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%.
Cost of Attendance (COA) Trends
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.
Tuition & Fees Changes
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.
Books & Supplies Costs Changes
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% |
|---|
Living Costs Changes
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% |
|---|
Compare Tuition Change to Similar Colleges
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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