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Merced College

Merced, California · Public community college

Welding schoolsCNA classesAuto mechanic schoolsLPN / LVN programsEMT & paramedic trainingElectrician schoolsRadiology & sonography programsCulinary & pastry schools
36%completion rate · California avg 64%
not reportedmedian debt of graduates
$31,468median earnings, 6 yrs after entry
$37,815median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
not reportedannual cost of attendance
Yesfederal aid (FAFSA / Pell) eligible
Accreditation: Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges | Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (Accredited)
Address: 3600 M St, Merced, CA 95348 · Phone: (209) 384-6000 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Accountability record (federal accreditation database, last 36 months; Department of Education oversight)
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Sanctions are probation, warning, show-cause and loss-of-accreditation actions by any recognized accreditor, including program-specific accreditors (a nursing-program probation counts for the campus). Routine monitoring reviews and voluntary withdrawals are not counted. Ask the school what the action concerned and how it was resolved.
Completion rate vs. benchmarks
Merced College Merced College: 35.7% 35.7% California average California average: 64.2% 64.2% National average National average: 62.1% 62.1%

What these trades pay once you're working

OccupationStarting (10th pct)MedianExperienced (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

ProgramCredentialGrads / yrEarnings, yr 1Earnings, yr 2Median 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.

Visit the school's website ↗

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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.

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