NSC vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Merced is larger than NSC based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 7,549 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Nevada State University is located in Henderson, NV (Rural Fringe setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Nevada State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Nevada State University 18:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

NSC vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NSC 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 University of California Merced than NSC ($13,690 vs. $15,699).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Nevada State University are 44.9% lower than at University of California Merced ($11,819 vs. $21,445).
• University of California Merced is 130.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than NSC (about $8,858 more per year; $15,623.00 vs. $6,765.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 128.2% higher at UC Merced than at Nevada State University (about $27,990 more per year; $49,823.00 vs. $21,833.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at Nevada State University (89% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 242.5% larger than aid received by Nevada State University students ($27,292 vs. $7,969).

NSC vs. UC Merced Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NSC 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 NSC.

• 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: NSC - Test-free; UC Merced - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Merced students have a 0.8 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at NSC (2.75).
• UC Merced has a higher acceptance rate (90.5%) than NSC (86.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 33.2% at NSC vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

NSC vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NSC 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 Nevada State University's (22%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Merced graduates have a $3,021 lower median loan debt than NSC graduates ($19,899 vs. $22,920).
• Among borrowers, UC Merced graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NSC graduates ($205 vs. $236).
• More UC Merced graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSC students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 43%)

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.