CSU Bakersfield vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Bakersfield in Bakersfield, CA with University of California Merced in Merced, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State University Bakersfield is larger than UC Merced based on total student enrollment (10,419 students vs. 9,110 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Bakersfield is located in Bakersfield, CA (Large City setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California State University Bakersfield is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Bakersfield 20:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

CSU Bakersfield vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU Bakersfield or UC Merced? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Bakersfield than UC Merced ($6,489 vs. $13,690).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Bakersfield are 29.7% lower than at University of California Merced ($15,076 vs. $21,445).
• University of California Merced is 93.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU Bakersfield (about $7,533 more per year; $15,623.00 vs. $8,090.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 140.8% higher at UC Merced than at California State University Bakersfield (about $29,133 more per year; $49,823.00 vs. $20,690.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Bakersfield than at University of California Merced (91% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 110.5% larger than aid received by California State University Bakersfield students ($27,292 vs. $12,966).

CSU Bakersfield vs. UC Merced Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU Bakersfield or UC Merced? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UC Merced and CSU Bakersfield.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of California Merced 960/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of California Merced 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU Bakersfield - Test-free; UC Merced - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Bakersfield Dec 15, 2026; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• CSU Bakersfield has a higher acceptance rate (93.9%) than UC Merced (90.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.4% at CSU Bakersfield vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

CSU Bakersfield vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU Bakersfield and UC Merced? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• University of California Merced's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than California State University Bakersfield's (41%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Bakersfield graduates have a $6,731 lower median loan debt than UC Merced graduates ($13,168 vs. $19,899).
• Among borrowers, CSU Bakersfield graduates have an estimated $69 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Merced graduates ($136 vs. $205).
• More UC Merced graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU Bakersfield students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 54%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.