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University of California-Merced

UC Merced

Merced, California 95343-5603

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Campus Vibe

Mid-SizeSuburbanPublicEngineering FocusSTEM Strong

Known for engineering — excellent value

University of California-Merced is a public institution in Merced with particular strength in engineering and psychology.

A mid-sized campus of 8.4K undergraduates with a 21:1 student-faculty ratio. The suburban location offers a balance of campus life and nearby amenities.

69% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $64,368 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $12,744.

Established
2005
Motto
Fiat lux
Mascot
Rufus the Bobcat
Type
Public land-grant research university
Conference
National Association of
39%Acceptance
SAT Avg
8,372Students
21:1Student:Faculty
69%Grad Rate
$64,368Earnings 10yr
$12,744Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

University of California-Merced Launches New Data Science Minor

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

Admissions

Acceptance Rate39.2%

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

39.2%

Trend

Yield Rate

35.0%

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition (in-state)$14,167
Tuition (out-of-state)$44,944
Room & Board$20,293
Books & Supplies$1,214
Total Cost of Attendance$37,098
Average Net Price$12,744
Median Debt at Graduation$16,144
Monthly Payment (10yr)$171

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$8,572
$30–48K$9,581
$48–75K$11,594
$75–110K$17,323
$110K+$30,561

Financial Intel

Avg Net Price

$12,744

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

68.5%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$12,750

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

61

Peer Average

92

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus police, emergency alert system, blue-light phones

Programs (65)

Student Life

Student Body

Undergrads
8,372
Gender Split
47% / 53%
Women / Men
First Generation
57%
Pell Grant Recipients
59%

Race & Ethnicity

White 9%
Black 5%
Hispanic 58%
Asian 22%
Two+ 4%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate69.2%
Freshman Retention83.1%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$48,475
8 Years$56,207
10 Years$64,368

Rankings

U.S. News
#58
Forbes
#173
Wall Street Journal
#29
Washington Monthly
#72

More About This School

Rankings

History & Fun Facts

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Getting There

Visit Planning

Deadline Calendar

University of California-Merced Application Checklist

Decision Notifications

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