Merritt College — Main Campus

Merritt College is at 12500 Campus Drive in Oakland’s hills, where campus windows look out over the city and San Francisco Bay. The elevated setting contrasts with Laney’s downtown blocks, and the two Peralta colleges serve different academic needs. Merritt concentrates health-science and career education, including nursing, radiologic science, medical assisting, histotechnology, nutrition and community services. Its institutional history reaches back to Merritt School of Business, founded in 1929; the college moved to this campus in 1971.

New students apply through OpenCCC and select Merritt as their home college. The application generates a Peralta student ID; Merritt advises checking email within 24 hours, completing virtual orientation, meeting a counselor to create an education plan and then enrolling in Campus Solutions. Placement uses multiple measures such as prior records and student-reported data. Nursing and other selective programs have extra prerequisites and admission rules. Merritt’s application and placement page lays out the steps.

Peralta’s current enrollment charge is $46 per credit unit for California residents. Twelve units in each of two semesters would be $1,104 in annual enrollment fees before additional campus, health, transportation, book and program costs. Nonresidents pay an extra $401 per unit, subject to change. Eligible California residents may apply for California College Promise Grant to waive the per-unit fee. Merritt accepts FAFSA or California Dream Act Application and uses federal code 001267. The college lists Pell, FSEOG, Cal Grant and scholarships such as Oakland Promise and East Bay College Fund, each with separate eligibility rules. Check Merritt’s financial aid page and scholarship guide.

Merritt’s Bridge to Credit ESOL is a free noncredit sequence for learners preparing to move into credit classes. It has four eight-week levels and practices English through daily life, work and academic situations. Guided placement and counseling can help identify an entry level. Noncredit courses do not earn degree units; current class schedules show which sections are on campus, online or hybrid. The ESOL page publishes the course sequence and registration information.

Merritt offers more than 30 majors and certificates, from nursing, clinical and administrative medical assisting, radiologic science and histotechnology to nutrition, social services, EMT, cybersecurity, fire science, real estate, child development and landscape horticulture. Program credits and timing vary. The college says healthcare offerings span six weeks to 23 months; nursing takes two years after admission to the sequence, but applicants first complete prerequisites and meet GPA and TEAS standards. The Basic Needs Center in Student Center room R-28 connects enrolled students with food, hygiene and community referrals; the campus also has library, counseling, health and learning supports.

The campus map shows designated free student parking on a first-come basis. Other Peralta district lots require a virtual permit; a visitor’s daily permit is currently $2. The district shuttle connects Merritt with Laney in about 20 minutes each way on the published Fall 2026 schedule. Current students and employees with institutional ID can ride; students taking six units or more may qualify for AC Transit EasyPass. Check the campus map and actual class schedule before traveling because district students can take classes at different campuses. See the Merritt profile and Laney profile for location details.