University of California-Merced
Merced, CA · Public · Bachelor's degrees · Suburb
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About University of California-Merced
The University of California, Merced (UC Merced or colloquially, UCM) is a public land-grant research university in Merced County, California, United States. Established in 2005, UC Merced is the tenth and newest campus in the University of California (UC) system. The main campus is around 810 acres (330 hectares) in size and located around 5 miles (8.0 km) north of the city of Merced and sits adjacent to Lake Yosemite. The campus is adjacent to large swaths of protected natural grasslands and vernal pools, which have shaped its development, capital planning, and research. UC Merced offers over 60 undergraduate degrees and 18 graduate and professional degrees, with 8,372 undergraduates and 738 graduate students enrolled as of fall 2024. In 2025 the university was classified as an R1 Carnegie research institution becoming the only R1 institution in the Central Valley and one of the youngest universities ever to attain the designation.
Excerpt from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
91%
Acceptance
$11,983
Net price
8,372
Enrollment
69%
Grad rate
Report Card
Academics
Graduation & retention rates
Value
Earnings vs. cost of attendance
Career Outcomes
Graduate earnings after 10 years
Affordability
Average net price after aid
Selectivity
How hard it is to get in
Diversity
Racial & ethnic balance of students
Grades are computed from official U.S. Department of Education metrics (graduation, cost, earnings, selectivity and student diversity).
Admissions
91%
Acceptance rate
—
SAT average
—
ACT midpoint
Cost & Financial Aid
$11,983
Average net price
$15,623
In-state tuition
$49,823
Out-of-state tuition
$21,445
Room & board
$1,046
Books & supplies
$39,665
Total cost of attendance
59%
Students receiving Pell grants
29%
Students with federal loans
$16,144
Median student debt
Average net price by family income
Net price is the average annual cost after grants and scholarships for federally-aided students.
Popular Majors
After Graduation
$64,368
Median earnings (10 yrs)
$48,475
Median earnings (6 yrs)
69%
Graduation rate
82%
Retention rate
84%
Earn more than a HS grad
$12,647
Instructional spend / student
Student Body
8,372
Total enrollment
2%
Part-time
19
Avg. age at entry
57%
First-generation
Gender balance
Race & ethnicity
University of California-Merced FAQ
Is University of California-Merced a public or private school?
University of California-Merced is a public institution located in Merced, CA.
What is the acceptance rate at University of California-Merced?
University of California-Merced has an acceptance rate of 91%, based on the latest U.S. Department of Education data.
How much does University of California-Merced cost?
The average annual net price at University of California-Merced is $11,983 — the typical cost after grants and scholarships for federally-aided students. Published tuition is $15,623 in-state and $49,823 out-of-state.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-Merced?
About 69% of students at University of California-Merced complete their degree, according to federal completion data.
How much do University of California-Merced graduates earn?
Ten years after enrolling, University of California-Merced students earn a median of $64,368 per year.
How many students attend University of California-Merced?
University of California-Merced enrolls about 8,372 students.
Campus
Campus photo via Wikimedia Commons — Original University of California seal: probably Tiffany & Co,; This SVG file: User:Casecrer · Public domain. Additional images are representative.
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