At a glance
Average net price
$11,983
In-state, after aid
6-year graduation rate
68.7%
Admission rate
91%
Undergrad size
8,372
In-state tuition
$15,623
Out-of-state tuition
$49,823
Cost of attendance
$39,665
Median earnings (10y)
$64,368
Admissions
- SAT average
- Not available
- ACT midpoint
- Not available
- Retention
- 82.1%
- Locale
- Suburb
Programs breakdown
15 program areas reported · Academic mix is led by stem (46%), social sciences (30%), business (11%).
- STEM46%
- Health6%
- Business11%
- Humanities & arts8%
- Social sciences30%
- Engineering23.5%~1,970 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Psychology20.0%~1,673 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- Biological sciences17.5%~1,467 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- Business10.8%~908 students/yr · BusinessCompare schools
- Social sciences9.9%~826 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~477 students/yr · HealthCompare schools
- ~246 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- ~195 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- English1.8%~149 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- Mathematics1.5%~128 students/yr · STEMCompare schools
- History1.5%~128 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~77 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~67 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
- ~41 students/yr · Social sciencesCompare schools
- ~21 students/yr · Humanities & artsCompare schools
Share of all degrees and certificates awarded in each broad CIP-2 program area (U.S. Department of Education, latest reporting year). Estimated students/yr = share × undergrad size.
Specific majors offered
40 specific majors with reported completions. Earnings shown are median annual earnings 1 year after graduation; debt is median student-loan debt at graduation.
| Major | Credential | Grads | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology, General. | Bachelor's | 624 | $29,685 | $18,325 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology. | Bachelor's | 552 | — | — |
| Computer Engineering. | Bachelor's | 436 | $54,675 | $19,086 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Bachelor's | 334 | $55,936 | $18,500 |
| Public Health. | Bachelor's | 253 | $32,099 | $15,502 |
| Political Science and Government. | Bachelor's | 218 | $28,521 | $17,500 |
| Sociology. | Bachelor's | 207 | $24,524 | $17,515 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor's | 189 | $41,245 | $16,000 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. | Bachelor's | 187 | — | — |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor's | 134 | $23,722 | $16,500 |
| Cognitive Science. | Bachelor's | 126 | $27,909 | $21,000 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering. | Bachelor's | 87 | $38,420 | $21,234 |
| Applied Mathematics. | Bachelor's | 74 | $32,755 | $16,497 |
| Chemistry. | Bachelor's | 71 | $37,397 | $15,000 |
| English Language and Literature, General. | Bachelor's | 55 | — | $24,000 |
| Economics. | Bachelor's | 51 | $30,771 | $19,303 |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering. | Bachelor's | 41 | $40,917 | $21,665 |
| Anthropology. | Bachelor's | 38 | $27,866 | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies. | Bachelor's | 37 | — | — |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences. | Doctoral | 37 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences. | Bachelor's | 28 | $40,306 | — |
| History. | Bachelor's | 27 | — | $15,455 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | Bachelor's | 26 | — | — |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences. | Master's | 25 | — | — |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Doctoral | 23 | — | — |
| Physics. | Bachelor's | 23 | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods. | Master's | 21 | — | — |
| Physics. | Doctoral | 20 | — | — |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General. | Bachelor's | 20 | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | Doctoral | 18 | — | — |
| Chemistry. | Doctoral | 18 | — | — |
| Cognitive Science. | Doctoral | 17 | — | — |
| Computer Engineering. | Doctoral | 16 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. | Master's | 15 | — | — |
| Philosophy. | Bachelor's | 15 | — | — |
| Physics. | Master's | 15 | — | — |
| Public Health. | Master's | 15 | — | — |
| Materials Engineering. | Master's | 14 | — | — |
| Materials Engineering. | Bachelor's | 11 | — | — |
| Research and Experimental Psychology. | Doctoral | 11 | — | — |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard Field of Study. Earnings cover graduates who received federal financial aid and are working / not enrolled. Cells marked "—" are not reported or were suppressed for privacy.
About University of California-Merced
University of California-Merced is a large institution located in Merced, California, primarily awarding the bachelor's degree. It enrolls roughly 8,372 undergraduate students in a suburb setting. The most popular fields of study include Engineering, Psychology, Biological sciences.
Cost & tuition
The average net price at University of California-Merced — what a typical student actually pays after grants and scholarships — is $11,983 per year, which is moderately priced compared to other U.S. institutions. Sticker tuition runs $15,623 for in-state students and $49,823 for out-of-state students before aid. Total cost of attendance, including housing, books, and living expenses, comes to about $39,665 annually.
Graduation & earnings outcomes
The 6-year graduation rate is 68.7%, a above-average completion outcome. 82.1% of first-time students return for a second year, a useful proxy for student satisfaction and academic fit. Ten years after enrolling, the median graduate earns $64,368 per year according to U.S. Department of Education earnings tracking.
Programs & majors
University of California-Merced confers degrees and certificates across 15 broad program areas, with the largest concentrations of completions in Engineering, Psychology, Biological sciences. Grouped into wider academic categories, the mix is led by stem (46% of credentials), social sciences (30% of credentials), business (11% of credentials), which gives a quick read on the school's overall academic profile. Use the programs breakdown below to see every reported area, an estimated number of students per program per year, and links to compare other U.S. colleges in the same field.
Admissions
University of California-Merced accepts 91% of applicants, making it open or near-open admission.
Location & campus
Set in Merced, California (suburb), University of California-Merced draws students from across California and beyond. Prospective students often weigh proximity, cost of living, and local industry demand when choosing between schools in this area.
Frequently asked questions about University of California-Merced
Q.How much does University of California-Merced cost?
The average net price at University of California-Merced is $11,983 per year after grants and scholarships, with total cost of attendance around $39,665.
Q.What is the graduation rate at University of California-Merced?
University of California-Merced has a 6-year graduation rate of 68.7% according to the latest U.S. Department of Education data.
Q.How hard is it to get into University of California-Merced?
University of California-Merced admits 91% of applicants, which is considered open or near-open admission.
Q.How much do University of California-Merced graduates earn?
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of California-Merced graduate earns $64,368 per year.
Q.What is tuition at University of California-Merced?
Published tuition is $15,623 in-state and $49,823 out-of-state. Most students pay less than the sticker price after financial aid.
Q.Where is University of California-Merced located?
University of California-Merced is located in Merced, California (ZIP 95343).
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS, the federal sources colleges are required to report to. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with University of California-Merced at their official website.