University of California-Merced
Merced, CA · Public · offers Graduate degrees
91%Acceptance rate
$11,983Average net price / year
69%Graduation rate
$64,368Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$16,144Median debt at graduation
8,372Undergraduates
Cost
- In-state tuition & fees
- $15,623
- Out-of-state tuition
- $49,823
- Total cost of attendance
- $39,665
- Room & board
- $21,445
- Books & supplies
- $1,046
- Average net price
- $11,983
Net price by family income
- $0–30k
- $7,945
- $30–48k
- $8,465
- $48–75k
- $11,557
- $75–110k
- $14,828
- $110k+
- $28,734
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 90.5%
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 69%
- First-year retention
- 82%
- Median earnings (6 yrs)
- $48,475
- Median earnings (10 yrs)
- $64,368
- Median debt (graduates)
- $16,144
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0.0%
- Students with Pell grants
- 59%
- Students with federal loans
- 29%
Programs: what graduates earn
17 of 71 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).
Bachelor's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 150 | $67,096 | $18,498 |
| Computer Engineering | 217 | $58,835 | $19,003 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 50 | $57,223 | $20,816 |
| Economics | 27 | $51,212 | $19,303 |
| Chemistry | 31 | $50,944 | $14,500 |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | 19 | $47,028 | $20,619 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 1 | $46,378 | $16,000 |
| Applied Mathematics | 38 | $39,138 | $15,500 |
| Sociology | 95 | $37,092 | $17,500 |
| Public Health | 112 | $36,555 | $15,250 |
| Biology, General | 308 | $36,140 | $18,000 |
| Cognitive Science | 54 | $32,419 | $20,105 |
| Political Science and Government | 102 | $29,153 | $17,132 |
| English Language and Literature, General | 24 | $29,152 | $24,000 |
| Psychology, General | 0 | $28,669 | $16,500 |
| History | 14 | $26,103 | $15,455 |
| Anthropology | 21 | $50,370 | — |
Students
- Undergraduates
- 8,372
- Graduate students
- 766
- Part-time
- 2%
- Women / men
- 45% / 55%
- White
- 9%
- Hispanic
- 55%
- Black
- 5%
- Asian
- 24%
- International
- 1%
Faculty & school
- Student–faculty ratio
- 20:1
- Avg faculty salary
- $133,506 / year
- Full-time faculty
- 93%
- Accreditor
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
- Website
- ucmerced.edu
- Also known as
- UC Merced
Most popular fields
- Engineering – 23% of degrees
- English – 1% of degrees
- Biological Sciences – 17% of degrees
- Mathematics & Statistics – 2% of degrees
- Interdisciplinary Studies – 3% of degrees
- Physical Sciences – 4% of degrees
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at University of California-Merced?
90.5% of applicants were admitted.
How much does University of California-Merced cost?
The average net price after grants is $11,983 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $15,623 and the full cost of attendance is $39,665.
How much do University of California-Merced graduates earn?
Students who enrolled earn a median of $64,368 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.
What is the graduation rate?
69% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.
Other colleges in Merced
| College | Net price | Acceptance | Graduation | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merced College Merced, CA · Public · 10,001 students |
$5,040 | — | 36% | $37,815 |
| Milan Institute-Merced Merced, CA · Private for-profit · 359 students |
$23,396 | — | 55% | $24,879 |
| Sierra College of Beauty Merced, CA · Private for-profit · 220 students |
$10,794 | — | 84% | $18,519 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.