CAMPUS · MERCED, CA · PUBLIC

UC Merced

University of California-Merced

39.2%

01Acceptance 02Tuition 03Transfer 04ROI 05AP Credit 06Majors 07Housing 08International

Sticker Price vs What You Actually Pay

59% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating UC Merced enrolls a meaningful share of lower-income students.

Full Cost Breakdown

Room & Board	$20,293
Total Cost of Attendance	$39,665

What You'll Actually Pay (Net Price by Income)

After financial aid, the real cost depends on your family's income. These are average net prices for students receiving aid.

Family Income	Annual Net Price	4-Year Total
$0-30k	$7,945	$31,780
$30-48k	$8,465	$33,860
$48-75k	$11,557	$46,228
$75-110k	$14,828	$59,312
$110k+	$28,734	$114,936

Financial Aid & Student Debt at UC Merced

59.0%

Pell Grant Recipients

$16,144

Median Debt at Graduation

Is UC Merced Worth the Cost? (ROI Analysis)

$64,368

Median Earnings (10yr)

$16,144

Median Debt

4.0x

Earnings-to-Debt Ratio

A ratio above 2x generally means the investment pays off. UC Merced — 4.0x ratio is excellent — graduates earn well relative to their debt burden.

UC Merced True Cost by Family Income

59% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating UC Merced enrolls a meaningful share of lower-income students.

Family Income	Annual Net Price	4-Year Total
$0-30k	$7,945	$31,780
$30-48k	$8,465	$33,860
$48-75k	$11,557	$46,228
$75-110k	$14,828	$59,312
$110k+	$28,734	$114,936

Cost Breakdown

Room & Board	$20,293
Total Cost of Attendance	$39,665

Financial Aid & Student Debt

59.0%

Pell Grant Recipients

Students from low-income families

$16,144

Median Debt at Graduation

Federal loans only

$48,475

Median Earnings (6yr)

6 years after enrollment

UC Merced Tuition & Cost FAQs

How much does UC Merced actually cost per year?

UC Merced's sticker price (cost of attendance) is $39,665/yr — that includes tuition, room and board, and fees. After financial aid, the average family pays just $14,306/yr, a 64% discount off sticker price.

Does UC Merced offer good financial aid?

59% of UC Merced students receive Pell Grants (federal need-based aid). Most US colleges including UC Merced also award institutional grants on top of federal aid — apply via FAFSA, plus the CSS Profile if UC Merced requires it.

What income bracket pays the least at UC Merced?

Families earning under $30,000/yr typically pay around $7,945/yr at UC Merced after financial aid, while families earning over $110,000/yr pay closer to $28,734/yr. The full breakdown by income bracket is in the True Cost table above.

Is UC Merced worth the cost?

UC Merced graduates earn a median of $64,368 10 years post-graduation. Against a 4-year sticker cost of about $158,660 (less for most families with aid), grads typically recoup the investment within several years of work.