MERCED, CA · PUBLIC
University of California-Merced reported a $11,983 average net price, a completion rate of 68.9%, $65,410 median earnings four years after completion, and $16,144 median federal debt among completers in the June 2026 College Scorecard release.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College ScorecardPage compiled September 16, 2026Download source data ↗
01 · Earnings after completion
University of California-Merced’s median earnings were $65,410 four years after completion and $62,884 five years after completion, based on 1,620 and 1,250 working graduates, respectively.
The red marker shows the federal earnings threshold where available. Earnings cover graduates who were working and not enrolled; they do not include every former student.
02 · Cost after grant aid
University of California-Merced reported a $11,983 average net price. Published lower-income figures were $7,945 for households below $30,001 and $8,465 for households from $30,001 to $48,000.
| Federal income band | Average net price |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $7,945 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $8,465 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $11,557 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $14,828 |
| $110,001+ | $28,734 |
Average net price is cost of attendance minus average grant and scholarship aid for the defined cohort. Your actual price depends on the institution’s aid offer.
03 · Student progress and aid
University of California-Merced reported a completion rate of 68.9%, a retention rate of 82.6%, a Pell-recipient share of 58.9%, and a federal-loan share of 28.5%.
These percentages have different denominators. Completion and retention describe first-time student cohorts; Pell and federal-loan shares describe undergraduate aid receipt.
04 · Federal student debt
Median federal debt among University of California-Merced completers was $16,144 across 2,023 reported borrowers. The figure is cumulative debt, not annual cost or a monthly payment.
$16,144
Borrower repayment progress after four years: 34.0% across a reported cohort of 1,439 undergraduate completers.
05 · Field-of-study evidence
6 University of California-Merced programs met this site’s evidence threshold, including Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Business Administration, Management and Operations.
A program page requires at least 75 working graduates plus published four-year earnings and median debt. This is our evidence threshold, not a federal rating.
06 · Nearby comparison set
This report lists 6 other public institutions in California that match University of California-Merced on state and control type; the set is not ranked.
Answers at a glance
The University of California-Merced FAQ reports $11,983 average net price, $65,410 four-year median earnings, and $16,144 median federal debt.
The reported average net price was $11,983 for the applicable Title IV student cohort. It is a cohort average, not an individual aid offer.
University of California-Merced’s median earnings were $65,410 four years after completion and $62,884 five years after completion, based on 1,620 and 1,250 working graduates, respectively.
Median federal debt among University of California-Merced completers was $16,144 across 2,023 reported borrowers. The figure is cumulative debt, not annual cost or a monthly payment.
