University of California-Merced

Frequently asked questions

About University of California-Merced

Built from CampusPin profile data. Always verify final admissions, cost, financial aid, and program details with the institution before applying. See our data methodology and data dictionary.

Where is University of California-Merced located?

University of California-Merced is located in Merced, CA, in the United States.

What type of institution is University of California-Merced?

University of California-Merced is a public university based in CA. CampusPin classifies institutions as either four-year universities or two-year community colleges, with control labeled public or private.

What is the acceptance rate at University of California-Merced?

The most recently reported acceptance rate at University of California-Merced is approximately 91% (IPEDS, applicants for fall 2024). Acceptance rate signals selectivity but does not predict any individual applicant's outcome and is not a measure of school quality. CampusPin reports the federally-published value; verify the current cycle with the institution.

What is the tuition at University of California-Merced?

University of California-Merced's published in-state tuition is approximately $15,623 per year (IPEDS, charges for academic year 2024-25). This is the published price before financial aid; the net price most students actually pay is typically lower. Verify the current academic-year tuition with the institution before applying.

How many students attend University of California-Merced?

University of California-Merced reports total enrollment of approximately 9,110 students (undergraduate plus graduate) (IPEDS, fall 2024 enrollment). Total enrollment is a useful sizing signal, see the institutional profile for additional breakdowns when available.

How much does University of California-Merced actually cost after financial aid?

The average net price at University of California-Merced is approximately $11,983 per year. Net price is the total cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships that never have to be repaid, so it is what students actually paid rather than the published sticker price. What families pay varies with income: students from families earning under $30,000 paid about $7,945 on average, and those from families earning $110,000 or more about $28,734. These are averages for students who received federal aid in a prior cohort, not a quote for any individual family. Run the institution's own Net Price Calculator for a figure specific to you.

What is the graduation rate at University of California-Merced?

University of California-Merced reports a graduation rate of approximately 69% (IPEDS, Graduation Rates 2024 collection: 4-year cohort 2018, 2-year cohort 2021). This measures the share of a prior entering cohort who completed their degree within the federal tracking window. It reflects who enrolls as much as what the institution does, so it is not on its own a measure of teaching quality, and it is not comparable across institutions serving very different students.

How much student debt do graduates of University of California-Merced have?

Students who borrowed at University of California-Merced left with a median of approximately $16,144 in federal loans, and about 29% of students took federal loans at all. Both numbers matter: a median describes only the students who borrowed, so it reads very differently at a school where most students borrow than at one where few do. Federal loans only, so private and parent borrowing are not included.

How much do graduates of University of California-Merced earn?

Median earnings approximately ten years after entry are $64,368 for students who received federal financial aid at University of California-Merced. This reflects the mix of programs the institution offers and the students who enroll, not the effect of attending, and it covers aid recipients rather than all graduates.

How should I verify final details about University of California-Merced?

CampusPin compiles institutional data from public datasets like IPEDS and the College Scorecard, plus institutional websites and editorial review. Before applying, paying a deposit, or making a final decision, confirm admissions requirements, current tuition, financial aid, deadlines, and program details directly with University of California-Merced.

How much do Biology graduates from University of California-Merced earn?

University of California-Merced's bachelor's graduates in Biology earned a median $59,249 four years after graduating, 4% above the $57,214 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $36,140; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $18,000 in federal loans at this college (about $191 a month on a 10-year plan).

How much do Computer Engineering graduates from University of California-Merced earn?

University of California-Merced's bachelor's graduates in Computer Engineering earned a median $102,575 four years after graduating, 6% below the $109,015 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $58,835; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $19,003 in federal loans at this college (about $201 a month on a 10-year plan).

Which programs at University of California-Merced have the highest graduate earnings?

Among the 12 programs at University of California-Merced with a federal earnings figure from at least 30 graduates, the highest medians four years after graduating were Computer Engineering, bachelor's ($102,575); Mechanical Engineering, bachelor's ($95,040); and Biomedical/Medical Engineering, bachelor's ($88,795) (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). That order is one federal measure, not a ranking of program quality: earnings reflect the field and where graduates go to work as well as the program.

Does University of California-Merced get a "lower earnings" warning on the FAFSA?

No. In the Department of Education's March 2026 data, which the FAFSA uses now, University of California-Merced's graduates' median earnings four years after completing were $68,980, above the $36,565 median for high school graduates aged 25 to 34 in California, so first-year students who list it do not see the lower-earnings notice. The figure describes the whole institution, not any one program.