More selective than 26% of California colleges we cover. U.S. median 77%.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
Share of students sending scores not reported.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Called “yield.” A high yield means many admitted students choose University of California-Merced over other offers.
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Applicants, admits and enrollment
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class (first-time, degree-seeking undergraduates). Newer counts arrive with the next IPEDS release.
GPA and test scores of admitted students
The middle 50% of students University of California-Merced admitted. A quarter of admitted students were below the lower number and a quarter above the upper one. GPAs are weighted, as the source defines them.
| Admitted for | GPA | SAT | ACT | CLT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | 3.57–4.16 | — | — | — |
University of California Office of the President (UC Admissions), First-year admit data, fall 2026 (one page per campus). UC GPA (A-G courses, grades 10-11, honors points capped); 49,426 applicants, 46,812 admits; UC does not consider SAT/ACT Federal ranges below describe enrolled students; use the admitted ranges to judge your chances.
University of California-Merced admissions year over year
| Entering class | Acceptance | SAT reading | SAT math | ACT | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2024 | 91% | — | — | — | College Scorecard |
| Fall 2023 | 39% | — | — | — | IPEDS |
Score ranges are the 25th–75th percentiles. Each year is kept as published; we add a year with every federal release.
How selective is University of California-Merced compared with other California colleges?
University of California-Merced has the 68th-lowest acceptance rate of 92 California colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Acceptance | Graduation | Avg. net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 64 | Simpson University | 86% | 49% | $27,817 |
| 65 | Saint Mary's College of California | 87% | 70% | $30,378 |
| 66 | Azusa Pacific University | 88% | 62% | $22,212 |
| 67 | California State University-Fullerton | 91% | 70% | $6,555 |
| 68 | University of California-Merced | 91% | 69% | $11,983 |
| 69 | California College of the Arts | 91% | 61% | $53,909 |
| 70 | California State University-Los Angeles | 91% | 53% | $3,967 |
| 71 | La Sierra University | 92% | 60% | $45,566 |
| 72 | California State University-Chico | 93% | 63% | $14,480 |
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class. All California colleges →
Who enrolls at University of California-Merced
College Scorecard; IPEDS
University of California-Merced admissions questions
What is the University of California-Merced acceptance rate?
University of California-Merced accepts 91% of applicants, most. For the Fall 2023 entering class, 26,598 of 67,891 applicants were admitted.
Does University of California-Merced require the SAT or ACT?
University of California-Merced does not consider SAT or ACT scores (test-blind), according to its federal admissions report for Fall 2023.
What GPA and SAT score do you need for University of California-Merced?
The middle 50% of students admitted to University of California-Merced for Fall 2026 had a weighted GPA of 3.57–4.16 (First-year admit data, fall 2026 (one page per campus)). Below the lower number on any measure makes University of California-Merced a reach; at or above the upper number on every measure makes it likely.
How many admitted students enroll at University of California-Merced?
9% of admitted students enrolled in Fall 2023 (2,416 of 26,598).
Is University of California-Merced getting harder to get into?
University of California-Merced accepted 91% of applicants for Fall 2024, compared with 39% for Fall 2023.
Is University of California-Merced the right fit for your family?
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS Admissions; years shown with each figure. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Back to University of California-Merced overview