College Spotlight – University of California, Merced
University of California-Merced, founded in 2005, is a public institution that boasts of being the first American student-centered research university to open in the 21st century. It is the tenth campus in the University of California school system. UC Merced has established extensive relationships with nearby institutions to its efforts to collaborate in educational, social, and cultural endeavors. The most popular majors on campus include Social Sciences, Psychology, Management, as well as disciplines in STEM, such as Engineering and Business, and Biological and Biomedical Sciences.
Location
- University of California- Merced, is located in the San Joaquin Valley in California
Stats
- Public, Coed
- Rural setting
- No religious affiliation
- Semester-based academic calendar
- Total enrollment: 6,237 undergraduate students
- Endowment of $47,165,000
- 19:1 student–faculty ratio
- The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 84%
- 48% of students are male, 52% of students are female
Estimated Tuition
- In-state tuition and fees: $13,262 (one school year)
- Out-of-state tuition and fees: $39,944 (one school year)
- Room and Board: $15, 341 (one school year)
Housing
- 34% of students live in residence housing that is affiliated, owned, or operated by the university
- 66% of students live off campus
Athletics
- UC Merced is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and competes in the California Pacific (Cal Pac) Conference.
- On campus, there are eight varsity sports, including men’s and women’s soccer, basketball, cross country, and volleyball.
- Students can also participate in structured recreational opportunities or sports club programs, such as archery, basketball, soccer, to name a few.
Fun Facts:
- With its close proximity to Yosemite National Park and the west coast, day trips among students are popular.
- Numerous national parks, including Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park, Columbia State Historic Park near Sonora, Pinnacles National Monument located near Salinas Valley, and Knight’s Ferry, an important historical mining town during the California Gold Rush, are all easily accessible by car.
Application Information
- Deadline: November 30
- $70 application fee
- Acceptance Rate: 61%
When asked to describe a favorite campus tradition at UC Merced, one student comically responded, “UC Merced is the newest UC (University of California) in California, that strives to be environmentally friendly and a leading 21st century research facility school where faculty and students work together to generate a better tomorrow, but of course it is also known for the precious cows that surround the campus.” For students who are interested in attending a smaller campus that is environmentally friendly, consists of a diverse student body, and surrounded by the outdoors and a natural landscape, UC Merced offers these qualities to its community.
To learn more about University of California-Merced, visit http://www.ucmerced.edu
