University of California-Merced

Overview of University of California-Merced (UC Merced)

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When students aren't buried in their books, UC Merced has much to offer that will create well-rounded graduates and citizens. On campus, students love to hang out in the Joseph Edward Gallo Recreation and Wellness Center. There, students can get a workout on the cardio or weight-training machines, play basketball or volleyball in the gym, or discover competitive badminton. There's also an aquatic center which is home to the school's club-level water polo team.

UC Merced students are also privy to some of the most stunning natural vistas in the nation. Not only is Merced close to Yosemite, but students can also enjoy exploring the area’s ghost towns, ancient volcanoes, and the Merced National Wildlife Refuge that offers over 10,000 acres for students to explore.

Top Rankings For University of California – Merced

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University of California-Merced Acceptance Rate and Admissions

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UC Merced Tuition Cost & Financial Aid

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California has historically had very affordable public colleges and universities. Though things have certainly changed in college costs over the last few decades, a degree from UC-Merced is still a huge value in higher education for California residents. In fact, for a year of tuition, books, and supplies, the gross cost at UC Merced is under $15,000 for Californians. Meanwhile, out-of-state students pay just under $45,000 for the same education.

On top of this, students need to pay for room and board, as well as other expenses. Once those expenses are tallied, Merced estimates that Californians pay around $29,000 for off-campus living and $38,000 for life on campus. Non-residents see gross expenses for on-campus living rise to $68,000, while off-campus living costs sit around $58,000. However, the financial aid office can help mitigate these expenses.

UC-Merced's financial aid office applies grants and scholarships in an effort to reduce the financial impact of an education. They do such a good job that the average net price for a year at Merced, including living costs, doesn't even breach the $12,000 mark. The lowest income bracket thus sees an average net price tag of only $8,000 and households that earn $110,000 or more pay around $26,000, on average.

Sticker Price

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UC Merced Academics

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The UC system in California is well-known for top academics. After all, schools such as UCLA and UC Berkeley are among their ranks. Meanwhile, the central valley's UC Merced likewise enjoys a strong academic reputation. Nevertheless, researchers were interested to get to the bottom of that reputation and sort fact from hype. They dug up statistics on Merced's retention rate, graduation rate, and more to see where they stood.

The retention rate is a metric that reflects how many of a school's first-time, full-time students return to campus for a second year. This number is often softer at public schools, but Merced reports a very strong 79% retention, higher than the national average. Even more pleasing is their graduation rate. Merced sees an astounding 72% of students cross the graduation stage, while another 23% transfer to other schools, presumably to earn specific degrees that are not available at this institution. Transfer students are often highly motivated individuals who transfer to find greater challenges or degree programs not yet available in Merced, and so they may graduate from their transfer institution and that would not be tracked in these statistics. If they graduate from their transfer institution, then Merced prepares up to 95% of their students to earn a diploma, whether on their campus or elsewhere.

Student Population Total

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Outcome & Salary

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Merced's top academics and stellar students make for a potent potion. Students are often considering their chances of making a return on their educational investment these days, which is a good thing to consider before you pay for a school degree. Researchers are happy to answer these questions, in this case by surveying alumni to get a sense of how well certain degrees fare in the job market. Though there is no guaranteed salary or job offer, computer engineering students lead the pack of graduates with a median salary of $68,000. Meanwhile, the fifth-highest earning alumni are from business administration, who post a pre-bonus median salary of $50,000. In the middle of the pack, Merced's economics students post a median starting wage of $57,000.

Photos & Videos

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