UOP vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

Compare University of the Pacific in Stockton, 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 UOP based on total student enrollment (9,110 students vs. 6,944 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of the Pacific is located in Stockton, CA (Large City setting); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• University of the Pacific 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 the Pacific 13:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of the Pacific are 19.8% lower than at University of California Merced ($17,190 vs. $21,445).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.6% higher at UOP than at University of California Merced (about $7,257 more per year; $57,080 vs. $49,823).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of the Pacific than at University of California Merced (98% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of the Pacific students is 50.6% larger than aid received by University of California Merced students ($41,111 vs. $27,292).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 6 points higher at UOP than at UC Merced (27 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test optional at UOP, test-free at UC Merced.
• Typical fall application deadline: UOP Jan 15, 2027; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at UOP average a 3.58 high school GPA, 0.03 higher than at UC Merced (3.55).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.8% at UOP vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Merced graduates have a $4,726 lower median loan debt than UOP graduates ($19,899 vs. $24,625).
• Among borrowers, UC Merced graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UOP graduates ($205 vs. $254).
• More UOP graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Merced students, three years after graduation (70% vs. 64%).

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