University of California-Merced Tuition, Acceptance Rate and Admissions (2026)

Merced, CA · Public · Graduate degree · College Scorecard data · Updated September 10, 2026

In-State Tuition$15,623
Out-of-State Tuition$49,823
Acceptance Rate91%
Average SATNot published

University of California-Merced vs. State and National Averages

University of California-MercedCA AverageNational Average
In-state tuition$15,623$16,639$18,082
vs. average—-6%-14%

Other colleges in Merced

CollegeTypeUndergraduatesTuition
Merced CollegePublic10,001$1,200
Sierra College of BeautyPrivate for-profit220$9,000
Milan Institute-MercedPrivate for-profit359$14,309

Tuition shown is in-state tuition for schools that report one, otherwise the published tuition for the school's largest program. Source: College Scorecard.

Outcomes and student profile at University of California-Merced

Median earnings 10 years after enrolling$64,368
Graduation rate (within 150% of normal time)69%
Median debt among graduates who borrowed$16,144
Undergraduates receiving Pell grants59%
Undergraduates aged 25 and over2%
First-generation students57%

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. Earnings and debt figures cover students who received federal financial aid.

FAQ

What is the tuition at University of California-Merced?

In-state tuition at University of California-Merced is $15,623 and out-of-state tuition is $49,823, according to College Scorecard data.

What is the acceptance rate at University of California-Merced?

The acceptance rate at University of California-Merced is 91%.

How hard is it to get into University of California-Merced?

With an acceptance rate of 91%, University of California-Merced is moderately selective among U.S. colleges.

What SAT score do you need for University of California-Merced?

College Scorecard does not publish an average SAT score for University of California-Merced. Schools without a published figure are usually test-optional, open-admission, or they do not report test scores to the federal survey.

How big is University of California-Merced?

University of California-Merced enrolls about 8,372 undergraduate students. The student-faculty ratio is 20:1.

Is University of California-Merced expensive?

In-state tuition at University of California-Merced is $15,623, which is 6% below the CA average of $16,639.

How much do graduates of University of California-Merced earn?

Median earnings ten years after enrolling at University of California-Merced are $64,368 a year, according to College Scorecard.

How much debt do students at University of California-Merced take on?

The median debt among University of California-Merced graduates who borrowed is $16,144, according to College Scorecard.