Samuel Merritt University
About
Samuel Merritt University (SMU) is a private university focused on health sciences with its main campus in Oakland, California, and other facilities in Sacramento, Foster City and Fresno. It was an affiliate of the Sutter Health Network and Alta Bates Summit Medical Center until it disaffiliated in January, 2022, becoming a wholly independent institution. It is the only provider of physical therapists, occupational therapists, and physician assistants and is the largest source of nurses in the greater East Bay. Formerly known as Samuel Merritt College, it was founded in 1909 as a hospital school of nursing. Today, it stands as a comprehensive health sciences university, encompassing three colleges: College of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, and College of Podiatric Medicine
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 13 Title IV programs, 7 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 0 fail. 6 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Pass / fail distribution
- Passing7 · 53.8%
- No Data6 · 46.2%
- Failing0 · 0.0%
Severity spectrum
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
WASC Senior College and University Commission
Programmatic accreditations · 9
Action history · 26
- Oct 2025Renewal of AccreditationAmerican Podiatric Medical Association, Council on Podiatric Medical Education · Podiatry (POD) - Colleges of podiatric medicine, including first-professional and graduate degree programs
- Oct 2025Grant Substantive Change: OtherAmerican Podiatric Medical Association, Council on Podiatric Medical Education · Podiatry (POD) - Colleges of podiatric medicine, including first-professional and graduate degree programs
- Apr 2025Deny Substantive Change: OtherAmerican Occupational Therapy Association, Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education · Occupational Therapy (OTD) - Programs leading to a Doctoral Degree
- Apr 2025Deny Substantive Change: OtherAmerican Occupational Therapy Association, Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education · Occupational Therapy (OTM) - Programs leading to a Master's Degree
- Dec 2024Accreditation Reaffirmed: Warning RemovedAmerican Occupational Therapy Association, Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education · Occupational Therapy (OTD) - Programs leading to a Doctoral Degree
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 148 students received $716K in Pell grants, alongside $78.9M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 754 borrowers who entered repayment, 1 (0.1%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate vs national, by cohort
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at Samuel Merritt
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
3-year trend
Criminal offenses by type
By location
- Public property7
VAWA offenses
Hate crimes by bias
No hate crimes reported.
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
Residence-hall fires
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
Samuel Merritt vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions Samuel Merritt selected for federal comparison reporting.
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectSamuel Merritt University | — | — | 1,926 | — | — |
| 68% | 89.9% | 79,818 | $13,670 | R1 Research | |
| 62% | 88.4% | 6,272 | $19,798 | R2 Research | |
| 37% | 77.2% | 6,825 | $22,978 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 91% | 16.4% | 15,432 | $39,866 | R1 Research | |
| 48% | 97.4% | 12,326 | $11,276 | R2 Research | |
| 70% | 90.5% | 43,662 | $5,646 | R2 Research | |
| 56% | 94.0% | 31,943 | $10,512 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 82% | 65.4% | 9,760 | $47,527 | R2 Research | |
| 96% | 4.0% | 35,173 | $20,148 | R1 Research | |
| — | — | 1,534 | — | — | |
| 78% | 83.5% | 1,900 | $50,218 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs | |
| 97% | 5.7% | 17,499 | $34,454 | R1 Research | |
| 95% | 12.9% | 20,031 | $39,433 | R1 Research | |
| 94% | 6.4% | 30,210 | $18,161 | R1 Research | |
| — | — | 622 | — | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| — | — | 4,210 | — | R2 Research | |
| 75% | 81.6% | 17,384 | $35,196 | R2 Research | |
| — | — | 3,738 | — | — | |
| 48% | 73.1% | 2,312 | $25,009 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| — | — | 339 | — | — | |
| — | — | 2,942 | — | — | |
| 67% | 89.6% | 3,427 | $35,350 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| — | — | 2,021 | — | — | |
| 50% | 96.4% | 22,563 | $12,882 | R2 Research | |
| 69% | 84.6% | 37,661 | $13,741 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 58% | 93.4% | 5,891 | $13,801 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 75% | 80.4% | 29,640 | $29,219 | R1 Research | |
| 73% | 76.6% | 40,846 | $22,150 | R1 Research | |
| 86% | 41.8% | 40,065 | $15,288 | R1 Research | |
| — | — | 3,007 | — | — | |
| 71% | 92.9% | 34,709 | $17,218 | R1 Research | |
| 34% | 97.9% | 1,562 | $10,865 | Baccalaureate | |
| 70% | 91.6% | 6,573 | $37,109 | R2 Research | |
| 68% | 72.2% | 1,864 | $38,920 | Baccalaureate | |
| 84% | 52.4% | 9,714 | $31,265 | R2 Research | |
| 70% | 61.7% | 8,913 | $39,495 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 92% | 9.8% | 46,566 | $31,927 | R1 Research | |
| 68% | 71.3% | 6,944 | $25,926 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 94% | 5.9% | 13,575 | $19,040 | R1 Research | |
| — | — | 3,665 | — | — | |
| Peer group median | 70% | 77.2% | 8,913 | $22,978 |
Institutions like Samuel Merritt
Explore the federal data for institutions in Samuel Merritt's comparison group.
- R1 ResearchArizona
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
Grad rate68%Admit rate89.9%Enrollment79,818Net price$13,670View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
Azusa Pacific University
Grad rate62%Admit rate88.4%Enrollment6,272Net price$19,798View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalFlorida
Barry University
Grad rate37%Admit rate77.2%Enrollment6,825Net price$22,978View data - R1 ResearchMassachusetts
Boston College
Grad rate91%Admit rate16.4%Enrollment15,432Net price$39,866View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
California State University-East Bay
Grad rate48%Admit rate97.4%Enrollment12,326Net price$11,276View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
California State University-Fullerton
Grad rate70%Admit rate90.5%Enrollment43,662Net price$5,646View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
California State University-Sacramento
Grad rate56%Admit rate94.0%Enrollment31,943Net price$10,512View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
Chapman University
Grad rate82%Admit rate65.4%Enrollment9,760Net price$47,527View data - R1 ResearchNew York
Columbia University in the City of New York
Grad rate96%Admit rate4.0%Enrollment35,173Net price$20,148View data - Iowa
Des Moines University-Osteopathic Medical Center
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment1,534Net price—View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium ProgramsCalifornia
Dominican University of California
Grad rate78%Admit rate83.5%Enrollment1,900Net price$50,218View data - R1 ResearchNorth Carolina
Duke University
Grad rate97%Admit rate5.7%Enrollment17,499Net price$34,454View data - R1 ResearchDistrict of Columbia
Georgetown University
Grad rate95%Admit rate12.9%Enrollment20,031Net price$39,433View data - R1 ResearchMaryland
Johns Hopkins University
Grad rate94%Admit rate6.4%Enrollment30,210Net price$18,161View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
Keck Graduate Institute
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment622Net price—View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
Loma Linda University
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment4,210Net price—View data - R2 ResearchIllinois
Loyola University Chicago
Grad rate75%Admit rate81.6%Enrollment17,384Net price$35,196View data - Arizona
Midwestern University-Glendale
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment3,738Net price—View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
Mount Saint Mary's University
Grad rate48%Admit rate73.1%Enrollment2,312Net price$25,009View data - New York
New York College of Podiatric Medicine
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment339Net price—View data - Oregon
Oregon Health & Science University
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment2,942Net price—View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalOregon
Pacific University
Grad rate67%Admit rate89.6%Enrollment3,427Net price$35,350View data - Illinois
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment2,021Net price—View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
San Francisco State University
Grad rate50%Admit rate96.4%Enrollment22,563Net price$12,882View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
San Jose State University
Grad rate69%Admit rate84.6%Enrollment37,661Net price$13,741View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
Sonoma State University
Grad rate58%Admit rate93.4%Enrollment5,891Net price$13,801View data - R1 ResearchPennsylvania
Temple University
Grad rate75%Admit rate80.4%Enrollment29,640Net price$29,219View data - R1 ResearchAlabama
The University of Alabama
Grad rate73%Admit rate76.6%Enrollment40,846Net price$22,150View data - R1 ResearchCalifornia
University of California-Davis
Grad rate86%Admit rate41.8%Enrollment40,065Net price$15,288View data - California
University of California-San Francisco
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment3,007Net price—View data - R1 ResearchKentucky
University of Kentucky
Grad rate71%Admit rate92.9%Enrollment34,709Net price$17,218View data - BaccalaureateMaine
University of Maine at Fort Kent
Grad rate34%Admit rate97.9%Enrollment1,562Net price$10,865View data - R2 ResearchMaine
University of New England
Grad rate70%Admit rate91.6%Enrollment6,573Net price$37,109View data - BaccalaureateWashington
University of Puget Sound
Grad rate68%Admit rate72.2%Enrollment1,864Net price$38,920View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
University of San Diego
Grad rate84%Admit rate52.4%Enrollment9,714Net price$31,265View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalCalifornia
University of San Francisco
Grad rate70%Admit rate61.7%Enrollment8,913Net price$39,495View data - R1 ResearchCalifornia
University of Southern California
Grad rate92%Admit rate9.8%Enrollment46,566Net price$31,927View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalCalifornia
University of the Pacific
Grad rate68%Admit rate71.3%Enrollment6,944Net price$25,926View data - R1 ResearchTennessee
Vanderbilt University
Grad rate94%Admit rate5.9%Enrollment13,575Net price$19,040View data - California
Western University of Health Sciences
Grad rate—Admit rate—Enrollment3,665Net price—View data
Samuel Merritt Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
The Office of Institutional Research and Evaluation provides objective, systematic, and thorough research and analysis in support of Samuel Merritt University's strategic and operational planning, policy formation, and decision-making activities.
Visit IR office page- Nandini DasguptaDirector of Institutional Research and Evaluation
Reports & documents (2)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- Strategic planSamuel Merritt University Strategic Plan 2024-20272024Samuel Merritt University has released its strategic plan for 2024-2027, focusing on five strategic themes: student success, higher enrollment, program excellence, program identity, and culture & infrastructure. Key priorities include enhancing pass rates, boosting enrollment and applicant pipelines, and developing new centers and clinics. Progress is already evident, with advancements in biomechanics research and a new articulation agreement poised to streamline student pathways.samuelmerritt.edu
Grants & funding (1)
Federal grant awards and open funding opportunities awarded to this institution.
Notable alumni of Samuel Merritt (4)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- CC Barber
- Laura DavisAthletics
- Lawrence B. Harkless
- Kelly Starrett
Frequently asked questions about Samuel Merritt University
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Samuel Merritt.
How many students attend Samuel Merritt University?
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