Public · Merced, California
University of California-Merced: cost, real price and admissions
Sticker price (2024-25)
$43,966
In-state, on campus
Avg net price (2023-24)
$13,690
After grants
Admitted (Fall 2024)
91%
Admits most applicants
Graduate in 6 yrs
68%
College Scorecard
Sources: NCES College Navigator (IPEDS) and College Scorecard · Data last checked 2026-10-22
Overview
University of California-Merced is a public institution in Merced, California with about 8,372 undergraduate degree-seeking students (College Scorecard). Its published cost of attendance for a first-year student living on campus was $43,966 for in-state students and $78,166 for out-of-state students in 2024-25, while first-year students who received grants paid $13,690 on average in 2023-24. In Fall 2024 it received 31,928 applications and admitted 91% of applicants. 68% of full-time first-time students graduated within six years (College Scorecard).
Overview text is assembled from the federal figures on this page; it contains no claims we could not source.
- Type
- 4-year, Public
- Campus setting
- Suburb: Midsize
- Campus housing
- Yes
- Student-to-faculty ratio
- 20 to 1
- Religious affiliation
- Not applicable
- Total students
- 9,110 (8,372 undergraduate)
- Accreditor
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
- Source
- College Navigator / College Scorecard
Net price, earnings and debt
- Average net price per year
- $11,583
- Median earnings 10 years after entry
- $69,352
- Median federal debt at completion
- $13,500
Four years at the average net price ($46,332) is about 0.67× one year of median earnings.
Earnings and debt cover only students who received federal aid (grants or loans), not every graduate, and include students who did not finish. They describe past students and do not show that a college causes higher or lower earnings: who enrolls, what they study and where they live after all matter. International students are generally not in these figures.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (October 15, 2026 release). Earnings: median earnings of former students who received federal financial aid, measured 10 years after they entered the college (MD_EARN_WNE_P10). Debt: median federal loan debt of undergraduate borrowers who completed (GRAD_DEBT_MDN). Net price: average annual net price for federal aid recipients (NPT4). Compare colleges.
Cost at your income
What families like yours paid
Your family's yearly income
Average net price, $48k–75k (2023-24)
$11,557
About $963 a month, 74% below the $43,966 sticker price
Averages for full-time first-year students who received federal (Title IV) aid and paid in-state tuition. Your price depends on your own finances; use the school's net price calculator for a personal estimate. IPEDS does not publish how many students are in each income band for this figure.
Source: NCES College Navigator (IPEDS) · Data year 2023-24
All income levels at a glance
| Family income | Avg net price | Students in band |
|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $7,387 | 473 |
| $30k–48k | $7,141 | 323 |
| $48k–75k | $10,285 | 311 |
| $75k–110k | $14,069 | 179 |
| $110k+ | $30,779 | 176 |
College Scorecard (most recent cohorts, release 2026-10-15), students who received federal (Title IV) aid. Bands with fewer than 30 students are greyed out because one or two students can move the average a lot. Counts: Scorecard fields NUM41–NUM45.
Why can a higher income band cost less here? Each band is a separate average for students who received federal aid and fall in that income group. Small groups and a different mix of grants in each group can make a higher band come out lower. These are the published figures, not adjusted.
College Scorecard lists an average net price of $11,583 (U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard, most recent cohorts, release 2026-10-15), based on a different year and student group. The figures above are from College Navigator, 2023-24.
Get a personal estimate: University of California-Merced net price calculator.
Source: NCES College Navigator (IPEDS) · Data year 2023-24
Admissions
91% of applicants admitted
Admits most applicants
Applicants
31,928
Admitted
91%
Admitted who enrolled
7%
SAT midpoint (Scorecard)
Not reported
Band is our label for the federal admit rate: Most selective under 15%; Very selective 15%–35%; Selective 35%–60%; Moderately selective 60%–85%; Admits most applicants 85%+. It is not a prediction of your chances.
Requirements and test policy: official admissions site.
Source: NCES College Navigator (IPEDS) · Data year Fall 2024
Cost of attendance
Where the $43,966 goes
Tuition & fees
$15,623
36%
Housing & food
$21,445
49%
Books & supplies
$1,046
2%
Other expenses
$5,852
13%
Out-of-state students: $78,166 (tuition and fees $49,823).
Sticker price vs. the average grant
89% of full-time first-year students received a grant (2023-24); sticker price is 2024-25.
Sticker price over time
Change 2021-22 to 2024-25: 15%.
Source: NCES College Navigator (IPEDS) · Data year 2021-22 to 2024-25
Financial aid
Who gets aid, and how much
| Type | Share | Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Any grant or scholarship | 89% | $27,292 |
| Pell grants | 60% | $6,193 |
| Grants from the school | 84% | $12,518 |
| State or local grants | 79% | $12,557 |
| Federal student loans | 29% | $4,673 |
Full-time first-year undergraduates. School grants combine need-based and merit awards; federal data does not separate them.
Source: NCES College Navigator (IPEDS) · Data year 2023-24
Outcomes
Graduation, debt and earnings
68%
Graduate within 6 years
Full-time, first-time
82%
Return for year two
Full-time first-year students
Median federal debt
$13,500
Graduates; about $143/month over 10 years at 5.5%*
Median earnings
$69,352
10 years after starting
*Illustrative payment on a standard 10-year plan at an assumed 5.5% rate; your rate may differ.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, College Scorecard API (release 2026-10-15) · Data year most recent cohorts, release 2026-10-15
Ways to pay
Close the gap
Federal aid & the FAFSA
Pell Grants, work-study and federal loans start with the FAFSA.
Explore →
California aid
State grants and programs for residents.
Explore →
Sign in to track deadlines
Admission, FAFSA, CSS Profile and scholarship dates in one place.
Explore →
Read your aid offer
Compare offers and spot loans dressed as aid.
Explore →
Official links: financial aid · net price calculator · website
FAQ
Common questions
How much does University of California-Merced cost per year?
The published cost of attendance for a first-year student living on campus was $43,966 (in-state; $78,166 out-of-state) in 2024-25, according to NCES College Navigator.
What do students actually pay at University of California-Merced after aid?
First-year students who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $13,690 in 2023-24. By family income, averages ranged from $7,945 to $28,734.
What is the acceptance rate at University of California-Merced?
In Fall 2024, University of California-Merced received 31,928 applications and admitted 91% of applicants; 7% of admitted students enrolled.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-Merced?
68% of full-time first-time students graduated within six years, per the College Scorecard. Median federal debt for graduates was $13,500.
Sources & method
Data last checked 2026-10-22. Every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education sources below, with the data year shown next to it; nothing is estimated. Where federal tools disagree, we show both. Data on this page is licensed CC BY 4.0.
We don't sell student data. Nothing on this page asks for your information.
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