University of California guide · Updated September 29, 2026
UC Merced admitted 97% of first-year applicants for Fall 2025, or 46,564 of 47,985, according to its Common Data Set, making it the most accessible campus in the UC system. Enrolled first-years averaged a 3.59 high school GPA. For new California students in 2026-27, UC Merced’s cost of attendance is $48,654 on campus and $36,052 living at home.
UC Merced is the newest of the ten University of California campuses and the first American research university built in the 21st century. It sits in the city of Merced in California’s San Joaquin Valley, and it’s known for serving first-generation college students and for sustainability.
Here are the official numbers: who gets in, what it costs in 2026-27, how big it is and why it was built in the Central Valley.
| Fact | UC Merced |
|---|---|
| Official name | University of California, Merced |
| Type | Public research university, University of California system |
| Location | Merced, San Joaquin Valley |
| Opened | 2005 |
| First-year acceptance rate | 97.0% (Fall 2025: 46,564 admitted of 47,985 applicants) |
| Acceptance rate, California residents | 96.5% (Fall 2025: 41,849 of 43,388) |
| Transfer acceptance rate | 72.1% (Fall 2025: 3,712 of 5,148) |
| Average high school GPA | 3.59 (Fall 2025 enrolled first-years) |
| SAT/ACT | Not used in admission (UC policy) |
| Students | 8,934 total, 8,234 undergraduates (Fall 2025) |
| Cost of attendance, on campus (2026-27, new students) | $48,654 for California residents; $87,924 for nonresidents |
| Retention / graduation rate | 85% / 68% in six years (2019 cohort) |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 22:1 |
| Calendar | Semester system |
| Mascot | Bobcats |
Sources: UC Merced Common Data Set 2025-26; UC Merced Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, Cost of Attendance 2026-27. Full list at the end of the article.
In This Article
What Is UC Merced?
UC Merced is the University of California, Merced, the tenth and newest campus of the University of California system. It opened in 2005 and is a full UC campus, with the same systemwide tuition, degree standards and faculty research expectations as the other UC campuses.
Unlike most UC campuses, UC Merced runs on the semester system. Undergraduates study in three schools: the School of Engineering; the School of Natural Sciences; and the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts. The campus also offers business and management programs through the Ernest and Julio Gallo Management Program.
What Is the UC Merced Acceptance Rate?
UC Merced admitted 97.0% of first-year applicants for Fall 2025: 47,985 students applied, 46,564 were admitted and 1,982 enrolled, according to its Common Data Set 2025-26. For California residents, the rate was 96.5%.
| UC Merced, Fall 2025 | Applied | Admitted | Acceptance rate | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-year, California residents | 43,388 | 41,849 | 96.5% | 1,953 |
| All first-year applicants | 47,985 | 46,564 | 97.0% | 1,982 |
| Transfer applicants | 5,148 | 3,712 | 72.1% | 272 |
Source: UC Merced Common Data Set 2025-26, items C1 and D2.
Why is UC Merced’s rate so high? Many students list it alongside other UC campuses, and UC Merced also receives applicants through the UC referral pool, which offers a spot to eligible California students who weren’t admitted to the campuses they chose. Only about 4% of admitted students enroll, so the campus admits broadly to fill its class.
How to Get Into UC Merced
UC Merced uses the UC application and the same UC eligibility requirements as other campuses. Enrolled first-years for Fall 2025 averaged a 3.59 high school GPA, and about 20% had a 4.0 or higher.
- Application: the UC application; the fee is $80 per campus for domestic applicants, with fee waivers for students with financial need
- Deadline: November 30; there is no early action or early decision
- Tests: SAT and ACT scores are not considered in UC admission decisions
- Minimum GPA: 3.0 in A-G courses for California residents and 3.4 for nonresidents
- Transfers: UC Merced participates in the UC Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) for eligible California community college students
So what’s the practical takeaway? For a California student who completes the A-G courses with a 3.0 or higher, UC Merced is close to a sure admit and a reliable way to earn a UC degree.
How Much Does UC Merced Cost?
For undergraduates who first enroll in Fall 2026, UC Merced’s cost of attendance for California residents is $48,654 on campus, $41,834 off campus and $36,052 living at home. Fees are $17,024, and nonresidents add $39,270 in Nonresident Supplemental Tuition.
| UC Merced, new students 2026-27 (California residents) | On campus | Off campus | At home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fees | $17,024 | $17,024 | $17,024 |
| Housing | $15,154 | $8,788 | $3,956 |
| Food | $8,026 | $6,026 | $4,834 |
| Books and supplies | $1,148 | $1,148 | $1,148 |
| Transportation | $1,412 | $2,890 | $2,882 |
| Personal expenses | $2,814 | $2,882 | $3,132 |
| Health insurance | $2,996 | $2,996 | $2,996 |
| Loan fee | $80 | $80 | $80 |
| Total, California residents | $48,654 | $41,834 | $36,052 |
| Total, nonresidents | $87,924 | $81,104 | $75,322 |
Source: UC Merced Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, Cost of Attendance 2026-27, undergraduates who first enroll in Fall 2026.
Many UC Merced students receive substantial grant aid. UC says most California families earning up to $100,000 receive enough grant and scholarship aid to cover UC tuition under its Blue and Gold commitment, and Cal Grants, Pell Grants and the Middle Class Scholarship can reduce costs further.
“UC Merced has some of the lowest off-campus housing costs in the UC system: its off-campus budget is about $6,800 a year below living on campus. For students from the Central Valley, living at home and commuting can bring the budget down to about $36,000 before aid.”
CalChannel Editorial Team
How Big Is UC Merced?
UC Merced had 8,934 students in Fall 2025, including 8,234 undergraduates and 700 graduate students, according to its Common Data Set. It’s the smallest UC campus, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 22:1.
About 85% of first-year students returned for their second year. Of the 2019 entering class, 51% graduated in four years and 68% within six years. Does the smaller size and newer reputation affect the quality of education? UC Merced faculty are hired to the same UC research standards, and small upper-division classes give students easier access to faculty and research labs.
Where Is UC Merced Located?
UC Merced is on the northeast edge of the city of Merced, in the San Joaquin Valley of Central California. It’s about two hours by car from both Yosemite National Park and the San Francisco Bay Area, and Amtrak’s San Joaquins trains stop in Merced.
Why was UC Merced built in the Central Valley instead of a bigger city? The UC system chose the San Joaquin Valley to expand access to higher education in a fast-growing region that had no UC campus and low college-going rates. The compact campus is designed around walkable quads and shaded paths, which makes it easy to find your way around.
What Is UC Merced Known For?
UC Merced is known for sustainability, including a campus commitment to net-zero energy, water and landfill waste, and for research in water resources, climate, agriculture, cognitive science and engineering. It’s also known for serving first-generation college students and students from the Central Valley.
Is UC Merced a real UC campus, or a smaller, separate school? It’s a full University of California campus, with the same degree value as UCLA or UC Berkeley. It was classified as a research university with very high research activity (R1) in 2025, just 20 years after opening.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UC Merced acceptance rate?
UC Merced admitted 97.0% of first-year applicants for Fall 2025, or 46,564 of 47,985, according to its Common Data Set.
Is UC Merced a real UC campus?
Yes. UC Merced is one of the ten campuses of the University of California. It awards the same UC degrees and follows the same systemwide tuition and admission requirements.
How much does UC Merced cost?
For new California students in 2026-27, UC Merced’s cost of attendance is $48,654 on campus, $41,834 off campus and $36,052 living at home. Nonresidents add $39,270.
What GPA do you need for UC Merced?
The UC minimum is a 3.0 in A-G courses for California residents. Enrolled first-years at UC Merced averaged a 3.59 GPA for Fall 2025.
Does UC Merced require the SAT or ACT?
No. UC campuses, including UC Merced, do not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions.
Where is UC Merced located?
UC Merced is in Merced, California, in the San Joaquin Valley, about two hours by car from Yosemite National Park and the Bay Area.
The Bottom Line on UC Merced
UC Merced is the newest and smallest UC campus, and it admitted 97% of first-year applicants for Fall 2025. For California students who meet UC requirements, it’s the most reliable path to a UC degree, with a focus on sustainability, research and first-generation students.
For new California students, plan for about $48,700 a year on campus or about $36,000 living at home before aid. Apply by November 30, and compare UC Merced with UC Riverside, UC Santa Cruz and other UC campuses on the same application.
Sources
- UC Merced Center of Institutional Effectiveness. “Common Data Set 2025-26.” ucmerced.edu.
- UC Merced Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. “Cost of Attendance.” ucmerced.edu.
- University of California. “Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan.” universityofcalifornia.edu.
- Wikipedia. “University of California, Merced.” Wikipedia.org.
CalChannel Editorial Team California college guides
The CalChannel editorial team researches and writes guides to California colleges, admissions and financial aid. We build our college profiles and aid guides from colleges’ own published data, federal IPEDS data and the California Student Aid Commission. Read our editorial policy.
