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University of California-Merced

University of California-Merced is a public campus in suburban Merced, CA. The federal record identifies it as a land-grant institution.

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What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$8,572

family income
under $30k

$9,581

$30–48k

$11,594

$48–75k

$17,323

$75–110k

$30,561

over $110k

Average net price

$11,9832023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at University of California-Merced has wandered from 2008 to 2023 — up to $13,896 at the peak — but ends near where it began, at $11,983.

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$11,467
2009	$11,750
2010	$12,168
2011	$12,965
2012	$11,921
2013	$12,327
2014	$12,999
2015	$13,031
2016	$13,226
2017	$12,253
2018	$13,896
2019	$13,691
2020	$10,751
2021	$13,450
2022	$12,744
2023	$11,983

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$39,6652024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at University of California-Merced rose from $23,518 (2009) to $39,665 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$23,518
2010	$25,487
2011	$27,812
2012	$30,278
2013	$30,637
2014	$31,883
2015	$32,361
2016	$32,984
2017	$34,331
2018	$34,517
2019	$34,569
2020	$35,005
2021	$30,144
2022	$36,949
2023	$37,098
2024	$39,665

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition (in-state vs out-of-state)

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition — data
Year	In-state	Out-of-state
2005	$6,653	$24,473
2006	$6,653	$25,337
2007	$7,148	$26,768
2008	$7,749	$28,357
2013	$13,160	$36,038
2014	$13,160	$36,038
2015	$13,208	$37,916
2016	$13,262	$39,944
2017	$13,598	$41,612
2018	$13,538	$42,530
2019	$13,538	$43,292
2020	$14,100	$43,854
2021	$13,657	$43,411
2022	$13,791	$43,863
2023	$14,167	$44,944

IPEDS Published price 2005–06 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

University of California-Merced reports published tuition by residency: $15,623 in-state versus $49,823 out-of-state — a $34,200 gap that makes state lines part of the decision. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

University of California-Merced reports 8,372 undergraduate students. Enrollment is a headcount, not a measure of teaching access.

68.7% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at University of California-Merced within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

68.7%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at University of California-Merced rose from 58.2% (entered 2005) to 68.7% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
2005 cohort	58.2%
2006 cohort	58.1%
2007 cohort	56.7%
2008 cohort	63.6%
2009 cohort	66.4%
2010 cohort	66.4%
2011 cohort	64.4%
2012 cohort	66.1%
2013 cohort	69.5%
2014 cohort	68.7%
2015 cohort	71.7%
2016 cohort	67.5%
2017 cohort	69.2%
2018 cohort	68.7%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 2005–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$5,500	$4,350
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$5,500	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$13,000	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$15,564	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$18,757	$6,250
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$19,500	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$19,500	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$19,811	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$19,018	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$19,000	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$18,000	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$17,500	$6,250
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$16,144	$6,750

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$48,475

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$56,207

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$64,368

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

University of California-Merced admitted 28,906 of 31,928 applicants in Fall 2024. The 90.5% rate describes that application pool.

90.5%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $14,167 in-state tuition · 2023–24 8,372 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Tests not considered · Fall 2024

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

University of California-Merced did not consider scores in the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. No score range is displayed for University of California-Merced under that historical policy.

Check current requirements with admissions.

In the Fall 2024 cycle, University of California-Merced received 31,928 applications and admitted 28,906 (90.5%), with 2,093 enrolling.

Acceptance rate

90.5%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2006	86.4%
Fall 2007	87.4%
Fall 2008	89.6%
Fall 2009	90.7%
Fall 2010	91.3%
Fall 2011	88.6%
Fall 2012	80%
Fall 2013	75.5%
Fall 2014	67.2%
Fall 2015	60.7%
Fall 2016	74.2%
Fall 2017	69.8%
Fall 2018	66.2%
Fall 2019	72%
Fall 2020	84.8%
Fall 2021	86.6%
Fall 2022	89.5%
Fall 2023	—
Fall 2024	90.5%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2006–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

960–1140Fall 2020 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2006	940	1200
Fall 2007	920	1180
Fall 2008	910	1180
Fall 2009	900	1170
Fall 2010	900	1170
Fall 2011	890	1140
Fall 2012	900	1130
Fall 2013	900	1140
Fall 2014	910	1130
Fall 2015	900	1120
Fall 2016	870	1070
Fall 2017	1000	1170
Fall 2018	1020	1190
Fall 2019	1000	1180
Fall 2020	960	1140

IPEDS Fall 2006–2020, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

19–24Fall 2020 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2006	18	24
Fall 2007	18	25
Fall 2008	18	24
Fall 2009	18	24
Fall 2010	18	24
Fall 2011	18	24
Fall 2012	18	24
Fall 2013	18	24
Fall 2014	20	25
Fall 2015	20	25
Fall 2016	19	24
Fall 2017	20	27
Fall 2018	19	27
Fall 2019	19	25
Fall 2020	19	24

IPEDS Fall 2006–2020, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

8,372Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at University of California-Merced rose from 841 (Fall 2005) to 8,372 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2005	841
Fall 2006	1,210
Fall 2007	1,750
Fall 2008	2,534
Fall 2009	3,190
Fall 2010	4,138
Fall 2011	4,938
Fall 2012	5,431
Fall 2013	5,837
Fall 2014	5,884
Fall 2015	6,237
Fall 2016	6,815
Fall 2017	7,375
Fall 2018	7,881
Fall 2019	8,151
Fall 2020	8,276
Fall 2021	8,321
Fall 2022	8,343
Fall 2023	8,372
Fall 2024	8,372

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2005–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

82%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at University of California-Merced rose from 0% (Fall 2004) to 82% (Fall 2023).

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2004 cohort	0%
Fall 2005 cohort	82%
Fall 2006 cohort	80%
Fall 2007 cohort	79%
Fall 2008 cohort	83%
Fall 2009 cohort	87%
Fall 2010 cohort	85%
Fall 2011 cohort	83%
Fall 2012 cohort	84%
Fall 2013 cohort	83%
Fall 2014 cohort	84%
Fall 2015 cohort	86%
Fall 2016 cohort	81%
Fall 2017 cohort	81%
Fall 2018 cohort	85%
Fall 2019 cohort	86%
Fall 2020 cohort	79%
Fall 2021 cohort	82%
Fall 2022 cohort	83%
Fall 2023 cohort	82%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2004–2023

More about University of California-Merced

Faculty pay at University of California-Merced averages $178,008 a year, annualized from reported monthly pay. Carnegie classes University of California-Merced as a primarily residential campus of 8,372 undergraduates — and 82.1% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

University of California-Merced reported not considering test scores in Fall 2024, when its admission rate was 90.5%. Review University of California-Merced's current requirements before applying; use the GPA calculator for your semester numbers.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How University of California-Merced compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

University of California-Merced90.5%

California median74.4%

National median76.8%

Tuition (in-state)

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

University of California-Merced$15,623

California median$23,000

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

University of California-Merced's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

University of California-Merced$64,368

California median$64,778

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

University of California-Merced, California and national reference values
Metric & basis	University of California-Merced	California median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	90.5%	74.4%	76.8%
Tuition (in-state)Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$15,623	$23,000	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$64,368	$64,778	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For University of California-Merced, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

University of California-Merced federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 16 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	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

These 16 fields listed for University of California-Merced measure earnings after completion. The $64,368 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 12 additional University of California-Merced fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does University of California-Merced report?

University of California-Merced did not consider scores in Fall 2024: 90.5% admitted. Check current requirements.

What is University of California-Merced's acceptance rate?

90.5% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 28,906 admitted from 31,928 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 earnings data does University of California-Merced report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $64,368. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

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: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.