University of California - Merced
About
The University of California, Merced is a public land-grant research university in Merced County, California, United States. Established in 2005, UC Merced is the tenth and newest campus in the University of California (UC) system. The main campus is around 810 acres in size and located around 5 miles (8.0 km) north of the city of Merced and sits adjacent to Lake Yosemite. The campus is adjacent to large swaths of protected natural grasslands and vernal pools, which have shaped its development, capital planning, and research.
Admissions & acceptance rate
First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Pell equity
Pell and non-Pell students graduate at nearly identical rates, a notably small equity gap.
Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 77 Title IV programs, 16 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 0 fail. 61 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Pass / fail distribution
- Passing16 · 20.8%
- No Data61 · 79.2%
- Failing0 · 0.0%
Severity spectrum
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
WASC Senior College and University Commission
WASC Senior College and University Commission
Action history · 1
- Jun 2018Renewal of AccreditationWASC Senior College and University Commission
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 5,349 students received $37.0M in Pell grants, alongside $25.2M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 1,394 borrowers who entered repayment, 12 (0.8%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate vs national, by cohort
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at Ucmerced
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Athletics & Title IX gender equity
How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.
Men vs women · spending splits
Sport-by-sport · 6
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
3-year trend
Criminal offenses by type
By location
- On campus48
- Non-campus1
Includes 14 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).
VAWA offenses
Hate crimes by bias
No hate crimes reported.
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
Residence-hall fires
Data quality: 1 report was later determined unfounded across the reporting period and are excluded from the totals above.
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
Ucmerced vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions Ucmerced selected for federal comparison reporting.
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectUniversity of California-Merced | 69% | 90.5% | 9,110 | $11,983 | R2 Research |
| 49% | 86.4% | 10,900 | $13,787 | R2 Research | |
| 53% | 20.6% | 9,313 | $13,739 | R2 Research | |
| 35% | Open admission | 13,061 | $12,193 | R2 Research | |
| 54% | 90.8% | 9,073 | $16,804 | R2 Research | |
| 51% | 93.1% | 6,326 | $23,836 | R2 Research | |
| 62% | 86.4% | 11,873 | $11,864 | R2 Research | |
| 68% | 92.4% | 7,403 | $14,182 | R2 Research | |
| 64% | 72.5% | 7,154 | $16,298 | R2 Research | |
| 41% | 82.2% | 10,739 | $14,985 | R2 Research | |
| 43% | 79.3% | 9,922 | $13,570 | R2 Research | |
| 67% | 66.3% | 5,675 | $18,745 | R2 Research | |
| 62% | 98.3% | 12,056 | $19,841 | R2 Research | |
| 27% | 35.1% | 8,279 | $20,077 | R2 Research | |
| 66% | 63.3% | 2,757 | $18,952 | R2 Research | |
| 35% | 70.1% | 6,310 | $15,796 | R2 Research | |
| 58% | 76.1% | 10,511 | $14,246 | R2 Research | |
| 22% | 96.9% | 8,704 | $16,590 | R2 Research | |
| 54% | 94.0% | 10,362 | $13,323 | R2 Research | |
| 39% | 64.7% | 6,893 | $10,892 | R2 Research | |
| 37% | 58.8% | 8,216 | $17,248 | R2 Research | |
| 57% | 75.5% | 12,286 | $14,831 | R2 Research | |
| 35% | 96.4% | 3,177 | $13,338 | R2 Research | |
| 52% | 90.6% | 7,968 | $20,927 | R2 Research | |
| 57% | 62.7% | 14,736 | $15,071 | R2 Research | |
| 38% | 74.3% | 6,501 | $12,384 | R2 Research | |
| 60% | 98.8% | 10,619 | $19,858 | R2 Research | |
| 89% | 34.1% | 9,818 | $19,096 | R2 Research | |
| 42% | 96.3% | 10,603 | $15,415 | R2 Research | |
| Peer group median | 53% | 80.8% | 9,110 | $15,071 |
Institutions like Ucmerced
Explore the federal data for institutions in Ucmerced's comparison group.
- R2 ResearchGeorgia
Augusta University
Grad rate49%Admit rate86.4%Enrollment10,900Net price$13,787View data - R2 ResearchFlorida
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University
Grad rate53%Admit rate20.6%Enrollment9,313Net price$13,739View data - R2 ResearchIdaho
Idaho State University
Grad rate35%Admit rateOpen admissionEnrollment13,061Net price$12,193View data - R2 ResearchPennsylvania
Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus
Grad rate54%Admit rate90.8%Enrollment9,073Net price$16,804View data - R2 ResearchMississippi
Jackson State University
Grad rate51%Admit rate93.1%Enrollment6,326Net price$23,836View data - R2 ResearchLouisiana
Louisiana Tech University
Grad rate62%Admit rate86.4%Enrollment11,873Net price$11,864View data - R2 ResearchMichigan
Michigan Technological University
Grad rate68%Admit rate92.4%Enrollment7,403Net price$14,182View data - R2 ResearchMissouri
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Grad rate64%Admit rate72.5%Enrollment7,154Net price$16,298View data - R2 ResearchMaryland
Morgan State University
Grad rate41%Admit rate82.2%Enrollment10,739Net price$14,985View data - R2 ResearchTexas
Prairie View A & M University
Grad rate43%Admit rate79.3%Enrollment9,922Net price$13,570View data - R2 ResearchNew Jersey
Rutgers University-Camden
Grad rate67%Admit rate66.3%Enrollment5,675Net price$18,745View data - R2 ResearchSouth Dakota
South Dakota State University
Grad rate62%Admit rate98.3%Enrollment12,056Net price$19,841View data - R2 ResearchLouisiana
Southern University and A & M College
Grad rate27%Admit rate35.1%Enrollment8,279Net price$20,077View data - R2 ResearchNew York
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Grad rate66%Admit rate63.3%Enrollment2,757Net price$18,952View data - R2 ResearchTennessee
Tennessee State University
Grad rate35%Admit rate70.1%Enrollment6,310Net price$15,796View data - R2 ResearchTennessee
Tennessee Technological University
Grad rate58%Admit rate76.1%Enrollment10,511Net price$14,246View data - R2 ResearchTexas
Texas Southern University
Grad rate22%Admit rate96.9%Enrollment8,704Net price$16,590View data - R2 ResearchTexas
The University of Texas at Tyler
Grad rate54%Admit rate94.0%Enrollment10,362Net price$13,323View data - R2 ResearchAlaska
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Grad rate39%Admit rate64.7%Enrollment6,893Net price$10,892View data - R2 ResearchArkansas
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Grad rate37%Admit rate58.8%Enrollment8,216Net price$17,248View data - R2 ResearchIdaho
University of Idaho
Grad rate57%Admit rate75.5%Enrollment12,286Net price$14,831View data - R2 ResearchMaryland
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Grad rate35%Admit rate96.4%Enrollment3,177Net price$13,338View data - R2 ResearchMassachusetts
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
Grad rate52%Admit rate90.6%Enrollment7,968Net price$20,927View data - R2 ResearchMissouri
University of Missouri-St Louis
Grad rate57%Admit rate62.7%Enrollment14,736Net price$15,071View data - R2 ResearchLouisiana
University of New Orleans
Grad rate38%Admit rate74.3%Enrollment6,501Net price$12,384View data - R2 ResearchSouth Dakota
University of South Dakota
Grad rate60%Admit rate98.8%Enrollment10,619Net price$19,858View data - R2 ResearchVirginia
William & Mary
Grad rate89%Admit rate34.1%Enrollment9,818Net price$19,096View data - R2 ResearchOhio
Wright State University-Main Campus
Grad rate42%Admit rate96.3%Enrollment10,603Net price$15,415View data
Ucmerced Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
The mission of IRDS is to provide analysis for data-driven decision-making and communicates research insights that support strategic initiatives. IRDS strives to be a trusted partner and consultant, providing accurate and actionable information to campus constituents.
Visit IR office page- Corinne TownsendDirector of Institutional Effectiveness and Analytics
- Andrea Hall-CucciaInstitutional Research Analyst
- Jose Lopez ArriazaBusiness Intelligence Specialist
- Jessica ChackoriaBusiness Intelligence Specialist
Reports & documents (4)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- DashboardDashboardcie.ucmerced.edu
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- GlossaryAcademic Program Assessment GlossaryThe UC Merced Academic Program Assessment Glossary provides a common language to facilitate discussions on academic assessment. It offers general descriptions and definitions to promote understanding across various academic disciplines about terms related to academic assessments, learning outcomes, program evaluations, curriculum mapping, and evidence-based improvements. The glossary aims to standardize these terms within the academic program assessment context, ensuring that stakeholders can openly communicate and align on methods and expectations.assessment.ucmerced.edu
- Strategic plan2021 - 2031 Strategic Plan2021The University of California-Merced's 2021-2031 Strategic Plan outlines a vision for growth and excellence guided by shared values. Under the leadership of Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz, the plan aims to achieve R1 research status and expand student enrollment to 15,000 by 2030. It emphasizes care for faculty and staff, and a commitment to student success, enriching communities and fostering a prosperous future.chancellor.ucmerced.edu
Notable alumni of Ucmerced (5)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Shavone Charles
- Oliver Darcy
- David Do
- Preeya Singh
- Marco Torralva
Frequently asked questions about University of California-Merced
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Ucmerced.
What is the acceptance rate at University of California-Merced?
What is the graduation rate at University of California-Merced?
How many students attend University of California-Merced?
What is the average net price at University of California-Merced?
What is the yield rate at University of California-Merced?
Where is University of California-Merced located?
Who runs Institutional Research at University of California-Merced?
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Have a question this page can’t answer?
Ask Clema anything about University of California-Merced and its peers — plain language in, cited answers out, in minutes instead of days.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card