University of California Merced
- 5/10 Overall Rating
- 4 Year
- Merced, CA
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3.0 1 review
Overview
Total enrollment
9,110- Location Merced, California
- Website ucmerced.edu
- Type Public 4 Year
- Setting Rural Fringe
- Size Mid-size
- Status Non-profit
- Housing Yes
- Level of Study Undergrad/Graduate
Located in California's San Joaquin Valley approximately 60 miles north of Fresno, UC Merced opened in 2005 as the newest addition to the University of California system. The 7,000-acre campus features modern architectural design with an emphasis on environmental sustainability, including LEED-certified buildings throughout its footprint in the Sierra Nevada foothills. The university operates as a selective public research institution, with notable strengths in environmental science, engineering, and biological sciences. UC Merced maintains a residential campus culture with required on-campus housing for first-year students and serves a significant population of first-generation college students. The campus continues to expand through its 2020 Project, which has added new academic buildings, student housing, and research facilities to accommodate growing enrollment.
Ratings
UC Merced is rated within the lower 47% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 5 out of 10.
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Overall Rating5 out of 10
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Academics4 out of 10
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Resources5 out of 10
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Outcomes7 out of 10
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Value9 out of 10
Rankings
Rankings for University of California Merced within the 2027 CollegeSimply Best Colleges Lists.
Admissions
Admission Standards
- GPA 3.55
Acceptance Rate
- Applications Due Nov 30, 2026
- Enrollment Rate 7.2%
- Application Fee $80
Applicant Competition Very Low
Annual Cost to Attend
California Resident Tuition
$15,623Out of State Resident Tuition
$49,823Breakdown
- Tuition $15,623
- Books and Supplies $1,046
- Other Fees $2,477
- Room and Board $21,445
- Budget for Other Expenses $5,852
- Total One Year Cost $46,443
- Tuition $49,823
- Books and Supplies $1,046
- Other Fees $2,477
- Room and Board $21,445
- Budget for Other Expenses $5,852
- Total One Year Cost $80,643
Student Outcomes
Average Salary After 10 Years
Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate
Popular Areas of Study
Popular majors at University of California Merced are Psychology, Biology, and Engineering. 22% of students major in Psychology, 21% in Biology, and 14% in Engineering.
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Psychology 22%
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Biology 21%
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Engineering 14%
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Social Sciences 13%
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Business 12%
More Colleges to Consider
Students considering University of California Merced are frequently interested in these similar colleges.
Data source: NCES / IPEDS https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=445188.
GPA calculator: University of California Merced GPA calculator.
Last updated: August 2026