CSU Stanislaus vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Stanislaus in Turlock, 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 Stanislaus is larger than UC Merced based on total student enrollment (9,724 students vs. 9,110 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Stanislaus is located in Turlock, CA (Small Suburban setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California State University Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus 18:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

CSU Stanislaus vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus than UC Merced ($7,433 vs. $13,690).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Stanislaus are 38.8% lower than at University of California Merced ($13,126 vs. $21,445).
• University of California Merced is 89.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU Stanislaus (about $7,377 more per year; $15,623.00 vs. $8,246.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 139% higher at UC Merced than at California State University Stanislaus (about $28,977 more per year; $49,823.00 vs. $20,846.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at California State University Stanislaus (89% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 118.5% larger than aid received by California State University Stanislaus students ($27,292 vs. $12,492).

CSU Stanislaus vs. UC Merced Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus.

• 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 Stanislaus - Test-free; UC Merced - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Stanislaus Nov 30, 2026; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Merced students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at CSU Stanislaus (3.47).
• CSU Stanislaus has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than UC Merced (90.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.1% at CSU Stanislaus vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

CSU Stanislaus vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU Stanislaus 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 Stanislaus's (49%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Stanislaus graduates have a $4,899 lower median loan debt than UC Merced graduates ($15,000 vs. $19,899).
• Among borrowers, CSU Stanislaus graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Merced graduates ($155 vs. $205).
• More UC Merced graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU Stanislaus students, three years after graduation. (64% 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.