UC Merced Academic Snapshot
Admission Selectiveness:
- Admission Rate: 90.53%. Not very selective
Tuition Overview:
- In-State Tuition: $14,653
- Out-of-State Tuition: $46,541
- In-state tuition is affordable, while out-of-state tuition is higher, as is typical for public institutions.
Student Population at UC Merced:
- Total Enrollment: 9,110, including 2 online students
- 8,372 Undergraduate, 738 Graduate
- Gender Distribution: 55% men, 45% women.
- This is a medium-sized institution, offering diverse programs and student activities.
Graduation & Retention Rate
- Graduation Rate: 69%. Moderate graduation rate, typical for many institutions.
- Transfer-Out Rate: 11%. Some students transfer out, which is common in higher education.
- First-Year Retention Rate: 82%. Good retention, typical for many institutions.
Programs & Degrees Offered
- Programs Offered: 76 academic programs available.
- Graduate Programs: 45 graduate-level programs offered.
- Special Programs: Health Professions.
- Degrees Awarded: Bachelor's, Master's, Doctor's.
UC Merced Overview
University of California-Merced (UC Merced) is a four-year, public school located in Merced, CA. University of California-Merced was newly classified as an R1 University in 2025 due to its significant growth in research activities and doctoral program offerings.
The UC Merced's tuition & fees is $14,653 for California residents and $46,541 for out-of-state students for the academic year 2024-2025. 85% of the enrolled undergraduates have received grants or scholarships, with an average aid amount of $24,780.
The school has a total enrollment of 9,110 and the students to faculty ratio is 20 to 1 (5.00%).
UC Merced's acceptance rate is 90.53% and the yield (enrollment rate) is 7.24%.
UC Merced ranked 318th in National Universities and 76th in California Colleges rankings. University of California-Merced is accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission.
2025 Tuition & Fees and 2026 Estimation
For undergraduate programs, the 2025 tuition & fees of University of California-Merced is $14,653 for in-state students and $46,541 for out-of-state students. For graduate programs, its 2025 tuition & fees is $14,753 for in-state students and $29,855 for out-of-state students.
The estimated 2026 tuition & fees for prospective students is $15,156 for California residents and $48,195 for out-of-state students based on the current year tuition changes from last year. The estimated 2026 graduate school tuition & fees is $15,342 for California residents and $30,432 for out-of-state students.
| In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|
| Undergraduate | $14,653 | $46,541 |
|---|
| Graduate | $14,753 | $29,855 |
|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|
| Undergraduate | $15,156 | $48,195 |
|---|
| Graduate | $15,342 | $30,432 |
|---|
The estimation for 2025-2026 tuition costs is based on the cost change rates of last year.
Learning Opportunities and Campus Services
University of California-Merced offers online classes (distance learning opportunities) for undergraduate programs. It has ROTC programs and offers the study abroad opportunity which is an arrangement by which a student completes part of the college program studying in another country.
Special Learning Opportunities at UC Merced
| Learning Opportunities |
|---|
| ROTC | Air Force |
|---|
| Weekend/Evening College | No |
|---|
| Teacher Certification | No |
|---|
| Study Abroad | Yes |
|---|
| On-Campus Services |
|---|
| Academic/career counseling service | Yes |
|---|
| Employment services for students | Yes |
|---|
| Placement services for completers | No |
|---|
| On-campus day care for students' children | Yes |
|---|
University of California-Merced Directory Information
Tools for analyzing and comparing UC Merced