PUC vs. UC Merced

Pacific Union College and University of California Merced side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Pacific Union College
University of California Merced

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: PUC (47.3% admitted vs 90.5%). Typical SAT 1060 vs 1050.
  • Cheaper after aid: UC Merced. Average net price is $13,690 vs $22,767 at PUC.
  • Graduation: PUC 45% vs UC Merced 58%.
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Key differences

Pacific Union College University of California Merced
Acceptance rate
PUC more selective
PUC47.3%
UC Merced90.5%
SAT range (middle 50%)
PUC higher
PUC930-1190
UC Merced960-1140
Average net price
UC Merced $9,077 less
PUC$22,767
UC Merced$13,690
In-state tuition
UC Merced $21,550 less
PUC$37,173
UC Merced$15,623
Out-of-state tuition
PUC $12,650 less
PUC$37,173
UC Merced$49,823
Graduation rate
UC Merced +13 pts
PUC45%
UC Merced58%
Median earnings (10 years)
PUC +$59,200
PUC$59,200
UC Merced-

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • PUC 1,313
  • UC Merced 31,928
  • Admitted
  • PUC 621
  • UC Merced 28,906
  • Acceptance rate
  • PUC 47.3%
  • UC Merced 90.5%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • PUC 14%
  • UC Merced 7.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • PUC 1060
  • UC Merced 1050
  • Typical ACT score
  • PUC 22
  • UC Merced 21
  • Average high school GPA
  • PUC 3.24
  • UC Merced 3.55
  • Typical high school grades
  • PUC B+
  • UC Merced A-
  • Admissions standards
  • PUC Easy
  • UC Merced Very Easy
  • Applicant competition
  • PUC Low
  • UC Merced
  • SAT range
  • PUC 930-1190
  • UC Merced 960-1140
  • ACT range
  • PUC 20-24
  • UC Merced 19-24
  • Submit test scores
  • PUC Test-free
  • UC Merced Test-free
  • Application deadline
  • PUC
  • UC Merced Nov 30, 2026
  • Tuition (in state)
  • PUC $37,173
  • UC Merced $15,623
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • PUC $37,173
  • UC Merced $49,823
  • Room & board
  • PUC $9,816
  • UC Merced $21,445
  • Average net price
  • PUC $22,767
  • UC Merced $13,690
  • Average grant aid
  • PUC $26,629
  • UC Merced $27,292
  • % receiving grant aid
  • PUC 100%
  • UC Merced 89%
  • Graduation rate
  • PUC 45%
  • UC Merced 58%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • PUC $59,200
  • UC Merced N/A
  • Making student loan payments
  • PUC 57%
  • UC Merced 64%
  • Median student loan debt
  • PUC $30,000
  • UC Merced $19,899
  • Median loan payment
  • PUC $310
  • UC Merced $205
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • PUC 12:1
  • UC Merced 20:1
  • Popular majors
  • PUC
    • Health Professions (41%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Education (5%)
  • UC Merced
    • Psychology (22%)
    • Biology (21%)
    • Engineering (14%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Business (12%)
  • Location
  • PUC Angwin, CA
  • UC Merced Merced, CA
  • Setting
  • PUC Rural Fringe
  • UC Merced Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • PUC 974
  • UC Merced 9,110
  • Type
  • PUC Private 4 Year
  • UC Merced Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • PUC
  • UC Merced #642

Comparable Facts

Compare Pacific Union College in Angwin, CA with University of California Merced in Merced, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of California Merced is larger than PUC based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 974 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Pacific Union College is located in Angwin, CA (Rural Fringe setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Pacific Union College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Pacific Union College 12:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Union College are 54.2% lower than at University of California Merced ($9,816 vs. $21,445).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 34% higher at UC Merced than at Pacific Union College (about $12,650 more per year; $49,823 vs. $37,173).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pacific Union College than at University of California Merced (100% vs. 89%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 2.5% larger than aid received by Pacific Union College students ($27,292 vs. $26,629).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at PUC than at UC Merced (22 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both PUC and UC Merced.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
  • Enrolled first-year students at UC Merced average a 3.55 high school GPA, 0.31 higher than at PUC (3.24).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14% at PUC vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Merced graduates have a $10,101 lower median loan debt than PUC graduates ($19,899 vs. $30,000).
  • Among borrowers, UC Merced graduates have an estimated $105 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PUC graduates ($205 vs. $310).
  • More UC Merced graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PUC students, three years after graduation (64% vs. 57%).

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

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