Central Washington University
Ellensburg, WA
91% admitted · $21,201/yr after aid
University of California-Merced
Merced, CA · Public · Midsize suburb · Website
- Admission rate
- 91%
- Open
- Average net price
- $11,583
- per year, after aid
- Graduation rate
- 68%
- Median earnings
- $69,352
- 10 years after enrolling
Summary
University of California-Merced is a public college in Merced, CA with 8,372 undergraduates. It admits 91% of applicants. The average net price after aid is $11,583 per year ($7,387 for families earning under $30,000). 68% of students graduate, and graduates earn a median of $69,352 ten years after enrolling.
public college
Admissions
- Admission rate
- 91%
- Fall 2024
- Testing policy
- Test blind
- Fall 2024
- Applicants
- 67,891
- Fall 2023
- Admitted
- 26,598
- Fall 2023
- Yield
- 9%
- of admitted students enrolled
What University of California-Merced looks at
As reported by the college to IPEDS (Fall 2023).
- High school recordRequired
- High school GPARequired
- College-prep courseworkRequired
- Class rankNot considered
- Essay or personal statementRequired
- RecommendationsNot considered
- Demonstrated competenciesNot considered
- Legacy statusNot considered
- Work experienceConsidered
- English proficiency testRequired
Cost
- Cost of attendance
- $41,008
- sticker price, per year
- In-state tuition
- $16,271
- Out-of-state tuition
- $53,873
Net price by family income
Average yearly cost after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid.
- $0–30k$7,387
- $30–48k$7,141
- $48–75k$10,285
- $75–110k$14,069
- $110k+$30,779
Get a personal estimate with University of California-Merced's net price calculator
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 68%
- Freshman retention
- 82%
- Median earnings
- $69,352
- 10 yrs after enrolling
- Median debt
- $13,500
- at graduation
Students
- Undergraduates
- 8,372
- Student–faculty ratio
- 20:1
- Receive Pell grants
- 62%
- White9%
- Hispanic55%
- Black5%
- Asian24%
University of California-Merced FAQ
What is University of California-Merced's acceptance rate?+
University of California-Merced admits 91% of applicants, which makes it open.
Is University of California-Merced test optional?+
Test blind (scores not considered).
How many students apply to University of California-Merced?+
In Fall 2023, 67,891 students applied to University of California-Merced and 26,598 were admitted; 2,416 enrolled.
Does University of California-Merced consider legacy status?+
No. University of California-Merced reported that legacy status is not considered in admissions (Fall 2023).
Does University of California-Merced require an essay?+
University of California-Merced reported that an essay or personal statement is required for admission (Fall 2023).
How much does University of California-Merced cost?+
The sticker cost of attendance is $41,008 per year, but the average net price after grants and scholarships is $11,583.
What is University of California-Merced's graduation rate?+
68% of full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.
Sources
- Admission rate, test scores, cost, students, and outcomes: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (Most Recent Institution-Level Data), released 2026-10-15. Admissions figures are for Fall 2024, costs for 2024-25, and earnings are measured in 2023.
- Applicants, admitted, yield, and admission factors: IPEDS Admissions survey (ADM2023), Fall 2023.
- IPEDS unit ID 445188 · How we use this data
Data notes for University of California-Merced
- Admission rate: The admission rate moved more than 25 percentage points from the prior year’s IPEDS counts; check with the college.
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