UC Merced's tuition & fees has increased from $37,916 (2015) to $46,541 (2025), and the rate of tuition increase is 22.75% over the past 10 years. The graduate school tuition & fees has raised from $27,979 (year 2015) to $29,855 (year 2025).
UC Merced's tuition increase rate is higher than the California's average increase rate of 14.58%. Compare to all colleges in United States, it's increase rate is higher than the average increase rate of 10.99%.
The total cost of attendance (COA), including tuition & fees, books & supplies costs, and living costs, increased by 25.89% from 2015 ($59,482).
For the current academic year 2024-2025, UC Merced's COA is $74,884, which is increased by 4.79% from last year.
The following table and chart show changes to UC Merced's COA over the past 10 years.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | In-State | Out-of-State | ||
| 2015-16 | $34,774 | $59,482 | $26,956 | $51,664 | - |
| 2016-17 | $35,511 | $62,193 | $27,515 | $54,197 | 4.56% |
| 2017-18 | $35,676 | $63,690 | $27,381 | $55,395 | 2.41% |
| 2018-19 | $35,663 | $64,655 | $27,689 | $56,681 | 1.52% |
| 2019-20 | $35,973 | $65,727 | $28,058 | $57,812 | 1.66% |
| 2020-21 | $36,700 | $66,454 | $34,000 | $63,754 | 1.11% |
| 2021-22 | $38,234 | $67,988 | $28,870 | $58,624 | 2.31% |
| 2022-23 | $38,907 | $68,979 | $29,839 | $59,911 | 1.46% |
| 2023-24 | $40,685 | $71,462 | $31,511 | $62,288 | 3.60% |
| 2024-25 | $42,996 | $74,884 | $36,088 | $67,976 | 4.79% |
The tuition & fees have increased 22.75% for the last 10 years , and the 2025 tuition & fees are $44,148. The following table and chart show the tuition & fees changes at University of California-Merced over last the 10 years.
| Year | Undergraduate | Graduate | Change By Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | In-State | Out-of-State | ||
| 2015-16 | $13,208 | $37,916 | $12,877 | $27,979 | - |
| 2016-17 | $13,262 | $39,944 | $12,931 | $28,033 | 5.35% |
| 2017-18 | $13,598 | $41,612 | $13,267 | $28,369 | 4.18% |
| 2018-19 | $13,538 | $42,530 | $13,207 | $28,309 | 2.21% |
| 2019-20 | $13,538 | $43,292 | $13,207 | $28,309 | 1.79% |
| 2020-21 | $14,100 | $43,854 | $14,100 | $43,854 | 1.30% |
| 2021-22 | $13,657 | $43,411 | $13,207 | $28,309 | -1.01% |
| 2022-23 | $13,791 | $43,863 | $13,489 | $28,591 | 1.04% |
| 2023-24 | $14,167 | $44,944 | $14,187 | $29,289 | 2.46% |
| 2024-25 | $14,653 | $46,541 | $14,753 | $29,855 | 3.55% |
The cost of purchasing books & supplies which are required/recommended for courses $1,046, and it has decreased -26.80% from the year 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Books & Supplies | Change by Year |
|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $1,429 | - |
| 2016-17 | $1,444 | 1.05% |
| 2017-18 | $1,109 | -23.20% |
| 2018-19 | $1,006 | -9.29% |
| 2019-20 | $1,016 | 0.99% |
| 2020-21 | $1,200 | 18.11% |
| 2021-22 | $1,073 | -10.58% |
| 2022-23 | $1,094 | 1.96% |
| 2023-24 | $1,214 | 10.97% |
| 2024-25 | $1,046 | -13.84% |
The living costs including room, board, and other living expenses have increased 26.97% when a student lives on-campus facilities and 42.25% when living-off campus from the year 2015 to 2025. The following table shows the changes in living costs at University of California-Merced.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $20,137 | $12,319 | - |
| 2016-17 | $20,805 | $12,809 | 3.32% |
| 2017-18 | $20,969 | $12,674 | 0.79% |
| 2018-19 | $21,119 | $13,145 | 0.72% |
| 2019-20 | $21,419 | $13,504 | 1.42% |
| 2020-21 | $21,400 | $18,700 | -0.09% |
| 2021-22 | $23,504 | $14,140 | 9.83% |
| 2022-23 | $24,022 | $14,954 | 2.20% |
| 2023-24 | $25,304 | $16,130 | 5.34% |
| 2024-25 | $27,297 | $20,389 | 7.88% |
The following table compares 2025 tuition and increase rate from last year between University of California-Merced and similar schools.
| 2025 | 2024 | Increase Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of California-Merced | $46,541 ($14,653) | $44,944 ($14,167) | 3.55% |
| University of California-Los Angeles | $46,121 ($14,233) | $44,524 ($13,747) | 3.59% |
| University of California-Berkeley | $47,265 ($15,377) | $45,627 ($14,850) | 3.59% |
| University of California-San Diego | $47,676 ($15,788) | $46,042 ($15,265) | 3.55% |
| California State University-Fullerton | $20,070 ($7,470) | $18,953 ($7,073) | 5.89% |
| California State University-Long Beach | $19,974 ($7,374) | $18,888 ($7,008) | 5.75% |
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