UC Merced vs. UWest

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Merced is larger than UWest based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 138 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of the West are 33.6% lower than at University of California Merced ($14,244 vs. $21,445).
• Out-of-state tuition is 222.6% higher at UC Merced than at University of the West (about $34,377 more per year; $49,823 vs. $15,446).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of the West than at University of California Merced (100% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 189% larger than aid received by University of the West students ($27,292 vs. $9,445).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at UC Merced, open admission at UWest.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Merced Nov 30, 2026; UWest Jun 15, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at UC Merced average a 3.55 high school GPA, 1.12 higher than at UWest (2.43).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.2% at UC Merced vs. 25% at UWest.

Loans and repayment

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