School Profile

University of California at Merced

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

Merced, CA

This school is more affordable than other public schools.

Affordability is calculated by subtracting average financial aid from total tuition and fees.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

$12,570

Avg in-state tuition

$42,324

Avg out-of-state tuition

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About University of California at Merced

School Type: Public

Status: Non-profit

Accreditation: Regional

Religious Affiliation: N/A While the student experience is largely unaffected at most schools with religious affiliations, some schools place more of an emphasis on religion. Learn how religious affiliations may impact students' experience.

Military Friendly: YesMilitary-friendly schools are Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges, offer the Yellow Ribbon Program, and have a dedicated point of contact to support veterans, military service members, and their families. Explore our college guide for service members and veterans to learn more.

The University of California at Merced is a medium-sized public university located on a rural campus in Merced, California. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 8,276, and admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of 85%. The university offers 28 bachelor's degrees, has an average graduation rate of 69%, and a student-faculty ratio of 19:1. Tuition and fees for in-state students are $12,570, while tuition and fees for out-of-state students are $42,324.

Admissions Breakdown

Acceptance Rate Insight

This school has a high acceptance rate.

This school accepts students at a higher rate than other schools. High acceptance schools welcome 51-100% of all applicants.

85% of students were accepted during the 2020-2021 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

Retention Rate Insight

86% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2019 and returned in Fall 2020.

Graduation Rate Insight

69% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2014. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scores Required

High school transcript Required

High school rank Not required or recommended

Letter of recommendation Not required or recommended

High school GPA Required

Open admission No

Completion of college prep program Required

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) Required

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollment Yes

Credit for qualified life experience* Implied no

Advance placement (AP) credits Yes

*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

SAT & ACT

ACT 25th-75th Percentile 19-24

SAT 25th-75th Percentile 960-1140

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

This school has a student body of between 5,000 and 15,000 students.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

9k

Students enrolled

97%

Online student enrollment

19:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

On-campus Check Bold
International Online classes are available for students around the world. Check Bold

Demographics

Hispanic

55%

Asian

17%

White

10%

Non-U.S. Citizen

10%

Black

4%

Two or more races

3%

Unknown

1%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Female student population

52%

Socio-economic diversity

65% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

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Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student Level In-state Out-of-state
Undergraduate $12,570 $42,324
Graduate $12,570 $42,324

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2020–2021 academic year.

Costs to Consider Price
Books and supplies $1,200
On-campus room and board $16,500
On-campus other expenses $4,900
Off-campus (not with family) room and board $13,400
Off-campus (not with family) other expenses $5,300
Off-campus (with family) other expenses $17,250

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by category In-state Out-of-state
On-campus $35,170 $64,924
Off-campus without family $32,470 $62,224
Off-campus with family $31,020 $60,774

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

70%

State Grant Aid

81%

Institution Grant Aid

80%

Pell Grant

65%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid $5,222
State Grant Aid $10,850
Institution Grant Aid $11,424
Pell Grant Aid $5,180

Financial Outlook

$18k

Average student debt after graduation

$43k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

NAIA Division II

of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.

Participation

Men Women
  • Soccer
  • Track Field Xcountry
  • Volleyball
  • Basketball
  • Soccer

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2020-2021 academic year.

1

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, And Group Studies

BA

MA

DOC

2

Biological And Biomedical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

3

Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

4

Engineering

BA

MA

DOC

5

English Language And Literature/Letters

BA

MA

DOC

6

Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics

BA

MA

DOC

7

Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

8

Health Professions And Related Programs

BA

MA

DOC

9

History

BA

MA

DOC

10

History

BA

MA

DOC

11

Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities

BA

MA

DOC

12

Mathematics And Statistics

BA

MA

DOC

13

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

BA

MA

DOC

14

Natural Resources And Conservation

BA

MA

DOC

15

Philosophy And Religious Studies

BA

MA

DOC

16

Physical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

17

Psychology

BA

MA

DOC

18

Social Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

19

Visual And Performing Arts

BA

MA

DOC

Resource

Financial Aid Overview

Resource

Understanding Grants & Scholarships

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Data collected from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), [2020-2021]. In the absence of IPED data, information was collected directly from the school and is accurate as of the date of collection. Contact the school directly for the most current and complete information.