University of California-Merced (UC Merced)
Public four-year university in Merced, CA that costs an average of $11,583 a year after financial aid, admits 91% of applicants and graduates 68% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$11,583
Acceptance rate
91%
Graduation rate
68%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$69,352
PublicSmall city8,372 undergraduates
Cost of UC Merced
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $41,008 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $16,271 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $53,873 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $22,594 |
| Books and supplies | $1,098 |
| Average net price after aid | $11,583 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $7,387 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $7,141 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $10,285 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $14,069 |
| $110,001+ | $30,779 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with UC Merced's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 91% |
|---|---|
| Test scores | Neither required nor recommended |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 68% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 82% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $52,639 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $69,352 |
| Rank in California (earnings) | 67th of 129 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $13,500 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $153 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 62% |
| Students with federal loans | 28% |
Majors and programs at UC Merced
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (30)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 289 | $71,516 | $12,757 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 80 | $62,842 | $15,000 |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | 37 | $62,389 | — |
| Computer Engineering | 401 | $59,271 | $13,536 |
| Chemistry | 50 | $56,039 | $11,125 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 1 | $47,776 | $11,000 |
| Physics | 21 | $46,988 | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 32 | $42,238 | — |
| Economics | 44 | $41,777 | $13,375 |
| Biology | 595 | $41,737 | $13,500 |
| Cognitive Science | 97 | $41,042 | $13,500 |
| Applied Mathematics | 66 | $40,931 | $11,074 |
| Sociology | 180 | $40,165 | $12,898 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 729 | $37,877 | $11,218 |
| Political Science and Government | 161 | $37,624 | $12,515 |
| Public Health | 210 | $37,465 | $15,000 |
| History | 39 | $33,904 | $16,181 |
| Psychology | — | $33,655 | — |
| Anthropology | 33 | $27,746 | — |
| English Language and Literature | 53 | $26,657 | $13,716 |
| Civil Engineering | 3 | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 22 | — | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 1 | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 364 | — | $12,302 |
| Materials Engineering | 18 | — | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | — | — | — |
| Philosophy | 12 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 23 | — | — |
| Social Sciences | — | — | — |
| Visual and Performing Arts | 23 | — | — |
Master's degree programs (22)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 20 | $67,444 | — |
| Applied Mathematics | 7 | — | — |
| Behavioral Sciences | — | — | — |
| Biological/Biosystems Engineering | 8 | — | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | — | — | — |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 32 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 13 | — | — |
| Cognitive Science | 12 | — | — |
| Computer Engineering | 11 | — | — |
| Economics | 3 | — | — |
| History | — | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 11 | — | — |
| Materials Engineering | 15 | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 9 | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 14 | — | — |
| Physical Sciences, Other | — | — | — |
| Physics | 16 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 3 | — | — |
| Psychology | — | — | — |
| Public Health | 10 | — | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 10 | — | — |
| Sociology | 8 | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (21)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 37 | $64,613 | — |
| Applied Mathematics | 8 | — | — |
| Behavioral Sciences | — | — | — |
| Biological/Biosystems Engineering | 4 | — | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | — | — | — |
| Chemistry | 20 | — | — |
| Cognitive Science | 9 | — | — |
| Computer Engineering | 19 | — | — |
| History | — | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 18 | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 1 | — | — |
| Materials Engineering | 3 | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering | 19 | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 27 | — | — |
| Physical Sciences, Other | — | — | — |
| Physics | 16 | — | — |
| Political Science and Government | 7 | — | — |
| Psychology | — | — | — |
| Public Health | 7 | — | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 17 | — | — |
| Sociology | 7 | — | — |
Similar colleges in California
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California State University-Stanislaus | Turlock | $3,565 | 98% | $65,560 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | Bakersfield | $4,001 | 94% | $62,381 |
| California State University-East Bay | Hayward | $6,858 | 97% | $73,868 |
| California State University-Monterey Bay | Seaside | $13,861 | 97% | $63,891 |
| California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt | Arcata | $13,751 | 98% | $54,882 |
| California State University-Dominguez Hills | Carson | $7,244 | 93% | $62,587 |
| Sonoma State University | Rohnert Park | $10,759 | 93% | $71,264 |
| California State University-Chico | Chico | $14,157 | 93% | $70,012 |
About UC Merced
| Type | Public four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Merced, CA |
| Setting | Small city |
| Undergraduates | 8,372 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 20 to 1 |
| Accreditor | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
| Website | ucmerced.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is UC Merced's acceptance rate?
University of California-Merced admits 91% of applicants.
How much does UC Merced cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $41,008 a year (tuition and fees: $16,271 in-state, $53,873 out-of-state). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $11,583 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $7,387.
How much do UC Merced graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $69,352 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 67th of 129 similar colleges in California. The best-paid bachelor's program is mechanical engineering ($71,516 a year after graduation).
What is UC Merced's graduation rate?
68% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 82% of first-year students return for a second year.