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University of California-Merced

University of California-Merced

Merced, CA · Suburb · 8,372 students
WebsiteForbes rankingScorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$11,983
Average net priceYour net price
In-state · 2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
69%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
70% typical
$64,368
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$63,395 typical
91%
Acceptance rate
Applied for fall 2024
73% typical · not scored
Accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
About

Founded in 2005 as the first new American research university of the twenty-first century, the University of California, Merced is renowned for its rapid rise in academic prestige, exceptional social mobility, and commitment to sustainability as the only U.S. campus where every building is LEED-certified. Undergraduates benefit from high-impact programs in environmental engineering, biological sciences, and computer science, often collaborating directly with faculty on cutting-edge research through partnerships with nearby Yosemite National Park and the Sierra Nevada Research Institute. The campus culture is defined by an inclusive, tight-knit, and predominantly first-generation student body that embraces a pioneering spirit in California’s vibrant Central Valley.

Wikipedia:The University of California, Merced 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 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.

Location
Merced, CA, 95343-5603 · Suburb campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
SJC · San Jose
83 mi away
Open in Google Maps
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
These figures are federal data and may be out of date.
In-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$15,623$49,823
Housing & food (on campus)$21,445$21,445
Books & supplies$1,046$1,046
Cost of attendance$39,665$73,865 est.
Average net price$11,983Not published
Out-of-state prices
Tuition & fees$49,823
In-state: $15,623
Housing & food (on campus)$21,445
Books & supplies$1,046
Cost of attendance$73,865 est.
In-state: $39,665
Average net priceNot published
In-state: $11,983
est. = the in-state cost of attendance with out-of-state tuition swapped in; no out-of-state figure is published.
Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24
$0–30k
$7,945
$30–48k
$8,465
$48–75k
$11,557
$75–110k
$14,828
$110k+
$28,734
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
69%
Entered 2017–18
Within 4 yrs
51%
Back for yr 2
82%
Transferred
16%
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
70% graduated · 17% transferred · 13% left or unknown · none still enrolled
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$48,475
10 yrs after entry$64,368
Debt
Median at graduation$16,144
Monthly payment$171
Middle 50% owe$5.5k–$24.3k
90th percentile$29,000
Green marks a figure above the typical Doctoral University: $63,395 earned 10 yrs after entry.
Admissions
Getting in · applied for fall 2024
Admit rate
91%
Test policy
Not required
Per College Scorecard

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Essay prompts

If University of California-Merced asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the school's application.

Student Body
Gender
Men 55%Women 45%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
20 : 1
Pell grant
59%
First-gen
57%
Family income
$33,931
Independent
4%
Age at entry
19.0
Part-time
2%
Race & ethnicity
White
9%
Hispanic
55%
Black
5%
Asian
24%
Two or more
5%
Unknown
1%
Varsity sports
NAIA Division II · EADA 2024-25
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Cross Country
    Men's · Women's
  • Soccer
    Men's · Women's
  • Track and Field (Outdoor)
    Men's · Women's
  • Volleyball
    Men's · Women's
  • Water Polo
    Men's · Women's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021
After 6 yrs
$48,475
After 10 yrs
$64,368
Research and Experimental Psychology365
Biology, General308
Computer Engineering217
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods187
Mechanical Engineering150
Public Health112
Political Science and Government102
Sociology95
Cognitive Science54
Biomedical/Medical Engineering50
Applied Mathematics38
Chemistry31
Economics27
English Language and Literature, General24
Anthropology21
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering19
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$33M
Full-time faculty
93%
Faculty salary
$14,834/mo
Teaching spend
$12,647
per student
Federal loans
29%
Classification
Carnegie type
Doctoral University
Research activity
R1 — very high research
$77M research spending · 112 research doctorates a year
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, inclusive admissions

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