UCSD vs. UC Merced

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

University of California San Diego
University of California Merced

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: UCSD (26.7% admitted vs 90.5%). Typical SAT 1380 vs 1050.
  • Cheaper after aid: about even. Average net price is $14,047 at UCSD vs $13,690 at UC Merced. UCSD in-state tuition is about $1,135 more per year.
  • Graduation: UCSD 85% vs UC Merced 58%.
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Key differences

University of California San Diego University of California Merced
Acceptance rate
UCSD more selective
UCSD26.7%
UC Merced90.5%
SAT range (middle 50%)
UCSD higher
UCSD1270-1480
UC Merced960-1140
Average net price
About even
UCSD$14,047
UC Merced$13,690
In-state tuition
UC Merced $1,135 less
UCSD$16,758
UC Merced$15,623
Out-of-state tuition
UC Merced $1,135 less
UCSD$50,958
UC Merced$49,823
Graduation rate
UCSD +27 pts
UCSD85%
UC Merced58%
Median earnings (10 years)
UCSD +$67,900
UCSD$67,900
UC Merced-

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • UCSD 134,450
  • UC Merced 31,928
  • Admitted
  • UCSD 35,917
  • UC Merced 28,906
  • Acceptance rate
  • UCSD 26.7%
  • UC Merced 90.5%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • UCSD 20.4%
  • UC Merced 7.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSD 1380
  • UC Merced 1050
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSD 31
  • UC Merced 21
  • Average high school GPA
  • UCSD 3.82
  • UC Merced 3.55
  • Typical high school grades
  • UCSD A-
  • UC Merced A-
  • Admissions standards
  • UCSD Exceptional
  • UC Merced Very Easy
  • Applicant competition
  • UCSD High
  • UC Merced
  • SAT range
  • UCSD 1270-1480
  • UC Merced 960-1140
  • ACT range
  • UCSD 28-34
  • UC Merced 19-24
  • Submit test scores
  • UCSD Test-free
  • UC Merced Test-free
  • Application deadline
  • UCSD Nov 30, 2026
  • UC Merced Nov 30, 2026
  • Tuition (in state)
  • UCSD $16,758
  • UC Merced $15,623
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • UCSD $50,958
  • UC Merced $49,823
  • Room & board
  • UCSD $18,970
  • UC Merced $21,445
  • Average net price
  • UCSD $14,047
  • UC Merced $13,690
  • Average grant aid
  • UCSD $25,757
  • UC Merced $27,292
  • % receiving grant aid
  • UCSD 59%
  • UC Merced 89%
  • Graduation rate
  • UCSD 85%
  • UC Merced 58%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • UCSD $67,900
  • UC Merced N/A
  • Making student loan payments
  • UCSD 82%
  • UC Merced 64%
  • Median student loan debt
  • UCSD $18,500
  • UC Merced $19,899
  • Median loan payment
  • UCSD $191
  • UC Merced $205
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • UCSD 19:1
  • UC Merced 20:1
  • Popular majors
  • UCSD
    • Biology (23%)
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • UC Merced
    • Psychology (22%)
    • Biology (21%)
    • Engineering (14%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Business (12%)
  • Location
  • UCSD La Jolla, CA
  • UC Merced Merced, CA
  • Setting
  • UCSD Large City
  • UC Merced Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSD 44,256
  • UC Merced 9,110
  • Type
  • UCSD Public 4 Year
  • UC Merced Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • UCSD #87
  • UC Merced #642

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California San Diego in La Jolla, 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 San Diego is larger than UC Merced based on total student enrollment (44,256 students vs. 9,110 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California San Diego is located in La Jolla, CA (Large City setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
  • University of California San Diego is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California San Diego 19:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California San Diego are 11.5% lower than at University of California Merced ($18,970 vs. $21,445).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.3% higher at UCSD than at University of California Merced (about $1,135 more per year; $50,958 vs. $49,823).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at University of California San Diego (89% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 6% larger than aid received by University of California San Diego students ($27,292 vs. $25,757).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 10 points higher at UCSD than at UC Merced (31 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both UCSD and UC Merced.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSD Nov 30, 2026; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
  • Enrolled first-year students at UCSD 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 UCSD vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California San Diego graduates have a $1,399 lower median loan debt than UC Merced graduates ($18,500 vs. $19,899).
  • Among borrowers, UCSD graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Merced graduates ($191 vs. $205).
  • More UCSD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Merced students, three years after graduation (82% vs. 64%).

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

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