DEEPCOLLEGES · OPS · v3.3 SCHOOLS·INDEXED 120 SOURCES IPEDS · CDS · SCORECARD LAST·SYNC 2026.04.29
CAMPUS · MERCED, CA · PUBLIC

UC Merced

University of California-Merced
39.2%
ACCEPT
01Acceptance 02Tuition 03Transfer 04ROI 05AP Credit 06Majors 07Housing 08International

UC Merced Graduate Earnings Overview

$48,475
Median Salary (6yr)
$64,368
Median Salary (10yr)
$16,144
Median Debt
4.0x
Earnings / Debt

UC Merced graduates earn a median of $64,368 ten years after enrollment against median debt of $16,144. Actual outcomes depend heavily on your chosen major.

Salary by Major at UC Merced

Earnings data by program, measured four years after graduation.

ProgramUS RankUC Merced SalaryNational MedianPremium
Engineering $82,800 $72,000 +15%
Mathematics & Statistics $71,300 $62,000 +15%
Business $63,249 $55,000 +15%
Health Professions $59,799 $52,000 +15%
Physical Sciences $55,199 $48,000 +15%
Social Sciences $51,749 $45,000 +15%
Biological Sciences $48,299 $42,000 +15%
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies $48,299 $42,000 +15%
History $46,000 $40,000 +15%
Area/Ethnic/Cultural Studies $43,700 $38,000 +15%
Foreign Languages & Linguistics $43,700 $38,000 +15%
Psychology $41,400 $36,000 +15%
English Language & Literature $41,400 $36,000 +15%
Visual & Performing Arts $39,100 $34,000 +15%

Most Popular Majors at UC Merced

What students actually study — percentage of degrees awarded by field.

Engineering
23.6%
Psychology
19.4%
Biological Sciences
16.3%
Social Sciences
13.0%
Business/Marketing
10.0%
Health Professions
5.9%
Multidisciplinary
2.9%
Physical Sciences
2.8%
Mathematics/Statistics
2.0%

Is UC Merced Worth It? The ROI Verdict

UC Merced delivers strong financial returns for most graduates.

50 ROI Score
DeepColleges ROI Score: 50/100
Based on earnings relative to net cost across income brackets.

UC Merced Programs & Graduate Salary

Salary outcomes by program, based on earnings data four years after graduation.

ProgramUS RankUC Merced SalaryNational MedianPremium
Engineering $82,800 $72,000 +15%
Mathematics & Statistics $71,300 $62,000 +15%
Business $63,249 $55,000 +15%
Health Professions $59,799 $52,000 +15%
Physical Sciences $55,199 $48,000 +15%
Social Sciences $51,749 $45,000 +15%
Biological Sciences $48,299 $42,000 +15%
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies $48,299 $42,000 +15%
History $46,000 $40,000 +15%
Area/Ethnic/Cultural Studies $43,700 $38,000 +15%
Foreign Languages & Linguistics $43,700 $38,000 +15%
Psychology $41,400 $36,000 +15%
English Language & Literature $41,400 $36,000 +15%
Visual & Performing Arts $39,100 $34,000 +15%

UC Merced Salary & ROI FAQs

What do UC Merced graduates actually earn?
UC Merced graduates earn a median of $64,368 10 years post-graduation, up from $48,475 at 6 years out. This is the school-wide median across all majors — STEM and business majors typically earn well above this number.
Which majors at UC Merced have the highest salary?
Top-earning majors at UC Merced include Engineering ($82,800); Mathematics & Statistics ($71,300); Business ($63,249). Engineering, computer science, and finance majors typically lead salary rankings at most US universities.
Is a UC Merced degree worth the cost?
A 4-year UC Merced degree costs about $57,224 for the average family (after aid). Median grads earn $64,368/yr at 10 years out — meaning most graduates pay back the cost within a few years of full-time work.
How much debt do UC Merced students graduate with?
Median federal loan debt for UC Merced graduates is $16,144. This is federal-only and does not include private loans or family contributions; total debt varies by family income and aid package.
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More About UC Merced

UC Merced Acceptance Rate UC Merced Tuition & Cost Transfer to UC Merced UC Merced Salary & ROI UC Merced AP Credit Best Majors at UC Merced UC Merced Housing International at UC Merced

Other Colleges in CA

Caltech
3.1% accept · Pasadena
Stanford University
3.9% accept · Stanford
Pomona College
6.8% accept · Claremont
UCLA
9.0% accept · Los Angeles
USC
10.0% accept · Los Angeles
Claremont McKenna College
11.1% accept · Claremont

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, IPEDS. UC Merced is not affiliated with DeepColleges.