University of California-Merced is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Merced, California. It enrolls 8,372 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
82/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes72
Value93
Affordability89
Selectivity20
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 90.5%, University of California-Merced is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
90.5%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether University of California-Merced is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
32.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of California-Merced isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $11,983 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$11,983
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
59%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
29%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$15,623
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$49,823
Room & Board (on-campus)
$21,445
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,999
Books & Supplies
$1,046
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,852
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$7,390
Total Cost of Attendance
$39,665
Application fee: $80 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$7,945
$30,001 – $48,000
$8,465
$48,001 – $75,000
$11,557
$75,001 – $110,000
$14,828
Over $110,000
$28,734
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$16,144Medianpercentile
$24,25075%percentile
$29,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $12,600
↓ $3,544
No Pell $13,639
↓ $2,505
Dependent students $12,750
↓ $3,394
Independent students $13,785
↓ $2,359
Female students $12,000
↓ $4,144
Male students $13,500
↓ $2,644
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,750, less than completers ($16,144), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
69% of full-time students who enrolled at University of California-Merced graduate within six years, and 83% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
69%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
83%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of California-Merced earn a median of $64,368 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$64,368
Earning > $25K
84%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
14.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 87% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
University of California-Merced is home to 8,372 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 57% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
8,372
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
57%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 55.4%4,639
Asian 23.6%1,974
White 9.2%772
Black 5.1%425
Other 5.0%420
International 0.5%42
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of California-Merced. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize SuburbMerced, California
Housing
Mostly residential4,341 beds on campus
Adult Learners
2%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
University of California-Merced offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
57 distinct programs across
17 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of California-Merced is 21:1, on the higher side.
Student : Faculty
21:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$12,792
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$29M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$126,562
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
428 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
104
24%
$181,215
Associate Professors
85
20%
$135,818
Assistant Professors
96
22%
$116,910
Lecturers
143
33%
$87,791
Pros & Cons of University of California-Merced
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of California-Merced tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Above-average graduation rate
Solid post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Best for:
Based on the data, University of California-Merced is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about University of California-Merced
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of California-Merced.
Is University of California-Merced hard to get into?
University of California-Merced has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 90.5%.
What is the acceptance rate at University of California-Merced?
University of California-Merced has an acceptance rate of 90.5%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does University of California-Merced cost?
The average net price after aid at University of California-Merced is $11,983 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of California-Merced worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $64,368 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $11,983 per year. That's roughly 5.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of California-Merced known for?
University of California-Merced is best known for its programs in Experimental Psychology, Biology, Computer Engineering. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of California-Merced graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of California-Merced are $64,368, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of California-Merced accredited?
Yes. University of California-Merced is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend University of California-Merced?
University of California-Merced enrolls 8,372 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-Merced?
University of California-Merced graduates 69% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of California-Merced a public or private college?
University of California-Merced is a Public institution.
Where is University of California-Merced located?
University of California-Merced is located in Merced, California.
What programs does University of California-Merced offer?
University of California-Merced offers 57 distinct programs. The most popular include Experimental Psychology, Biology, Computer Engineering.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of California-Merced?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of California-Merced is 21:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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