UC Merced: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially University of California-Merced · Merced, California · Public · Open access · CDS 2024-2025
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2024-2025
- Test-blind
- 31,582
- Applicants
- 28,903
- Admitted92%
- 2,097
- Enrolled
- 7%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Open access92% admittedRanked #69 (tie) in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #128 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set published by University of California-Merced (see the source), read on 2026-06-14.
Is UC Merced a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places UC Merced against it in about a minute. No account needed.
UC Merced is a public university in Merced, California that admits about 92% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $11,983 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Biology, General, Computer Engineering and Business Administration, Management and Operations, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 69% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 5.8 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
UC Merced is a public institution located in Merced, California. For the most recent reporting cycle, UC Merced admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 92%. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $11,983 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What parents should know about UC Merced right now
UC Merced, established September 5, 2005 as the tenth and newest UC campus, achieved a milestone in February 2025 when the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education granted it R1 very high research activity status, the highest research designation in U.S. higher education. With this, all UC campuses are now R1, and UC Merced is the only R1 university in California's Central Valley and one of fewer than 200 institutions nationwide with that designation. The campus has conferred nearly 900 doctorate degrees since admitting its first graduate students in 2004. Undergraduate enrollment stands at 8,372 (fall 2024), keeping class sizes small for a research university. UC Merced offers 27 undergraduate majors and holds ABET accreditation in mechanical, environmental, and materials science engineering. A distinctive option for health-focused families is the SJV PRIME+ program, which combines four years of undergraduate study with four years of medical school to prepare physicians for underserved Central Valley communities. UC Merced is also a national leader in social mobility: 60 percent of undergraduates are Pell Grant recipients, the campus serves a 58 percent Hispanic student body, and the Wall Street Journal recently ranked it No. 1 for social mobility. Admissions remain accessible, with a 91.5 percent admit rate from 31,582 fall 2024 applicants, an average GPA of 3.57, and a middle 50 percent SAT range of 1140 to 1390, though all UCs are test-blind in admissions decisions.
What GPA does my child need for UC Merced?
58% of enrolled students at UC Merced had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.57, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
Compare UC Merced with the other schools on your list
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What does UC Merced weight in admissions?
UC Merced reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean
Very Important
3- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
- Application essay
Important
2- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
Considered
7- Recommendations
- Character/personal qualities
- First generation status
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Not Considered
6- Class rank
- Standardized test scores
- Interview
- Alumni/ae relation
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores UC Merced typically admits
Many applicants to schools in this tier submit test scores, though the policy varies by year, so check the latest test-optional status before deciding.
- • Test-blind: UC Merced does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if submitted.
- • UC campuses do not use SAT/ACT in admission (test-free).
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on UC Merced's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
How much does UC Merced actually cost?
Published tuition is $15,623 for in-state students and $49,823 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $21,445 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $11,983 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 59% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | — |
| Room and board | — |
| Average net price (after aid) | $11,983 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $70 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for UC Merced
| Regular deadline | 11/30 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
Will my child graduate from UC Merced?
These predict outcomes at UC Merced better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at UC Merced
The most popular undergraduate programs at UC Merced, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Biology, General, Computer Engineering and Business Administration, Management and Operations. Across all programs, UC Merced confers roughly 1,485 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Biology, General program report a median income of about $67,342 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Biology, General | 316 | $67,342 |
| Computer Engineering | 219 | $102,036 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 188 | $61,387 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 187 | n/a |
| Mechanical Engineering | 184 | $85,156 |
| Public Health | 141 | n/a |
| Psychology, General | 134 | $52,632 |
| Political Science and Government | 116 | $59,111 |
Is UC Merced safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), UC Merced disclosed 49 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 5.8 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 4 violent offenses and 9 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at UC Merced?
About 52% of undergraduates at UC Merced live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in California parents ask about
- California Institute of Technology3% acceptance
- San Diego State University36% acceptance
- San Jose State University85% acceptance
- San Francisco State University96% acceptance
- California State University-Long Beach46% acceptance
- California State University-Fullerton91% acceptance
- California State University-Northridge93% acceptance
- California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo31% acceptance
Next steps for UC Merced
Common questions parents ask about UC Merced
What GPA do I need for UC Merced?
58% of enrolled students at UC Merced had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.57, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does UC Merced typically admit?
UC Merced is test-blind: SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admission decisions, even if you submit them. There is no score range because scores are not read.
How much does UC Merced actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at UC Merced after grants and scholarships is $11,983 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $15,623 and $49,823 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is UC Merced realistic for my child?
UC Merced admits 92% of applicants, so the transcript and course rigour carry the decision, with no published score band to place against. Then check the $11,983 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at UC Merced?
UC Merced accepts about 92% of applicants out of roughly 31,582 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is UC Merced test-optional?
UC Merced is test-blind for Fall 2027 applicants: it does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if you submit them.
What is the graduation rate at UC Merced?
About 69% of students at UC Merced graduate within six years, and 51% finish in four years. 82% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does UC Merced look for in applicants?
UC Merced rates course rigor, GPA and the application essay as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is UC Merced a public or private school, and where is it located?
UC Merced is a public institution located in Merced, California.
What are the most popular majors at UC Merced?
The largest undergraduate majors at UC Merced by annual graduates are Biology, General, Computer Engineering and Business Administration, Management and Operations. The school awards about 1,485 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is UC Merced safe? What is its campus crime rate?
UC Merced reported 49 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 5.8 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at UC Merced?
At UC Merced, 52% of undergraduates live on campus, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University of California-Merced, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers