The average acceptance rate at UC Merced over the past 10 years is 73.37%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 90.54%. Compared to the previous year, it became much easier to gain admission to UC Merced in 2025. The acceptance rate at UC Merced is relatively high, giving applicants a greater chance of admission.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 11.24%, and the 2025 yield is 7.24%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 53.64% from 2015 to 2025.
The number of UC Merced applicants decreased by 52.97% (35,963 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 69.27% overall.
Key Takeaways: UC Merced Admission Metrics
Acceptance Rate Overview
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 90.54%, showing a decreasing selectivity trend. This suggests that UC Merced is admitting a higher proportion of applicants, which may indicate either an increase in application quality or a strategic enrollment decision by the institution.
Yield Rate & Enrollment Patterns
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 7.24%. The declining yield trend suggests that a lower percentage of admitted students are choosing to enroll at UC Merced. This pattern may reflect increased competition from peer institutions, changing student demographics, or shifts in institutional enrollment strategy.
Application Volume & Admission Trends
For the 2025 admission cycle, UC Merced received approximately 31,928 applications, admitted 28,906 students, and enrolled 2,093 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that UC Merced is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.
Acceptance Rate Changes
UC Merced 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at UC Merced over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 73.37%, while the most recent rate stands at 90.54%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 90.54%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 71.97% and for women is 74.26%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at UC Merced have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
Admission Yield (Enrollment Rate) Changes
UC Merced has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 15.62% in 2015 to 7.24% in 2025, representing a 53.64% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 11.24%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at UC Merced from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 53.64% over this period.
Applicants, Admitted, and Enrolled Headcount Changes
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 29,633, the average number of admitted is 20,605, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 2,172.
The number of UC Merced applicants decreased by 52.97% (35,963 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 69.27% overall.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at University of California-Merced from 2015 to 2025.
Compare Acceptance Rate Change to Similar Colleges
The following table compares University of California-Merced' acceptance rate to similar schools.