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University of California-Merced

Merced, California · Public · 4-year · Suburb

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At a glance

Average net price
$11,983What students typically pay per year after grants and scholarships.
Acceptance rate
91%
Graduation rate
69%Share of students who finish within 150% of the normal time.
Undergraduates
8,372
In-state tuition
$15,623Published price before aid.
Out-of-state tuition
$49,823
SAT midpoint
Not reported
Median earnings, 10 yrs
$64,368Median earnings of former students ten years after they first enrolled.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Data year: 2022-23 academic year. Updated September 2026. Figures are averages across all students and will differ from what any individual pays.

How it compares to similar colleges

Each rating covers one measure against public 4-year colleges nationally. Five stars means the top fifth on that measure. There is no overall score, because which of these matters is your call.

Affordability

$11,983

Better than 72% of public 4-year colleges (565 compared).

Completion

69%

Better than 83% of public 4-year colleges (566 compared).

Earnings

$64,368

Better than 79% of public 4-year colleges (590 compared).

Debt at graduation

$16,144

Better than 85% of public 4-year colleges (588 compared).

What these ratings are based on
Affordability
Based on average net price: what students receiving federal aid actually paid, after grants and scholarships. Your own cost depends on your family's finances.
Completion
Based on the share of first-time, full-time students who graduate within 150% of normal time. It excludes transfer and part-time students, which understates colleges serving many of them.
Earnings
Based on median earnings ten years after students first enrolled. It reflects the subjects a college teaches and the region it sits in as much as its teaching.
Debt at graduation
Based on median federal loan debt among students who completed. Private and parent loans are not included, so real totals are often higher.
Why there is no rating for selectivity
A lower acceptance rate is selectivity, not quality. Awarding stars for it would be us inventing a value judgement and hiding it behind a number.

What it actually costs

Published cost

$39,665

The sticker price: tuition, fees, housing, food and books for one academic year, before any aid.

Average net price

$11,983

What students receiving federal aid actually paid on average, after grants and scholarships. This is the more useful number, though your own figure depends on your family’s finances.

Use this college’s official net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation, retention, debt and earnings for University of California-Merced
Graduation rateWithin 150% of normal time69%
Retention rateFirst-year students who return82%
Median debt at graduationFederal loans only, students who completed$16,144
Median earnings, 10 years after entryFormer students, working and not enrolled$64,368

What graduates of each major earn

Median earnings one year after finishing, for people who took that subject here. This is the figure a college-wide median hides: the spread between subjects at one college is usually far wider than the spread between colleges.

Bachelor’s programs at University of California-Merced by graduate earnings
MajorEarnings, 1 yrDegrees awarded
Mechanical Engineering$67,096150
Computer Engineering$58,835217
Biomedical/Medical Engineering$57,22350
Economics$51,21227
Chemistry$50,94431
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering$47,02819
Business Administration, Management and Operations$46,3781
Applied Mathematics$39,13838
Sociology$37,09295
Public Health$36,555112
Biology, General$36,140308
Cognitive Science$32,41954
Political Science and Government$29,153102
English Language and Literature, General$29,15224
Psychology, General$28,669Not reported
History$26,10314
Research and Experimental PsychologyNot reported365
Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsNot reported187
AnthropologyNot reported21
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesNot reported16
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group StudiesNot reported14
Romance Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsNot reported10
Materials EngineeringNot reported8
Visual and Performing Arts, GeneralNot reported8
PhilosophyNot reported7
PhysicsNot reported6
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and ServicesNot reported1
Social Sciences, GeneralNot reportedNot reported

All 28 bachelor’s programs this college reported.

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