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University of California-Merced
University of California-Merced admits nearly everyone — 90.5% of applicants. A feature, not a flaw: the page below asks whether University of California-Merced is worth attending, not whether you'll get in.
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University of California-Merced occupies suburban Merced, CA — a public campus quieter than a downtown one, closer to one than a rural seat. It carries a land-grant charter — the 1862 mandate that ties it to agricultural and practical education.
Its highest-earning path is Computer Engineering, where graduates median $102,575 four years out. Faculty pay averages $178,008 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 8,372 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 82.1% of first-years come back for a second year.
University of California-Merced won't look at test scores — here the GPA calculator is the tool that matters. Bring your saved semester numbers and see what they average.
Admissions
University of California-Merced does not use test scores in admissions at all: the 90.5% who got into University of California-Merced did it on GPA, coursework and application alone. No score range exists to publish.
In the Fall 2023 cycle, University of California-Merced received 67,891 applications and admitted 26,598 (39.2%), with 2,416 enrolling.
How University of California-Merced compares
| University of California-Merced | California median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 90.5% | 75.7% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $15,623 | $23,000 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $64,368 | $64,778 | $53,781 |
Ten years out, University of California-Merced's median earnings are $64,368 — below the California benchmark of $64,778. Weigh that against the $15,623 price above; the by-major table shows majors drive much of this gap.
Cost, size & completion
As a public university, University of California-Merced prices by residency: $15,623 in-state versus $49,823 out-of-state — a $34,200 gap that makes state lines part of the decision.
University of California-Merced enrolls 8,372 undergraduates — mid-sized, with the trade-offs University of California-Merced's scale implies: more programs than a small college, more anonymity too.
68.7% graduate within six years. Roughly 31% don't — ask a University of California-Merced tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at University of California-Merced
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $102,575 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $95,040 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $88,795 |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | $83,007 |
| Applied Mathematics | $82,156 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $68,277 |
| Economics | $67,692 |
| Political Science and Government | $62,815 |
| Biology, General | $59,249 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $58,623 |
| Chemistry | $56,888 |
| Public Health | $56,393 |
| Psychology, General | $53,143 |
| Cognitive Science | $51,147 |
| Sociology | $50,468 |
| History | $44,144 |
Median earnings for these 16 University of California-Merced programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $64,368 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 12 additional University of California-Merced programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for University of California-Merced?
University of California-Merced doesn't look at test scores; its 90.5% admission rate turned on transcripts, coursework rigor and the application itself.
What is University of California-Merced's acceptance rate?
39.2% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 26,598 admitted from 67,891 applicants.
How much does University of California-Merced cost?
In-state tuition is $15,623; out-of-state students pay $49,823. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.
What do University of California-Merced graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $64,368 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in California
- Los Angeles College of Music — 87.7% admitted
- California State University-Channel Islands — 94.8% admitted
- Providence Christian College — 100% admitted
- California State University-Monterey Bay — 97.4% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.