What University of California, Merced costs
University of California, Merced charges $15,623 a year in published tuition and fees for California residents, about $7,812 a semester, and $49,823 a year for students from other states, about $24,912 a semester. With housing, food, books and other costs, the total cost of attendance for in-state students is $39,665 a year. Students who received grants or scholarships paid $13,450 a year on average after that aid (the average net price). You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships.
University of California, Merced takes part in the Western Undergraduate Exchange, so students from other western states may pay no more than 150% of in-state tuition. See the full WUE list →
Compare out-of-state tuition at 100 public universities →
Getting into University of California, Merced
For fall 2024, University of California, Merced received 31,928 applications and admitted 28,906 students, and 2,093 enrolled as first-years.
What University of California, Merced students study
The most common bachelor's degrees at University of California, Merced (class of 2024, first majors only):
| Major | Degrees |
|---|---|
| Research and Experimental Psychology, Other | 326 |
| Biology / Biological Sciences | 286 |
| Computer Engineering | 184 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other | 177 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 139 |
| Public Health | 93 |
| Sociology | 79 |
| Political Science and Government | 54 |
Source: IPEDS Completions, bachelor's degrees awarded in 2023–24.
Colleges near University of California, Merced
Other colleges within about an hour, by straight-line distance:
- California State University, Stanislaus, Turlock, California: about 26 miles away
- California State University, Fresno, Fresno, California: about 53 miles away
Colleges like University of California, Merced
Small liberal arts colleges with the same campus setting (suburban), closest in size and nearest in region:
- Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Washington: 2,401 undergraduates
- Whitworth University, Spokane, Washington: 1,858 undergraduates
- Pomona College, Claremont, California: 1,666 undergraduates
- Claremont McKenna College, Claremont, California: 1,388 undergraduates
- Pitzer College, Claremont, California: 1,227 undergraduates
See more colleges like University of California, Merced in the College Filter →
Lists that include University of California, Merced
- Colleges in California: 61 Compared
- Liberal Arts Colleges: 164 Compared
- Liberal Arts Colleges on the West Coast: 16 Compared
- Suburban Colleges: 207 Compared
- Suburban Colleges on the West Coast: 27 Compared
FAQ
What is University of California, Merced's acceptance rate? 90.5% for fall 2024: 28,906 of 31,928 applicants were admitted.
How much is tuition at University of California, Merced? $15,623 a year for in-state students and $49,823 for out-of-state students, in published tuition and fees before aid. You may pay less if receiving grants or scholarships.
Is University of California, Merced part of WUE? Yes. It is on WICHE's September 2026 list of Western Undergraduate Exchange colleges. Requirements vary by college, so check with University of California, Merced about how to apply and which programs qualify.
How many students go to University of California, Merced? About 8,400 undergraduates (fall 2024).
What is the campus setting at University of California, Merced? The National Center for Education Statistics classifies its location as suburban.
Sources
- College Navigator: University of California, Merced (IPEDS, U.S. Department of Education)
- College Scorecard: University of California, Merced
- Campus photo via Wikimedia Commons
