University of California-Merced Net Price Calculator and Real Cost Breakdown
U.S. Department of Education data Net price 2022-23 Charges 2023-24 Verified 2026-08-13 Methodology
The published cost of attendance at University of California-Merced is about $51,222 for 2023-24 ($14,167 tuition and fees plus housing and food, books and supplies, and other on-campus expenses), and the average student paid $13,232 after grants and scholarships (2022-23 federal data). Your actual price depends mostly on family income. Use the estimator below.
Source: U.S. Department of Education IPEDS, net price 2022-23, published charges 2023-24. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
Estimate your net price
Select your household income to see the average net price students in your bracket actually paid at University of California-Merced (2022-23 federal data).
per year, estimated
Average net price by household income
| Household income | Average net price (2022-23) |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $8,572 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $9,581 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $11,594 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $17,323 |
| $110,001 and up | $30,561 |
Average net price for full-time first-time undergraduates awarded grant or scholarship aid. Source: IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2022-23. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
Where the aid comes from
Aid received by full-time first-time undergraduates at University of California-Merced in 2022-23, by source:
- 55 percent received a federal Pell Grant, averaging $5,704.
- 71 percent received institutional grants or scholarships from the school itself, averaging $11,298.
- 75 percent received state or local government grants, averaging $11,227.
- 31 percent took out federal student loans, averaging $4,710. Loans must be repaid and do not reduce the net price.
Source: IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2022-23, full-time first-time undergraduates. Retrieved 2026-08-13. These figures describe a past cohort and are not an offer or estimate of aid.
Published cost vs what students actually pay
81 percent of full-time first-time undergraduates received grant or scholarship aid (2022-23 IPEDS).
That average net price is $11,101 below the California average of $24,333 across 180 reporting 4-year institutions (IPEDS SFA 2022-23, retrieved 2026-08-13).
Is the net price rising or falling?
The average net price at University of California-Merced rose $1,646 over the two years ending 2022-23.
Average net price by year, 2020-21 through 2022-23, from the IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
Size, retention, debt, earnings, and completion
- 8,372 degree-seeking undergraduates enrolled. Source: College Scorecard, most recent fall. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
- 82 percent of full-time first-time students returned for a second year. Source: College Scorecard, most recent cohort. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
- 69 percent of students complete within 150 percent of normal time. Source: College Scorecard. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
- $16,144 median federal loan debt at graduation. Source: College Scorecard, most recent cohort. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
- $48,475 median earnings of former students 6 years after entry. Source: College Scorecard median earnings, most recent cohort. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
- $64,368 median earnings of former students 10 years after entry. Source: College Scorecard median earnings, most recent cohort. Retrieved 2026-08-13.
Earnings, debt, retention, and completion describe past federal aid cohorts as reported by the College Scorecard. They are not a promise of any individual outcome.
Common questions about University of California-Merced costs
What is the real cost of University of California-Merced?
Published tuition and fees at University of California-Merced are $14,167 for 2023-24. The average net price, the full cost of attendance minus grant and scholarship aid, was $13,232 (2022-23 IPEDS Student Financial Aid data, retrieved 2026-08-13). Your price depends mostly on household income.
How much aid do students at University of California-Merced get?
81 percent of full-time first-time undergraduates at University of California-Merced received grant or scholarship aid in 2022-23 (IPEDS, retrieved 2026-08-13). The income bracket table on this page shows the average net price after that aid.
Do students at University of California-Merced get Pell Grants?
55 percent of full-time first-time undergraduates at University of California-Merced received a federal Pell Grant in 2022-23, averaging $5,704 (IPEDS Student Financial Aid data, retrieved 2026-08-13). Pell eligibility is determined by your FAFSA, not by the school.
Is University of California-Merced worth the cost?
Federal data reports outcomes without judging value. Median federal loan debt at graduation is $16,144. Median earnings 10 years after entry are $64,368 (College Scorecard). Compare those figures with the net price for your income bracket to judge fit for your situation.
The school's official calculator
For a personalized federal estimate including your assets and family details, use University of California-Merced's official net price calculator.
CollegeNPC.com is not affiliated with or endorsed by University of California-Merced. Data is compiled from U.S. Department of Education public datasets. For the school's official net price calculator, visit the school's site.