UCI vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Irvine in Irvine, 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 Irvine is larger than UC Merced based on total student enrollment (37,297 students vs. 9,110 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Irvine is located in Irvine, CA (Rural Fringe setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• University of California Irvine 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 Irvine 19:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

UCI vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCI 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 UCI ($13,690 vs. $15,889).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Irvine are 11.4% lower than at University of California Merced ($18,991 vs. $21,445).
• University of California Irvine is 0.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Merced (about $99 more per year; $15,722.00 vs. $15,623.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.2% higher at UCI than at University of California Merced (about $99 more per year; $49,922.00 vs. $49,823.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at University of California Irvine (89% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 18.1% larger than aid received by University of California Irvine students ($27,292 vs. $23,110).

UCI vs. UC Merced Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCI 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 UCI.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Irvine (1330) is 280 points higher than at UC Merced (1050).
• Incoming UCI 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 Irvine 1230/1430; University of California Merced 960/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Irvine 26/33; University of California Merced 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCI - Test-free; UC Merced - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCI Nov 30, 2026; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• 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 (90.5%) than UCI (28.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.2% at UCI vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

UCI vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCI 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 Irvine's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than University of California Merced's (58%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Irvine graduates have a $2,899 lower median loan debt than UC Merced graduates ($17,000 vs. $19,899).
• Among borrowers, UCI graduates have an estimated $30 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.