USD vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

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

University of San Diego is larger than UC Merced based on total student enrollment (9,714 students vs. 9,110 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of San Diego is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of San Diego 13:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

USD vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USD 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 USD ($13,690 vs. $37,918).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of San Diego are 7.1% lower than at University of California Merced ($19,918 vs. $21,445).
• University of San Diego is 280.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Merced (about $43,863 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $15,623.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.4% higher at USD than at University of California Merced (about $9,663 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $49,823.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at University of San Diego (89% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 50.1% larger than aid received by University of California Merced students ($40,965 vs. $27,292).

USD vs. UC Merced Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USD 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 USD.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of California Merced 960/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of California Merced 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USD - Test-free; UC Merced - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: USD Dec 15, 2026; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman USD students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.95) than students at UC Merced (3.55).
• UC Merced has a higher acceptance rate (90.5%) than USD (52.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.4% at USD vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

USD vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USD 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 San Diego's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than University of California Merced's (58%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Merced graduates have a $3,005 lower median loan debt than USD graduates ($19,899 vs. $22,904).
• Among borrowers, UC Merced graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USD graduates ($205 vs. $236).
• More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Merced students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.