USF vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare University of San Francisco in San Francisco, 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 USF based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 8,913 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of San Francisco is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• University of San Francisco is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of San Francisco 11:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of San Francisco are 7.8% lower than at University of California Merced ($19,764 vs. $21,445).
• Out-of-state tuition is 21.4% higher at USF than at University of California Merced (about $10,669 more per year; $60,492 vs. $49,823).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of San Francisco than at University of California Merced (95% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Francisco students is 27.2% larger than aid received by University of California Merced students ($34,723 vs. $27,292).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 6 points higher at USF than at UC Merced (27 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test optional at USF, test-free at UC Merced.
• Typical fall application deadline: USF Jan 15, 2027; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at USF average a 3.57 high school GPA, 0.02 higher than at UC Merced (3.55).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 6% at USF vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Merced graduates have a $5,101 lower median loan debt than USF graduates ($19,899 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, UC Merced graduates have an estimated $53 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than USF graduates ($205 vs. $258).
• More USF graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Merced students, three years after graduation (73% vs. 64%).

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