Tuition & net price

How much does University of California, Merced cost?

Published tuition is $15,623 in-state and $49,823 out-of-state, with a full cost of attendance of $39,665 a year. After aid, families pay between $7,945 and $28,734 depending on income.

In-state tuition$15,623before aid
Out-of-state$49,823before aid
Lowest net price$7,945families under $30k
Highest net price$28,734families over $110k

What families actually pay Average net price after grants and scholarships, by household income.

Household incomeNet price a yearShare of the sticker price
Under $30,000 $7,945 20%
$30,001–$48,000 $8,465 21%
$48,001–$75,000 $11,557 29%
$75,001–$110,000 $14,828 37%
Over $110,000 $28,734 72%

Net price is the federal measure of what students actually pay: total cost of attendance minus the grant and scholarship aid they receive. It is the only cost figure worth comparing between universities — the published tuition above is a list price that most students never pay in full.

Who pays how The mix of grant aid and borrowing at this university.

On Pell grants
59%
Take federal loans
29%
Typical repayment
$171/mo

A high Pell share means the university enrols many lower-income students, and usually that its net price for those families is well below the sticker price. A high loan share means the gap between aid and cost is being filled with borrowing — the repayment record shows how that works out afterwards.

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How the price compares Universities charging a similar amount in California.

UniversityIn-stateOut-of-stateCost of attendanceNet price (under $30k)
University of California, Riverside $15,606 $49,806 $38,942 $8,852
University of California, Irvine $15,722 $49,922 $38,632 $8,123
University of La Verne $49,470 $49,470 $62,278 $20,151
University of California, Santa Cruz $16,005 $50,205 $41,179 $8,717
University of California, Los Angeles $15,203 $49,403 $38,614 $5,579
University of California, Berkeley $16,347 $50,547 $45,619 $5,311

University of California, Merced costs: common questions

How much is tuition at University of California, Merced?
Published tuition is $15,623 for in-state students and $49,823 for out-of-state students, before any aid.
What does University of California, Merced actually cost after financial aid?
It depends on family income. After grants and scholarships, families earning under $30,000 pay a net $7,945 a year, while families over $110,000 pay $28,734.
What is the total cost of attendance at University of California, Merced?
$39,665 a year as the institution reports it — tuition, fees, housing, books and living costs combined. Almost nobody pays this in full; the net price above is what families actually pay.
Is University of California, Merced worth the money?
Graduates earn a median $64,368 ten years after starting, against $16,144 of median debt — see the full payback breakdown for the arithmetic.
University of California, Merced profile Debt vs graduate salary Student loan record SAT scores & admission Cheapest US universities

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition and cost of attendance are as reported by the institution; net price is the average paid by students receiving federal aid, by household income band. Figures imported 28 Aug 2026.