CSU Bakersfield vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Bakersfield in Bakersfield, CA with University of California Merced in Merced, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

California State University Bakersfield is larger than UC Merced based on total student enrollment (10,419 students vs. 9,110 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Bakersfield is located in Bakersfield, CA (Large City setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California State University Bakersfield is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Bakersfield 20:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Bakersfield are 29.7% lower than at University of California Merced ($15,076 vs. $21,445).
• Out-of-state tuition is 140.8% higher at UC Merced than at California State University Bakersfield (about $29,133 more per year; $49,823 vs. $20,690).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Bakersfield than at University of California Merced (91% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 110.5% larger than aid received by California State University Bakersfield students ($27,292 vs. $12,966).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both CSU Bakersfield and UC Merced.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Bakersfield Dec 15, 2026; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.4% at CSU Bakersfield vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Bakersfield graduates have a $6,731 lower median loan debt than UC Merced graduates ($13,168 vs. $19,899).
• Among borrowers, CSU Bakersfield graduates have an estimated $69 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Merced graduates ($136 vs. $205).
• More UC Merced graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU Bakersfield students, three years after graduation (64% vs. 54%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.