University of California-Merced Acceptance Rate
Merced, California · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 67,891
- Admitted
- 26,598
- Yield
- 9.1%
- Test policy
- Test-blind
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, University of California-Merced's acceptance rate has fallen from 67.2% in 2014–15 to 39.2% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 16,268 to 67,891 (+317%) over that period.
Its 39.2% rate makes University of California-Merced more selective than about 90% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 84 tracked California schools, it is more selective than about 74%.
University of California-Merced has been test-blind (scores not considered) since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 9.1% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 16,268 | 10,929 | 67.2% | 1,551 |
| 2015–16 | 18,862 | 11,447 | 60.7% | 1,788 |
| 2016–17 | 20,888 | 15,492 | 74.2% | 2,048 |
| 2017–18 | 22,574 | 15,754 | 69.8% | 2,293 |
| 2018–19 | 25,131 | 16,628 | 66.2% | 2,214 |
| 2019–20 | 25,424 | 18,294 | 72% | 2,105 |
| 2020–21 | 25,923 | 21,982 | 84.8% | 1,951 |
| 2021–22 | 27,793 | 24,068 | 86.6% | 2,410 |
| 2022–23 | 29,920 | 26,766 | 89.5% | 2,392 |
| 2023–24 | 67,891 | 26,598 | 39.2% | 2,416 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 35,419 | 13,573 | 38.3% |
| Men | 32,472 | 13,025 | 40.1% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-blind (not considered).
How University of California compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is University of California-Merced's acceptance rate?
University of California-Merced's acceptance rate is 39.2% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (26,598 admitted of 67,891 applicants).
Is University of California-Merced test optional?
University of California-Merced is test-blind: SAT/ACT scores are not considered in admission.
How many people apply to University of California-Merced?
University of California-Merced received 67,891 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 26,598.
Is University of California-Merced getting harder to get into?
University of California-Merced has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 67.2% in 2014–15 to 39.2% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: ucmerced.edu/.