training campus located in Merced, California, in a small-city setting. The school is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, with its radiologic technology program additionally reviewed by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here. Across 15 program families, the campus awards the most completions in welding schools (150), CNA classes (68), and auto mechanic schools (65), alongside offerings in LPN programs, EMT training, electrician schools, radiology tech programs, and culinary schools.
Looking at the numbers reported for this campus: the completion rate is 35.7%, which is below the state average of 64.2%. Median earnings ten years after entry are $37,815. Median debt of graduates, and annual cost of attendance are not reported for this campus in federal data. About 37.5% of students receive Pell Grants, pointing to a meaningful share of lower-income enrollment among the 10,001 undergraduates.
With 429 trade completers reported, this campus may suit students interested in shorter, hands-on trade programs such as welding, CNA, or auto mechanics, though specific program lengths are not reported here and should be confirmed directly with the school. Anyone considering enrollment should verify current accreditation status and review outcome data directly through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard before making a decision.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Merced College offers 15 program families, with the most completions in welding schools, CNA classes, and auto mechanic schools. It also offers LPN programs, EMT training, electrician schools, radiology tech programs, and culinary schools.
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, Merced College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. Its radiologic technology program is also reviewed by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, Merced College participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can use FAFSA and Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The completion rate at Merced College is 35.7%, which is below the California state average of 64.2%, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median graduate debt is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school at (209) 384-6000 or check the College Scorecard for updates.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings ten years after entry are $37,815, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school directly at (209) 384-6000 or visit https://www.mccd.edu/ for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Merced College is a public institution, which generally means lower tuition for state residents and public accountability standards.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Specific program lengths are not reported in this data. Contact the school directly to confirm program duration for individual trade tracks.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation through the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges and review federal outcome data at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?118718.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus offers shorter trade programs like welding and CNA classes alongside longer allied-health tracks, which may suit career changers, though specific scheduling and length details are not reported here.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Merced College at (209) 384-6000 or visit https://www.mccd.edu/ for application details.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
This is not reported in federal data provided; use the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?118718 to compare outcomes with nearby schools.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.