California State University-San Marcos vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University San Marcos in San Marcos, 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 San Marcos is larger than UC Merced based on total student enrollment (16,237 students vs. 9,110 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University San Marcos is located in San Marcos, CA (Rural Fringe setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California State University San Marcos 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 San Marcos 24:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

California State University-San Marcos vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California State University-San Marcos 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 San Marcos than UC Merced ($10,241 vs. $13,690).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University San Marcos are 34% lower than at University of California Merced ($14,152 vs. $21,445).
• University of California Merced is 93.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than California State University-San Marcos (about $7,541 more per year; $15,623.00 vs. $8,082.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 140.9% higher at UC Merced than at California State University San Marcos (about $29,141 more per year; $49,823.00 vs. $20,682.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at California State University San Marcos (89% vs. 71%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 145.4% larger than aid received by California State University San Marcos students ($27,292 vs. $11,123).

California State University-San Marcos vs. UC Merced Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California State University-San Marcos 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 California State University-San Marcos.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Merced (1050) is 10 points higher than at California State University-San Marcos (1040).
• Incoming UC Merced students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 19 at California State University-San Marcos).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University San Marcos 950/1130; University of California Merced 960/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University San Marcos 17/22; University of California Merced 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California State University-San Marcos - Test-free; UC Merced - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State University-San Marcos Nov 30, 2026; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Merced students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at California State University-San Marcos (3.32).
• California State University-San Marcos has a higher acceptance rate (95.1%) than UC Merced (90.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14% at California State University-San Marcos vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

California State University-San Marcos vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California State University-San Marcos 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 San Marcos's (49%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University San Marcos graduates have a $1,904 lower median loan debt than UC Merced graduates ($17,995 vs. $19,899).
• Among borrowers, California State University-San Marcos graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Merced graduates ($186 vs. $205).
• More California State University-San Marcos graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Merced students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 64%)

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.