UCSC vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, 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 Santa Cruz is larger than UC Merced based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 9,110 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• University of California Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz 22:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

UCSC vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC 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 UCSC ($13,690 vs. $18,059).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Santa Cruz are 7% lower than at University of California Merced ($19,948 vs. $21,445).
• University of California Santa Cruz is 2.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Merced (about $382 more per year; $16,005.00 vs. $15,623.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.8% higher at UCSC than at University of California Merced (about $382 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $49,823.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at University of California Santa Cruz (89% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 19.8% larger than aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students ($27,292 vs. $22,774).

UCSC vs. UC Merced Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSC 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 UCSC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Santa Cruz (1260) is 210 points higher than at UC Merced (1050).
• Incoming UCSC 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 Santa Cruz 1160/1360; University of California Merced 960/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33; University of California Merced 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; UC Merced - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UCSC students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at UC Merced (3.55).
• UC Merced has a higher acceptance rate (90.5%) than UCSC (65.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

UCSC vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCSC 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 Santa Cruz's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than University of California Merced's (58%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Merced graduates have a $60 lower median loan debt than UCSC graduates ($19,899 vs. $19,959).
• Among borrowers, UC Merced graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSC graduates ($205 vs. $206).
• More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Merced students, three years after graduation. (74% 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.