UC Davis vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Davis is larger than UC Merced based on total student enrollment (40,065 students vs. 9,110 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Davis is located in Davis, CA (Small Suburban setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• University of California Davis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Davis 22:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

UC Davis vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Davis 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 UC Davis ($13,690 vs. $17,270).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Davis are 9.4% lower than at University of California Merced ($19,426 vs. $21,445).
• University of California Davis is 7.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Merced (about $1,151 more per year; $16,774.00 vs. $15,623.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.3% higher at UC Davis than at University of California Merced (about $1,151 more per year; $50,974.00 vs. $49,823.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at University of California Davis (89% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 11% larger than aid received by University of California Davis students ($27,292 vs. $24,591).

UC Davis vs. UC Merced Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Davis 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 UC Davis.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Davis (1280) is 230 points higher than at UC Merced (1050).
• Incoming UC Davis students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 21 at UC Merced).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 1160/1400; University of California Merced 960/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Davis 25/33; University of California Merced 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Davis - Test-free; UC Merced - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Davis Nov 30, 2026; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Davis students have a 0.45 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UC Merced (3.55).
• UC Merced has a higher acceptance rate (90.5%) than UC Davis (41.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.4% at UC Davis vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

UC Davis vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Davis 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 Davis's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than University of California Merced's (58%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Davis graduates have a $5,223 lower median loan debt than UC Merced graduates ($14,676 vs. $19,899).
• Among borrowers, UC Davis graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Merced graduates ($151 vs. $205).
• More UC Davis graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Merced students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.