- Acceptance rate: 91% for fall 2024
- Average net price: $13,232 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
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Where you standEnter your GPA
University of California Merced reported an acceptance rate of 91% for fall 2024.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. University of California Merced reviews each application.
University of California Merced GPA requirements
University of California Merced requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and University of California Merced hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
University of California Merced acceptance rate
University of California Merced admitted 28,906 of 31,928 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 91%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
University of California Merced is a public 4-year university in Merced, California, with 8,372 undergraduates.
Admission requirements
What University of California Merced looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Required |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Required |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Considered if submitted |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Not considered |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Not considered |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Not considered |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
University of California Merced didn't report SAT or ACT scores for its fall 2024 first-year students.
AP credit
University of California Merced awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It doesn't award credit for life experience.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $13,232 a year at University of California Merced in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 3.0 GPA good enough for the University of California Merced?
GPA alone can't tell you here. University of California Merced admitted 91% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
How hard is it to get into the University of California Merced?
Not very selective: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. University of California Merced admitted 91% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
What percent of applicants does the University of California Merced accept?
University of California Merced's acceptance rate was 91% for fall 2024: it admitted 28,906 of 31,928 first-year applicants, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education.
What GPA does the University of California Merced look for?
University of California Merced requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
Is the University of California Merced test optional?
Check University of California Merced's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. University of California Merced was test blind: it didn't consider SAT or ACT scores, even if you sent them, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024).
How important is GPA for getting into the University of California Merced?
A lot: University of California Merced requires high school GPA, high school record, college preparatory program and essay or personal statement. It considers work experience if you send them. It doesn't consider high school class rank, recommendations, test scores, other tests, demonstration of competencies and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Do you need to write an essay to apply to the University of California Merced?
Yes. University of California Merced requires a personal statement or essay from first-year applicants, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
What do students pay at the University of California Merced after grants?
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $13,232 a year at University of California Merced in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Can you get college credit for AP scores at the University of California Merced?
Yes. University of California Merced awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Does it matter at the University of California Merced if a parent went there?
No. University of California Merced doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Sources
- College Navigator: University of California-MercedU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
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