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UCLA UCSD UCSB UC Riverside UC Davis UCSC UC Berkeley Cal Poly CSU ASU San Diego State San Jose State| University of California Irvine | University of California Merced | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
UCI | UC Merced | ||
| Location | Irvine, CA | Merced, CA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 36,582 | 9,147 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #93 | #542 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uci.edu | ucmerced.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UCI | UC Merced | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,834 | $11,834 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $42,611 | $42,611 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,423 | $20,293 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,647 | $13,232 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $21,533 | $24,868 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 65% | 81% |
Admission |
UCI | UC Merced | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 121,101 | 67,891 | ||
| Admitted | 30,962 | 26,598 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 25.6% | 39.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21.9% | 9.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.75 | 3.55 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | High | ||
| ACT Range | 26/33 | 19/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 1230/1430 | 960/1140 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Nov 30, 2025 | Nov 30, 2025 |
Academics |
UCI | UC Merced | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 21:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
UCI | UC Merced | ||
| Graduation Rate | 85% | 58% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $61,800 | N/A | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 76% | 64% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $17,000 | $19,899 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $175 | $205 |
Diversity |
UCI | UC Merced | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 10% | 5% | ||
| % Women | 10% | 4% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 15% | 13% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 25% | 48% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 4% | ||
| % International | 16% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
UCI | UC Merced | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 77% | 99% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 0% | ||
Campus |
UCI | UC Merced | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of California Irvine is larger than than UC Merced based on total student enrollment (36,582 students vs. 9,147 students)
UCI vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UCI or UC Merced?
- University of California Irvine and UC Merced cost the same to attend based on in-state tuition ($11,834.00 vs. $11,834.00)
- Out of state tuition is the same at UCI as University of California Merced ($42,611.00 vs. $42,611.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Merced than UCI ($13,232 vs. $14,647)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Irvine are 10.2% lower than costs at University of California Merced ($18,423 vs. $20,293)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of California Merced than University of California Irvine (81% vs. 65%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 15.5% larger than aid received University of California Irvine ($24,868 vs. $21,533)
UCI vs. UC Merced Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UCI or UC Merced? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UC Merced or UCI .
- The average SAT score at University of California Irvine (1175) is 150 points higher than at UC Merced (1025)
- Incoming UCI students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at UC Merced (23)
- Accepted freshman UCI students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at UC Merced (3.55)
- UC Merced has a higher acceptance rate (39.2%) than UCI (25.6%)
UCI vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UCI or UC Merced? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between UC Merced and UCI.
- The graduation rate at UCI is higher than University of California Merced (85% vs. 58%)
- University of California Irvine students graduate with a $2,899 lower median federal student loan debt than UC Merced graduates. ($17,000 vs. $19,899)
- UCI graduates are paying $30 less per month on federal student loans than UC Merced graduates. ($175 vs. $205)
- More UCI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Merced students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 64%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/