UC Merced vs. UWest

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Merced is larger than UWest based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 138 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

UC Merced vs. UWest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Merced or UWest? 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 UWest ($13,690 vs. $14,713).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of the West are 33.6% lower than at University of California Merced ($14,244 vs. $21,445).
• University of California Merced is 1.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UWest (about $177 more per year; $15,623.00 vs. $15,446.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 222.6% higher at UC Merced than at University of the West (about $34,377 more per year; $49,823.00 vs. $15,446.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of the West than at University of California Merced (100% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 189% larger than aid received by University of the West students ($27,292 vs. $9,445).

UC Merced vs. UWest Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Merced or UWest? 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 UWest and UC Merced.

• University of the West reports an open admissions policy.
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Merced 960/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Merced 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Merced - Test-free; UWest - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Merced Nov 30, 2026; UWest Jun 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UC Merced students have a 1.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at UWest (2.43).
• UWest has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than UC Merced (90.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.2% at UC Merced vs. 25% at UWest.

UC Merced vs. UWest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Merced and UWest? 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).

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.