University of California-Merced

University of California-Merced is a large public R2 doctoral research university located in Merced, California, with an undergraduate enrollment of 8,372. Classified as a doctoral research university, it supports graduate programs in select disciplines and allocates significant resources to faculty research activity alongside its undergraduate mission. As a public institution primarily funded through state appropriations and federal grants, it operates within the broader California postsecondary education landscape and is regionally accredited, making its credits and degrees eligible for federal financial aid. With a 91% acceptance rate, admission is open to most applicants. The 91% acceptance rate reflects a broadly open admissions approach serving a wide range of students. Net price for families earning \$48,001–$75,000 averages $11,557 per year. The highest program-level earnings outcomes are in CIP 00 — 10-year median earnings among aid recipients in these fields reach $83,007. The 4-year graduation rate is 69%, 24 percentage points above the national average of 45%. Among students who received federal financial aid, 10-year median earnings are $64,368. FIRE rates the campus free speech climate at 57/100 — a mixed record on speech protections.