University of California-Merced

Merced, CA · WestQuad's selectivityAccessible

Known forEconomic diversityFirst-gen friendlyGreat valueGenerous aidPell students graduate at the same rate

Admissions · Fall 2024

9 in 10 applicants admitted

U. California-Merced admits about 9 in 10 applicants (91%). That puts it in the "Accessible" tier, more selective than 21% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

91%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityAccessible

Applied

31,928

Admitted

28,906

Yield

of admits enroll

Applications +96% since fall 2014 · admit rate 67% → 91%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A medium campus of 8,372 undergrads, where 59% receive Pell Grants, a high share compared to other colleges.

8.4K

undergrads · larger than 87% of colleges

Diversity index

0.62

Pell Grant

59%

above the median

First generation

57%

above the median

Midsize suburbNAIA · California Pacific ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research

Less diverse · index 0.70 → 0.62 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Research and Experimental Psychology, Other (19% of graduates). 20 students for every faculty member, more than at 90% of colleges. 93% of faculty are full-time. Spends $12,647 a year on instruction per student.

20 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 90% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $16,772 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $7.5K less than the national median. The 89% who received grants paid $13,690 on average; the other 11% paid the full sticker price of $40,685 in-state / $71,462 out-of-state.

59%

$16.8K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $7.5K below the national median

Full price, in-state: $40,685 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes

Aid generosity

Very generous

grants cover 59% of full price

Federal loans

29%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost falling · −19% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $64,368 ten years after enrolling, more than at 77% of colleges; 72% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.0 years of that salary.

72%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$64.4K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$16.1K

≈ $171/month for 10 years

Retention

82%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 64% → 69% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price fell 11% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 19%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 96% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 67% to 91%.

Cost
Falling
−19% after inflation
Applications
Growing
+96%
Selectivity
Less selective
admit rate 67% → 91%
Diversity
Less diverse
index 0.70 → 0.62

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

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California State University-Northridge

93% admit · 32.7K undergrads

Similar selectivityAlso WestAlso public

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University of Houston-Clear Lake

91% admit · SAT 1060 · 6.1K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso public

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Dalton State College

4.6K undergrads

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

IPEDS unit ID 445188 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything