Public · Suburb: Midsize
University of California, Merced
Merced, California
Detailed ICP profile · Partial Common Data Set research. Each figure has its own reporting year. This is a research snapshot, not a live update.
At a glance
- 2026–27 published cost
- $48,654
- In-state (California) · On campus · before aid
- Details about 2026–27 published cost ↓
- Avg. cost after grants
- $11,583
- 2024–25 · federal-aid recipients, in-state
- Details about avg. cost after grants ↓
Admissions
Historical admissions describe the reported applicant pool, not your chances. Early-plan applicants form different pools.
Applicants admitted
Unavailable
No verified figure available. Missing does not mean zero.
Academic profile of entering students
Scores and GPA describe past students, not current requirements. Reporting methods and populations differ.
SAT 25th percentile
Unavailable
No verified figure available. Missing does not mean zero.
ACT 25th percentile
Unavailable
No verified figure available. Missing does not mean zero.
Costs & financial aid
Compare the year and population before comparing prices. Published budgets, group averages and your actual aid offer are different.
2026–27 cost of attendance
Published by University of California, Merced$48,654
Published cost of attendance · per year, before financial aid
- 2026–27
This budget assumes
- In-state (California)
- On campus
- First-year students
What the school includes
- Fees
- $17,024
- Housing
- $15,154
- Food
- $8,026
- Books & Supplies
- $1,148
- Transportation
- $1,412
- Personal Expenses
- $2,814
- Health Insurance(only if it applies)
- $2,996
- Loan Fee(only if it applies)
- $80
- Published total
- $48,654
This is the school’s budget before financial aid. It is not a bill, the federal average net price, or your own aid offer.
About this budget
- The school labels these figures 2026–27.
- Source: Cost of Attendance (UC Merced 2026-2027) (UC Merced Financial Aid and Scholarships). Researched October 21, 2026; independently audited October 22, 2026.
Research notes: Undergraduates first enrolled Fall 2026. UC SHIP charged unless waived.
Understand the five kinds of college costs
- Tuition & fees
- Instruction and required college fees; living costs are additional unless explicitly included.
- Attendance budget
- College charges plus estimated living, books, travel and other included expenses, before aid.
- Average annual cost after grants & scholarships
- A historical average after federal, state/local and college grant aid for a specified federal-aid population. Outside private scholarships are not automatically deducted; loans and work-study are not discounts.
- Your net cost
- Your entered attendance cost minus selected grants and scholarships. Loans and work-study remain funding sources.
- Borrowing
- Debt to repay, not a discount. Work-study is earned over time, not an upfront bill reduction.
Average annual cost after grants & scholarships · in-state
$11,583
2024–25
Includes applicable federal, state/local and college grants and scholarships. First-time, full-time in-state students receiving federal financial aid form the reporting population. The attendance budget includes estimated living expenses. Your actual cost may differ.
About this number: Average annual cost after grants & scholarships · in-state
Federal average net price subtracts qualifying federal, state/local and institutional grants and scholarships from the source-defined attendance budget. Federal aid defines the reporting population, not the only aid deducted; some included students receive federal loans or work-study but no grants. This is a historical average, not a personalized award. Outside private scholarships are not automatically deducted. The public-college population pays in-state tuition. It is not a personal offer; loans and work-study are not discounts.
U.S. Department of Education · 2024–25
Who or what this describes: First-time, full-time in-state students receiving federal financial aid at public institutions
More costs statistics (4)
Tuition & fees · in-state
$16,271
2025–26
Historical federal amount, before aid and living expenses.
About this number: Tuition & fees · in-state
Tuition and required fees are combined here. Do not add the institution’s separate fees again or confuse this with total attendance cost.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: In-state tuition and fees
Tuition & fees · out-of-state
$53,873
2025–26
Historical federal amount, before aid and living expenses.
About this number: Tuition & fees · out-of-state
This combines tuition and fees for the reported residency. It is separate from a differently dated institutional tuition figure.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Out-of-state tuition and fees
Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants
62.0%
2024–25
Source-defined undergraduate recipients; not an eligibility prediction.
About this number: Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants
This describes reported recipients, not whether your family qualifies.
U.S. Department of Education · 2024–25
Who or what this describes: Percentage of undergraduates who receive a Pell Grant
Undergraduates receiving federal loans
27.9%
2024–25
Borrowing participation; loans are debt, not grants.
About this number: Undergraduates receiving federal loans
A loan must generally be repaid and does not reduce net price. This is not a measure of the amount each student borrows.
U.S. Department of Education · 2024–25
Who or what this describes: Percent of all undergraduate students receiving a federal student loan
Campus & student outcomes
Enrollment, return rates and completion rates describe different source populations. They are not a measure of every student’s experience.
Undergraduate students · federal
8,372
Fall 2024
Fall 2024 undergraduate headcount, including full-time and part-time students.
About this number: Undergraduate students · federal
This is the source-defined institutional reporting unit, not a count of majors, degrees awarded or all graduate and undergraduate students.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Grand total
Students per faculty member · federal
20
Fall 2024
A reporting ratio, not average class size.
About this number: Students per faculty member · federal
This federal measure uses its own student and instructional-staff definitions. It is separate from class size.
U.S. Department of Education · Fall 2024
Who or what this describes: Student-to-faculty ratio
More campus and outcome statistics (5)
Reported academic calendar
Semester
2025–26
Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.
About this number: Reported academic calendar
Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort
Undergraduate research in federal reporting
Yes
2025–26
Historical service reporting; an unmarked option is not proof that research is unavailable.
About this number: Undergraduate research in federal reporting
The source describes a reported co-curricular option, not the full current research opportunities available to students. Verify current offerings directly.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort
Study abroad reported
Yes
2025–26
Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.
About this number: Study abroad reported
Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort
Academic & career counseling reported
Yes
2025–26
Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.
About this number: Academic & career counseling reported
Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort
AP credit reported
Yes
2025–26
Reported population and year apply; missing is not zero.
About this number: AP credit reported
Read the source-defined population and conditions before comparing this figure with another institution.
U.S. Department of Education · 2025–26
Who or what this describes: Institution-level service or characteristic, rather than a student cohort
What could you study?
These examples come from historical bachelor’s degrees awarded, not a verified current-major catalog. Confirm current programs, campus and entry conditions with the college.
- Research and Experimental Psychology, Other
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General
- Computer Engineering, General
- Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other
- Mechanical Engineering
- Public Health, General
Historical degree records & sources
Reported first-major bachelor’s credentials, not necessarily distinct graduates. Examples with the largest reported counts, including ties; no campus or classification totals are added together.
- Research and Experimental Psychology, Other
325 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General
280 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Computer Engineering, General
201 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other
191 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Mechanical Engineering
114 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Public Health, General
101 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Sociology, General
78 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Political Science and Government, General
64 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Cognitive Science, General
57 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Civil Engineering, General
28 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Applied Mathematics, General
28 degrees awarded · 2024-25
- Chemistry, General
28 degrees awarded · 2024-25
Plan your application
Check current official instructions for testing, essays, recommendations and dates. Historical admissions outcomes are not application requirements. Early Decision can be binding; review the institution’s conditions before choosing it.
University of California, Merced — SAT/ACT policy
Test-free / test-blind
SAT and ACT scores are not considered for the covered admission review. Other testing requirements may be separate.
Fall 2027 · first-year domestic applicant research. Confirm your program and circumstances.
Conditions to check
- UC-wide policy; campus-level supplements may apply.
Official source checked 2026-10-16. Policies can change.
Different applicant situation?
SAT/ACT and English proficiency are different requirements. Program, recruitment and scholarship rules may need separate confirmation.
Sources & research
Institutional Common Data Sets and federal statistics have different reporting periods and populations. Research snapshot: October 16–19, 2026. Missing values can reflect nonreporting, conflict, ambiguity or incomplete review; they are never zero. Institution earnings remain withheld under the research restrictions.
How ICP selects and explains data →