Vanderbilt vs Samuel Merritt University
Vanderbilt University and Samuel Merritt University, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. Vanderbilt, a private research university in Nashville, Tennessee, boasts a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 10.3%, while Samuel Merritt, a private health sciences university in Oakland, California, maintains a more accessible admissions policy with an acceptance rate of 85%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs, with Vanderbilt excelling in fields like engineering, music, and medicine, and Samuel Merritt specializing in healthcare disciplines such as nursing, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. While Vanderbilt's student body comprises a mix of ethnicities and backgrounds, Samuel Merritt's student population is predominantly female and ethnically diverse. With graduation rates of 91% and 89% respectively, both universities prioritize student success and provide ample resources to support their students' academic and personal growth. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these two exceptional universities and determine
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![]() Samuel Merritt University |
![]() Vanderbilt University |
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Overview |
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Location | Oakland, California | Nashville, Tennessee |
Campus setting | City: Large | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Trimester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 97.0% | |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | N/A | 7.1% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$90
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Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$95
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SAT range | N/A | 1480 - 1570 |
ACT range | N/A | 34 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 25.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 32.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 47,152 | |
Total number of admissions given out | 3,368 | |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 1,626 | |
Yield rate | 48.3% | |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | |
High school GPA | N/A | Required |
Recommendation letters | N/A | Not required |
High school transcript | N/A | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | N/A | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $79,538 | |
Average net price | $27,553 | |
Tuition | $54,840 | |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$12,000
Meal plan:
$6,376
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
64.0%
Average amount $49,730 |
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Students receiving federal student loan |
10.0%
Average amount $4,979 |
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Students taking out private loans |
2.0%
Average amount $27,798 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
728
Men 20.6% Women 79.4% |
7,111
Men 48.9% Women 51.1% |
Graduate students |
1,320
Men 26.1% Women 73.9% |
6,685
Men 39.5% Women 60.5% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 89.5% |
International students | N/A | 11.7% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | N/A | 5,598 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | N/A | Yes |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | Tennessee California New York Florida Texas |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 7:1 | 8:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | N/A | 93.4% |
Dropout rate | N/A | 6.4% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
Podiatric Medicine/Podiatry (Doctoral Degrees)
Medicine (Doctoral Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
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Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies (Master's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Marketing (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (First Professional Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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