Cal State East Bay vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University East Bay in Hayward, 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 East Bay is larger than UC Merced based on total student enrollment (12,326 students vs. 9,110 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University East Bay is located in Hayward, CA (Midsize City setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California State University East Bay 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 East Bay 22:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Cal State East Bay vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State East Bay 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 East Bay than UC Merced ($9,850 vs. $13,690).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University East Bay are 16.9% lower than at University of California Merced ($17,831 vs. $21,445).
• University of California Merced is 106% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State East Bay (about $8,040 more per year; $15,623.00 vs. $7,583.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 146.9% higher at UC Merced than at California State University East Bay (about $29,640 more per year; $49,823.00 vs. $20,183.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at California State University East Bay (89% vs. 79%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 120.6% larger than aid received by California State University East Bay students ($27,292 vs. $12,369).

Cal State East Bay vs. UC Merced Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State East Bay 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 Cal State East Bay.

• 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: Cal State East Bay - Test-free; UC Merced - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State East Bay Oct 1, 2026; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Merced students have a 0.35 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Cal State East Bay (3.2).
• Cal State East Bay has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than UC Merced (90.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 6.9% at Cal State East Bay vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Cal State East Bay vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State East Bay 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 East Bay's (43%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University East Bay graduates have a $3,567 lower median loan debt than UC Merced graduates ($16,332 vs. $19,899).
• Among borrowers, Cal State East Bay graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Merced graduates ($168 vs. $205).
• More UC Merced graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State East Bay students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 61%)

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.