San Diego State vs. UC Merced

San Diego State University and University of California Merced side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

San Diego State University
University of California Merced

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: San Diego State (36.2% admitted vs 90.5%). Typical SAT 1200 vs 1050.
  • Cheaper after aid: UC Merced. Average net price is $13,690 vs $14,704 at San Diego State.
  • Graduation: San Diego State 66% vs UC Merced 58%.
See your own chances ->

Key differences

San Diego State University University of California Merced
Acceptance rate
San Diego State more selective
San Diego State36.2%
UC Merced90.5%
SAT range (middle 50%)
San Diego State higher
San Diego State1090-1300
UC Merced960-1140
Average net price
UC Merced $1,014 less
San Diego State$14,704
UC Merced$13,690
In-state tuition
San Diego State $6,895 less
San Diego State$8,728
UC Merced$15,623
Out-of-state tuition
San Diego State $28,495 less
San Diego State$21,328
UC Merced$49,823
Graduation rate
San Diego State +8 pts
San Diego State66%
UC Merced58%
Median earnings (10 years)
San Diego State +$53,400
San Diego State$53,400
UC Merced-

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

Partner

Not sure you'd get in? Check your chances at San Diego State and UC Merced with Appily's free admission calculator.

Check my chances at San Diego State Check my chances at UC Merced
  • Applied
  • San Diego State 89,972
  • UC Merced 31,928
  • Admitted
  • San Diego State 32,561
  • UC Merced 28,906
  • Acceptance rate
  • San Diego State 36.2%
  • UC Merced 90.5%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • San Diego State 20.4%
  • UC Merced 7.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • San Diego State 1200
  • UC Merced 1050
  • Typical ACT score
  • San Diego State 25
  • UC Merced 21
  • Average high school GPA
  • San Diego State 3.82
  • UC Merced 3.55
  • Typical high school grades
  • San Diego State A-
  • UC Merced A-
  • Admissions standards
  • San Diego State Challenging
  • UC Merced Very Easy
  • Applicant competition
  • San Diego State High
  • UC Merced
  • SAT range
  • San Diego State 1090-1300
  • UC Merced 960-1140
  • ACT range
  • San Diego State 22-29
  • UC Merced 19-24
  • Submit test scores
  • San Diego State Test-free
  • UC Merced Test-free
  • Application deadline
  • San Diego State Nov 30, 2026
  • UC Merced Nov 30, 2026
  • Tuition (in state)
  • San Diego State $8,728
  • UC Merced $15,623
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • San Diego State $21,328
  • UC Merced $49,823
  • Room & board
  • San Diego State $23,030
  • UC Merced $21,445
  • Average net price
  • San Diego State $14,704
  • UC Merced $13,690
  • Average grant aid
  • San Diego State $12,053
  • UC Merced $27,292
  • % receiving grant aid
  • San Diego State 47%
  • UC Merced 89%
  • Graduation rate
  • San Diego State 66%
  • UC Merced 58%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • San Diego State $53,400
  • UC Merced N/A
  • Making student loan payments
  • San Diego State 65%
  • UC Merced 64%
  • Median student loan debt
  • San Diego State $15,349
  • UC Merced $19,899
  • Median loan payment
  • San Diego State $158
  • UC Merced $205
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • San Diego State 27:1
  • UC Merced 20:1
  • Popular majors
  • San Diego State
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • UC Merced
    • Psychology (22%)
    • Biology (21%)
    • Engineering (14%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Business (12%)
  • Location
  • San Diego State San Diego, CA
  • UC Merced Merced, CA
  • Setting
  • San Diego State Large City
  • UC Merced Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • San Diego State 41,137
  • UC Merced 9,110
  • Type
  • San Diego State Public 4 Year
  • UC Merced Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • San Diego State #353
  • UC Merced #642

Comparable Facts

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

San Diego State University is larger than UC Merced based on total student enrollment (41,137 students vs. 9,110 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • San Diego State University is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
  • San Diego State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: San Diego State University 27:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Merced are 6.9% lower than at San Diego State University ($21,445 vs. $23,030).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 133.6% higher at UC Merced than at San Diego State University (about $28,495 more per year; $49,823 vs. $21,328).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at San Diego State University (89% vs. 47%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 126.4% larger than aid received by San Diego State University students ($27,292 vs. $12,053).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 4 points higher at San Diego State than at UC Merced (25 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both San Diego State and UC Merced.
  • Typical fall application deadline: San Diego State Nov 30, 2026; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
  • Enrolled first-year students at San Diego State average a 3.82 high school GPA, 0.27 higher than at UC Merced (3.55).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.4% at San Diego State vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego State University graduates have a $4,550 lower median loan debt than UC Merced graduates ($15,349 vs. $19,899).
  • Among borrowers, San Diego State graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Merced graduates ($158 vs. $205).
  • More San Diego State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Merced students, three years after graduation (65% vs. 64%).

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

Change schools

You can add up to two more colleges. Each one gets its own column.

San Diego State University
University of California Merced
Add a college Compare up to 4

Frequently compared to these colleges