University of California, Merced

University of California, Merced Overview

University of California, Merced is a public, state school in the small town setting of Merced, California and the school currently enrolls around 9,049 students per year, which includes 8,276 undergrad students. UC Merced offers housing for up to 4,019 students. Most students live in off campus housing, and 50% of students spend their weekends on campus.

📆 Mark your calendar! The deadline to apply regular decision to UC Merced for Fall 2023 is November 30. Regular decision applicants for Fall 2023 should find out if they have been admitted by March 1.

Student Activities at UC Merced

Are you interested in music or performing? At UC Merced you can join a campus band, sing in a chorus, or perform with one of the school's theater groups.

Are you interested in journalism and communications? UC Merced students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.

Excited for Greek life? UC Merced has fraternities and sororities.

Planning to play sports? UC Merced has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at UC Merced on the Student Life page.

Is UC Merced a Good School?

There is no one way to define a "good" college or university. Admissions criteria, acceptance rate and average GPA are good indicators of how selective an institution is.

Let's take a closer look at these factors to get a clearer sense of what UC Merced offers and if the college could be the right college for you.

UC Merced Acceptance Rate 2022

It is moderately difficult to get into UC Merced. Around 85% of applicants get into UC Merced each year. Last year, 25,924 students applied to UC Merced and 21,982 were admitted.

Retention and Graduation Rates at UC Merced

Retention refers to the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. This is a way to get a sense of how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.

Approximately 86% of first-year, full-time undergrads who start at UC Mercedreturn for the next year. The average six-year graduation rate for U.S. colleges and universities is 61% for public schools, and 67% for private, non-profit schools.

Job Outlook UC Merced Graduates

Job placement statistics for recent graduates can give you a sense of the return on investment a school offers.

Check with UC Merced directly, for information on any information on starting salaries for recent grads.

Tuition and Financial Aid at UC Merced

Tuition is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need.

UC Merced meets 80% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. First-year students that attend UC Merced full-time are awarded $29,265 a year in financial aid, on average.

Graduates in the class of 2022 had an average of $16,541 in student loans per borrower. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.

The 2023-2024 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2022

Some aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA asap. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! You should never have to pay to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), so be very wary of anyone asking you for money.

Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at UC Merced.

Based on this information, how does UC Merced sound? Remember, a school that is perfect for one person may be a terrible fit for another! So ask yourself: Is UC Merced a good school for you?

If University of California, Merced seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.

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UC Merced Community Forums

Then use the college admissions predictor to calculate your chances of getting accepted at some of the schools in the U.S.

Where is UC Merced?

UC Merced is located in the small town setting of Merced, California, in the suburbs of Fresno.

If you would like to see UC Merced for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take Highway 99 to Merced, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Fresno Yosemite International.

You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what UC Merced and Merced are like without leaving home.

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