University of California-Merced
Merced, California · Public · 90.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 84/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
UC Merced scores 84 (Strong Value) on CampusROI, driven by a reasonable 6.4-year payback period and strong earnings premium relative to its low in-state tuition. The 68.7% completion rate is the school's clearest weakness - roughly one in three students who enroll does not finish. Average 6-year earnings of $42,500 are modest in absolute terms, but the median 10-year figure climbs to $64,368 and median debt of $16,144 is manageable. UC Merced's STEM-heavy program mix is the main driver of positive outcomes; humanities and social science programs here produce significantly weaker earnings against similar debt loads.
University of California-Merced scores in the top 10% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of California-Merced
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $15,623/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $49,823/yr |
| Average net price | $11,983/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $47,932 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $64,368 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $42,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $16,144 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $171 |
| Estimated payback period | 6.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 68.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 8,372 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $15,623/year ($49,823/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $11,983/year, or roughly $47,932 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $7,945/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $28,734/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $16,144, which works out to about $171 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($42,500) and comes to 0.38, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $7,945 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,465 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,557 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $14,828 |
| $110,001+ | $28,734 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $7,945 per year net - about $31,800 over four years. With average 6-year earnings of $42,500, low-income graduates who complete the degree face a manageable payback, especially in engineering. The 58.9% Pell rate means UC Merced runs significant financial aid for this population. The completion rate risk - 31% of students do not graduate - is a real concern for Pell-eligible students who take on debt without finishing.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 band pays $11,557 net per year, and the $75,001-$110,000 band pays $14,828. For families in these brackets, the total four-year net cost ranges from $46,000 to $59,000 against a $11,983 average net price. Middle-income families get a genuinely affordable UC education, particularly if their student enters engineering or computer science.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $28,734 net per year - about $115,000 over four years. At the institutional average earnings of $42,500 at six years, the ROI is tight at full higher-income net price. The case improves substantially for STEM graduates who hit $67,000-$95,000 in year one.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of California-Merced with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | $59,249 | C+ |
| Computer Engineering | $102,575 | B+ |
| Mechanical Engineering | $95,040 | B+ |
| Public Health | $56,393 | B |
| International Relations | $62,815 | C |
| Sociology | $50,468 | C+ |
| Cognitive Science | $51,147 | C |
| Biomedical Engineering | $88,795 | B |
| Applied Mathematics | $82,156 | B |
| Chemistry | $56,888 | B+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Engineering
Computer Engineering is UC Merced's highest-volume and best-earning engineering program: 217 graduates, $58,835 median year-one earnings, $102,575 at year four. Debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.324 (ROI grade B+) reflects $19,086 median debt against strong tech-sector placement. The year-four jump to $102k signals steady progression into senior engineering roles.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering produces 150 graduates annually with $67,096 year-one earnings and $95,040 at year four - the highest year-one figure at UC Merced. Debt-to-earnings of 0.276 (ROI grade B+) is the best ratio among engineering programs here. Manufacturing, aerospace, and energy employers in California actively recruit from UC Merced's engineering programs. This is the school's clearest ROI story.
Biology
Biology is the largest program by graduate count at 308, and it is also one of the weaker ROI performers. Year-one earnings of $36,140 and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.507 (ROI grade C+) reflect the reality that most biology graduates enter clinical or lab roles, pursue graduate school, or face a competitive job market. The year-four figure of $59,249 is modest. Biology students planning pre-med or research tracks should expect near-term income to lag debt significantly while in graduate or professional school.
Sociology
Sociology (95 graduates) earns $37,092 at year one and $50,468 at year four, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.472 (ROI grade C+). Outcomes are mediocre relative to the cost of attendance, and the four-year earnings ceiling is low. Students pursuing social services, nonprofit, or public sector careers will find the payback period extended. Sociology at UC Merced is not a strong ROI play; the engineering programs are where the financial case is strongest.
English Language and Literature
English (24 graduates) has the lowest ROI grade among the programs listed for this school: $29,152 year-one earnings, $58,623 at year four, but a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.823 (ROI grade D) and $24,000 median debt. The payback period is long. English graduates who go on to teaching, law school, or graduate programs may improve their trajectory, but the Scorecard near-term data is poor.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 71.8% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 73.8% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 63.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 73.2% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of California-Merced’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 90.5% |
| Enrollment | 8,372 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 58.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $14,834 |
With a 90.5% acceptance rate and no reported SAT/ACT mid-ranges in the Scorecard data, UC Merced is functionally open-access. Admission is primarily driven by GPA and A-G course completion rather than test scores.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of California-Merced (this school) | 84 | $11,983 | $64,368 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 96 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| Michigan Technological University | 89 | $14,182 | $78,198 |
| North Dakota State University-Main Campus | 80 | $15,543 | $62,203 |
| University of Wyoming | 77 | $13,599 | $56,880 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | 75 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
Who Thrives Here
UC Merced admits 90.5% of applicants. Students who expect the social infrastructure of a larger campus or need a broad range of humanities programs should look elsewhere.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, University of California-Merced pays off. You'd pay about $11,983 a year after aid ($47,932 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $64,368 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6.4 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 68.7% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $16,144 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $42,500 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of California-Merced: Common Questions
Is University of California-Merced worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of California-Merced pays off. It scores 84/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $11,983 a year after aid ($47,932 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $64,368 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.4 years to earn back.
How much does University of California-Merced cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $11,983 a year, or roughly $47,932 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of California-Merced graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $64,368 ten years after enrolling, roughly $22,568 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of California-Merced?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 6.4 years for University of California-Merced. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of California-Merced graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $16,144, against average earnings of $42,500 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-Merced?
The six-year graduation rate is 68.7%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.