

UC Merced Admissions 2025: Application Deadline, Requirements & Costs
815 acre campus
- Estd. 2005
- University of California Merced Admission Overview 2026
- University of California Merced Courses: Eligibility and Fees 2025
- University of California Merced Application Process 2026
- University of California-Merced Admission FAQs
University of California Merced Admission Process 2026
International students aiming to secure admission at University of California Merced must go through a structured application process that includes course selection, document submission, fee payment, and more. Below is a step-by-step overview of the University of California Merced admission process for international applicants:
- Choose your program: Explore from over 4 UG and graduate programs. Popular fields of study include Engineering and Science.
- Pay application fee: Applicants targeting postgraduate courses at University of California Merced must pay an application fee of USD 155 after uploading all academic records and supporting documents. Undergraduate applicants from India are eligible for a complete fee waiver.
- Await decision: The university typically communicates its decision (offer or rejection) via email within a few weeks of application submission.
- Apply for a student visa: Upon receiving your admission offer, apply for a USA student visa. Key documents required include a valid passport, offer letter, financial proof, visa application form, and passport-sized photos, among others.
Commonly asked questions On Admissions
Below are the UC Merced admission requirements for international students:
Undergraduate requirements:
You must complete both year X and XII state board or CBSE examinations.
Applicants must have marks above 70 annd no marks below 60 is accepted.
Applicants must Report their subjects and marks on the International Exams page of the application, under the Test Scores tab (step 4 of 5).
Applicants must Graduate from secondary school and earn a certificate of completion that allows you to attend a university in your country.
English Lanuage Tests | Minimum required score |
TOEFL ( PBT) | 550 or better |
IELTS | 6.5 or better |
TOEFL (iBT) | 80 or better |
DUOLINGO | Score of 115 or better |
Graduate requirements:
A statement of academic purpose (SOP)
Applicants must have a list of all their prior colleges or universities, accompanied by unofficial transcripts from each school. However, unofficial transcripts should be uploaded with the applicant's application.
Three letters of recommendation, the university also reserve the right to verify the authenticity of any and all letters of recommendation
Applicants must submit their Resumes and CV
A USD 155 application fee for PG applicants
A standardised test, although the graduate school does not have tests minimum for admission, individual departments may have minimum requirements. However, they need to give IELTS or TOEFL if the applicant is from a non-English speaking native country. However, there are other standardised examinations, such as GRE and GMAT, which are compulsory, however, might vary depending on the course the applicant chooses
It totally depends on the convenience of the applicants. As UC Merced and San Diego State University for Masters in CS are renowned institutions offering unique campus cultures and various academic programs. While they share a great reputation, there are subtle differences between the two universities. The below table compares the rankings, fees and acceptance rate of UC Merced and San Diego State University. Overall this information could be useful for students who are considering them.
Name of The University | Ranking | Acceptance Rate | 1st Year Tuition Fee |
UC Merced | #94 ( US News) | 86 % | INR 24 L |
San Diego State University | #601-800 (THE) | 37% | INR 12 L - 19 L |
(The comparison of fees was between the MSc courses of both the universities)
Some of the tips for students starting their first-semester at the University of California Merced are:
- Students who applied for UC Merced must be humble and should interact with as many people as possible. Mainly beacause, the more people you talk to the better knowledge you get.
- Attend as many gathering and parties as much as you can.
- Applicants should avoid missing classess, as 70% of learning comes from students going to classes.
- Students can get invovlved with extracuricular activities, i.e joing university clubs, sports etc. This will also look good on a portfolio in the longer run.
University of California Merced B.Sc. Admissions 2026
University of California Merced provides a 4 years B.Sc. program with multiple specialization options, including Mathematics, Physics, Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. Some of the streams that are popular among international students include Engineering and Science. Moreover, applicants must also have an idea of the hostel fee of USD 20,293.
Eligibility Criteria
- Accepting Exams: IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo
University of California-Merced Admission FAQs
Below are the UC Merced admission requirements for international students:
Undergraduate requirements:
You must complete both year X and XII state board or CBSE examinations.
Applicants must have marks above 70 annd no marks below 60 is accepted.
Applicants must Report their subjects and marks on the International Exams page of the application, under the Test Scores tab (step 4 of 5).
Applicants must Graduate from secondary school and earn a certificate of completion that allows you to attend a university in your country.
English Lanuage Tests | Minimum required score |
TOEFL ( PBT) | 550 or better |
IELTS | 6.5 or better |
TOEFL (iBT) | 80 or better |
DUOLINGO | Score of 115 or better |
Graduate requirements:
A statement of academic purpose (SOP)
Applicants must have a list of all their prior colleges or universities, accompanied by unofficial transcripts from each school. However, unofficial transcripts should be uploaded with the applicant's application.
Three letters of recommendation, the university also reserve the right to verify the authenticity of any and all letters of recommendation
Applicants must submit their Resumes and CV
A USD 155 application fee for PG applicants
A standardised test, although the graduate school does not have tests minimum for admission, individual departments may have minimum requirements. However, they need to give IELTS or TOEFL if the applicant is from a non-English speaking native country. However, there are other standardised examinations, such as GRE and GMAT, which are compulsory, however, might vary depending on the course the applicant chooses
Yes it does accept UC Merced for international students. International students must submit a proof of English Language proficiency to be considered for Columbia University admission ( especially non-english speaking countries). Students can demonstrate that they are proficient in English by submitting the English proficiency test scores.
Want to have a good score in IELTS? then check out : Free IELTS classes
English Lanuage Tests | Minimum required score |
---|---|
TOEFL ( PBT) | 550 or better |
IELTS | 6.5 or better |
TOEFL (iBT) | 80 or better |
DUOLINGO | Score of 115 or better |
UC Merced and UC Davis are renowned institutions offering unique campus cultures and various academic programs. While they share a great reputation, there are subtle differences between the two universities. The below table compares the rankings, fees and acceptance rate of UC Merced and UC Davis . Overall this information could be useful for students who are considering them.
Here is the comparison highlighting the differences between the Universities:
Name of The University | Ranking | Acceptance Rate | 1st Year Tuition Fee |
---|---|---|---|
UC Merced | #301-350 | 86 % | UG course: INR 9 L PG course: INR 24 L |
UC Davis |
| 41% |
|
(The comparison of fees was between the B.Sc course for UG and the Ms course for PG)
It totally depends on the convenience of the applicants. As UC Merced and San Diego State University for Masters in CS are renowned institutions offering unique campus cultures and various academic programs. While they share a great reputation, there are subtle differences between the two universities. The below table compares the rankings, fees and acceptance rate of UC Merced and San Diego State University. Overall this information could be useful for students who are considering them.
Name of The University | Ranking | Acceptance Rate | 1st Year Tuition Fee |
UC Merced | #94 ( US News) | 86 % | INR 24 L |
San Diego State University | #601-800 (THE) | 37% | INR 12 L - 19 L |
(The comparison of fees was between the MSc courses of both the universities)
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5200 Lake Rd, Merced, CA 95343, United States
Merced ( California)
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