Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $39,665. College Scorecard.
Net price by family income
Average after grants and scholarships for California residents receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard, latest reported year
Sticker price, line by line
| Per year, living on campus | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $15,623 | $49,823 |
| Housing & meals | $20,293 | $20,293 |
| Books & supplies | $1,214 | $1,214 |
| Personal & travel | $5,011 | $5,011 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$2,476 | −$2,476 |
| Total cost of attendance | $39,665 | $73,865 |
Cost items: IPEDS 2023-24, on-campus budget. Total: College Scorecard, which averages students living on and off campus; the adjustment row reconciles the two. Out-of-state total = in-state total with out-of-state tuition.
Debt after graduation
College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal
Who gets aid
State aid: California residents who meet income, asset and GPA standards may receive a Cal Grant (California Student Aid Commission); apply with the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application. At University of California and California State University campuses, the Middle Class Scholarship can also help families with income and assets up to $250,000 (2026-27, dependent students). Not included in the prices above. California Student Aid Commission
College Scorecard
University of California-Merced net price compared with other California colleges
University of California-Merced has the 31st-lowest average net price of 115 California colleges we cover. Schools around it:
| Rank | College | Avg. net price | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | California State University-Long Beach | $10,440 | 69% | $64,403 |
| 28 | Feather River Community College District | $10,800 | 35% | $38,142 |
| 29 | Bethesda University | $11,097 | 11% | — |
| 30 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | $11,531 | 68% | $71,902 |
| 31 | University of California-Merced | $11,983 | 69% | $64,368 |
| 32 | San Francisco State University | $12,278 | 50% | $68,077 |
| 33 | University of California-San Diego | $12,470 | 86% | $84,943 |
| 34 | University of California-Los Angeles | $12,548 | 93% | $82,511 |
| 35 | Sonoma State University | $12,885 | 58% | $65,986 |
College Scorecard, latest year. Average for all aided students; your price depends on income. All California colleges →
Why University of California-Merced costs more or less than similar schools
| School | Acceptance | You'd pay | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs | Price gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of California-Merced | 91% | $11,983 | 69% | $64,368 | This school |
| California State University-Bakersfield | 94% | $5,652 | 50% | $59,009 | |
| California State University-Stanislaus | 98% | $6,067 | 53% | $63,188 | |
| California State University-Monterey Bay | 97% | $13,663 | 59% | $59,247 | |
| Sonoma State University | 93% | $12,885 | 58% | $65,986 |
College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.
Why the price is different
University of California-Merced would cost you $6,331 more per year than California State University-Bakersfield, on average.
- Higher sticker price at University of California-Merced, mostly from higher tuition & fees (+$7,533).
- University of California-Merced gives aided families $13,812 more in grants, on average.
| Per year, California resident | University of California-Merced | California State University-Bakersfield | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $15,623 | $8,090 | +$7,533 |
| Books & supplies | $1,214 | $1,068 | +$146 |
| Housing & meals | $20,293 | $14,430 | +$5,863 |
| Personal & travel | $5,011 | $3,782 | +$1,229 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$2,476 | −$7,848 | +$5,372 |
| Sticker price | $39,665 | $19,522 | +$20,143 |
| Average grants | −$27,682 | −$13,870 | −$13,812 |
| You pay | $11,983 | $5,652 | +$6,331 |
“+” means University of California-Merced costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.
University of California-Merced cost questions
How much is tuition at University of California-Merced?
Tuition and fees are $15,623 a year for California residents and $49,823 for out-of-state students.
What is the total cost of attending University of California-Merced?
The total cost of attendance, including housing, meals, books and personal costs, is $39,665 a year for California residents living on campus and about $73,865 for out-of-state students.
What do families actually pay at University of California-Merced?
After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $11,983 a year on average. Families earning $0–30k pay $7,945; $48–75k pay $11,557; $110k+ pay $28,734. These figures are for California residents.
How much debt do University of California-Merced graduates have?
The median federal loan debt at graduation is $12,750, and 2.8% of borrowers defaulted within three years of entering repayment (2017 cohort).
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By). Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote; confirm with the school's net price calculator. Back to University of California-Merced overview