UC Merced and UC Davis are both University of California research universities, but they offer very different undergraduate experiences.
UC Davis has one of the broadest academic portfolios in the UC system, with more than 120 major programs, a major research enterprise, more than 900 student organizations and a college-town setting close to Sacramento. UC Merced offers 43 majors and 48 degree programs, with growing strengths across engineering, computing, data, health and environmental fields, along with nationally recognized outcomes, social mobility and affordability.
The difference in current rankings is also more nuanced than reputation alone might suggest. U.S. News ranks UC Davis higher overall, while the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2026 rankings place the two universities next to each other: UC Davis at No. 13 nationally and No. 2 among publics, and UC Merced at No. 14 nationally and No. 3 among publics.
The better fit depends on what you want to study, the experiences you want before graduation, the kind of place you want to live and what each university will actually cost your family.
UC Merced or UC Davis?
UC Merced may fit you especially well if:
- •Academics: your interests align with UC Merced's engineering, computing, AI, data, environmental systems, sustainability, neuroscience, public health or programs that connect more than one field
- •Research: you want undergraduate research to be part of your college plan and UC Merced has active work in areas you care about, including AI, engineering, climate, water, health and sustainability
- •Recognition: you value UC Merced's current combination of a No. 14 Wall Street Journal/College Pulse overall ranking and No. 3 public ranking, a No. 4 U.S. News social-mobility ranking and Carnegie R1 research status
- •Location: you like the idea of studying in California's San Joaquin Valley, beside Lake Yosemite, with access toward Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada and strong academic connections to Central Valley issues
- •Campus experience: you want concerts, clubs, campus traditions and NCAA Division II athletics within a university of just over 9,600 students. Major events include Treats N' Beats, Cowtopia and CABapalooza
- •Career opportunity: you want to build experience through research, projects, career fairs and connections to employers, public agencies and partners such as Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
- •Affordability: your UC Merced aid package produces the lower real cost, minimizing borrowing is especially important to you, or UC Merced's current distinction for the lowest average student debt at graduation in the UC system matters to your decision
- •Sustainability: you want sustainability visible in both campus life and research. UC Merced holds an AASHE STARS Platinum rating and its campus is built to LEED-certified standards
- •Social mobility: you value a university where 66% of undergraduates are first-generation and 62% are Pell-eligible, and where U.S. News ranks the institution No. 4 nationally for social mobility
UC Davis may fit you especially well if:
- •Academics: you want a very broad catalog with more than 120 major programs and more than 110 minors, or one of Davis' distinctive strengths in agriculture, food, biological sciences, engineering, business, environment or animal science strongly matches your plans
- •Research: you want to study within a very large research enterprise where UC Davis reports that 50% of undergraduates conduct research or creative projects beyond the classroom
- •Recognition: you value UC Davis' current No. 34 U.S. News national ranking and No. 8 public ranking along with its No. 13 Wall Street Journal/College Pulse overall ranking and No. 2 public ranking
- •Location: you want a classic bike-oriented college town with downtown next to campus, Sacramento about 20 minutes away and broad access to Northern California
- •Campus experience: you want more than 900 student organizations and 25 NCAA Division I sports plus major traditions such as Picnic Day, Whole Earth Festival and Lawntopia
- •Career opportunity: you want large career fairs, broad employer recruiting, access to Sacramento and a large university network spanning government, healthcare, agriculture, technology, engineering and research
- •Affordability: your UC Davis aid package produces the lower real cost, or Money's 5-star 2026 value rating is particularly important to you
- •Sustainability: you want sustainability connected to agriculture, food, transportation, environment and a large research university. UC Davis currently holds an AASHE STARS Gold rating and ranks No. 1 in the United States in the 2025 UI GreenMetric ranking
- •Social mobility: you value UC Davis' No. 37 U.S. News social-mobility ranking and its substantial enrollment of first-generation and Pell-eligible students
Start with your intended major and your actual financial aid offers. Then compare the research, career, campus and location experiences you are most likely to use.
Current national recognition
UC Merced
- •Overall: #69 National University — U.S. News 2027
- •Public universities: #30 Public University — U.S. News 2027
- •Social mobility: #4 nationally — U.S. News 2027
- •Best value: #18 Best Value Schools for in-state students and #40 Best Colleges for Veterans (nationwide) — U.S. News 2027
- •In California: #7 among public universities and #11 overall — U.S. News 2027
- •Wall Street Journal / College Pulse 2026: #14 overall and #3 among public universities — as reported by UC Merced
- •Subject strengths: #135 undergraduate Engineering among doctorate-granting universities — U.S. News 2026. This is one subject measure among many.
- •Research: Carnegie R1, recognized in February 2025, with undergraduate research supported through UROC. UC Merced is the only university in the nation holding all four Carnegie classifications — R1, Opportunity, Community Engagement and Sustainability — UC Merced accolades
- •Sustainability: AASHE STARS Platinum; campus buildings are LEED certified — UC Merced Sustainability
- •Careers: career specialists by academic program, employer events, career fairs and career treks to regions including Silicon Valley, San Francisco and Los Angeles — UC Merced career prep
- •Value: 4.5 out of 5 stars — Money 2026
UC Davis
- •Overall: #34 National University — U.S. News 2027
- •Public universities: #8 Public University — U.S. News 2027
- •Social mobility: #37 nationally — U.S. News 2027
- •Best value: #10 Best Value Schools for in-state students — U.S. News 2027
- •Wall Street Journal / College Pulse 2026: #13 overall and #2 among public universities — as reported by UC Davis
- •Subject strengths: #32 undergraduate Engineering and #35 undergraduate Computer Science, with highly ranked individual areas including biological/agricultural engineering — U.S. News 2026
- •Research: Carnegie R1; UC Davis reports that 50% of undergraduates conduct research or creative projects beyond the classroom
- •Sustainability: AASHE STARS Gold; also ranked No. 1 in the United States and No. 7 globally in the 2025 UI GreenMetric ranking
- •Careers: the Career Center hosts four to six major career fairs each year; current university information says each can attract more than 2,000 students and 100 employers — UC Davis Career Center
- •Value: 5 out of 5 stars — Money 2026
UC Merced vs. UC Davis at a glance
| UC Merced | UC Davis | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Merced, San Joaquin Valley | Davis, Sacramento Valley |
| Enrollment | Over 9,600 students (a campus record) | 31,797 undergraduates |
| Majors and degree programs | 43 majors and 48 degree programs | 120+ major programs and 110+ minors |
| Research classification | Carnegie R1 | Carnegie R1 |
| Student organizations | 200+ | 900+ |
| Athletics | NCAA Division II; 12 varsity teams | NCAA Division I; 25 sports |
| Incoming first-year housing guarantee | Two years for students meeting housing requirements and deadlines | First year for students meeting housing requirements and deadlines |
| U.S. News 2027 national | #69 | #34 |
| U.S. News 2027 public | #30 | #8 |
| U.S. News 2027 social mobility | #4 | #37 |
| AASHE STARS | Platinum | Gold |
| Money 2026 | 4.5 / 5 stars | 5 / 5 stars |
| Published on-campus cost of attendance | $48,654 | $49,009 |
Published cost of attendance is not the same as what your family will pay. The current published on-campus estimates differ by only $355. Grants, scholarships, housing choices and borrowing can matter far more than that difference.
Academics: what stands out at each university?
UC Merced
UC Merced offers 43 majors and 48 degree programs, with additional emphases and specialized pathways inside many programs. Areas especially worth exploring include:
Engineering + computing
- •Aerospace Engineering
- •Artificial Intelligence
- •Bioengineering
- •Biochemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- •Civil Engineering
- •Computer Science
- •Computer Science and Engineering
- •Data Science
- •Electrical Engineering
- •Environmental Engineering
- •Materials Science and Engineering
- •Mechanical Engineering
Students can also find pathways involving:
- •Machine learning
- •Robotics
- •Sustainable energy
- •Semiconductors
- •Computational science
- •Biotechnology
- •Biomedical instrumentation
Science + health
- •Biological Sciences
- •Biochemistry
- •Neuroscience
- •Public Health
- •Bioengineering
- •Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology
- •Chemistry
- •Pre-health and pre-med pathways within selected programs
Environment + sustainability
- •Environmental Systems Science
- •Environmental Engineering
- •Environmental Humanities
- •Climate and water research
- •Sustainability-related research and project work
Programs that connect fields
- •Data Science and Computing
- •Science, Technology and Ethics
- •Management of Innovation, Sustainability and Technology
- •Neuroscience
- •Data Science and Analytics
UC Merced is particularly worth exploring if your interests overlap areas such as technology and science, data and another discipline, health and research, or environment and engineering.
UC Davis
UC Davis offers more than 120 major programs and more than 110 minors. Its academic breadth is one of the clearest differences in this comparison.
Agriculture + food + environment
- •Animal Science
- •Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems
- •Environmental Science
- •Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology
- •Plant Sciences
- •Viticulture and Enology
- •Food Science
- •Agricultural and Resource Economics
Biology + health
- •Biological Sciences
- •Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- •Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior
- •Molecular and Medical Microbiology
- •Biotechnology
- •Biomedical Engineering
- •Clinical Nutrition
Engineering + computing
- •Aerospace Science and Engineering
- •Biological Systems Engineering
- •Biomedical Engineering
- •Chemical Engineering
- •Civil Engineering
- •Computer Engineering
- •Computer Science
- •Computer Science and Engineering
- •Electrical Engineering
- •Environmental Engineering
- •Materials Science and Engineering
- •Mechanical Engineering
- •Data Science
Business + social sciences + humanities
- •Business
- •Economics
- •Communication
- •Psychology
- •Design
- •Sociology
- •Political Science
- •Humanities and arts
UC Davis is particularly worth exploring if academic breadth is a major priority or if one of its distinctive specialties, such as agriculture, food, animal science or another Davis-specific field, closely matches what you want to study.
Student takeaway
If UC Davis offers a field UC Merced does not, that may be an important factor. If both universities offer your intended major, compare:
- •Required courses
- •Specialization options
- •Undergraduate research
- •Projects
- •Internships
- •Faculty research
- •Career preparation
What is student life actually like?
UC Merced
Clubs and organizations
UC Merced has more than 200 registered student clubs and organizations spanning:
- •Academic and professional interests
- •Arts and performance
- •Cultural communities
- •Gaming
- •Recreation
- •Service
- •Religion
- •Greek life
- •Special interests
Events and traditions
Current Campus Activities Board events include:
- •Treats N' Beats — UC Merced's major fall concert
- •Cowtopia — the annual spring concert with live music, food trucks and activities
- •CABapalooza — a beginning-of-year event with music, food and activities
Other programming includes:
- •CABCinema outdoor movies
- •CABsterical comedy
- •Bobcats Got Talent!
- •CAB Ball
- •Bingo
- •Dances
- •Student performances
Athletics and recreation
UC Merced has received approval for full NCAA Division II membership. Students can also participate in recreation, fitness and intramural activities.
Housing
Incoming first-year students who meet the required housing deadlines are guaranteed university housing for two years, and incoming transfer students who meet the requirements receive a one-year guarantee. Residence halls include study lounges, recreation spaces and other residential resources.
UC Davis
Clubs and organizations
UC Davis reports more than 900 undergraduate student clubs and organizations. Students can find groups built around:
- •Professional interests
- •Culture
- •Arts
- •Community service
- •Recreation
- •Religion
- •Greek life
- •Academic interests
Events and traditions
- •Picnic Day — one of UC Davis' signature traditions and one of the country's largest student-run events, with hundreds of activities across campus
- •Whole Earth Festival — a multi-day student festival combining live music, art, community activities and sustainability
- •Lawntopia — a major spring concert organized by the ASUCD Entertainment Council
Athletics and recreation
UC Davis has 25 NCAA Division I sports, along with intramurals, club sports and a large campus recreation program.
Housing
Incoming first-year students are guaranteed on-campus housing for their first year when requirements and deadlines are met, and incoming transfer students currently have a two-year housing guarantee. More than 90% of incoming first-year students choose residence-hall housing.
What feels different?
UC Davis offers the scale of a university with more than 31,000 undergraduates, hundreds of organizations and large traditions that draw students and the surrounding community.
UC Merced also has major concerts, clubs, traditions and athletics, within a campus of just over 9,600 students.
Both scales appeal to different students. Choose the one you want to live in.
What is it like to live in Merced vs. Davis?
UC Merced
UC Merced sits just outside the city of Merced in California's San Joaquin Valley. Merced has roughly 80,000 residents and a downtown with:
- •Restaurants
- •Coffee shops
- •Local businesses
- •Farmers markets
- •Murals and public art
- •Merced Multicultural Arts Center
- •Historic Merced Theatre
- •Community events and performances
Lake Yosemite sits next to campus. Merced is known as the Gateway to Yosemite, and the university is roughly two hours by car from San Francisco and Sacramento.
The surrounding region is important to UC Merced academically as well. Research and community work connect students with Central Valley and Sierra Nevada issues involving:
- •Agriculture
- •Water
- •Climate
- •Wildfire
- •Health and healthcare access
- •Energy
- •Education
- •Economic development
UC Davis
Davis is a college town built directly around the university. Downtown is only a few blocks from campus and includes:
- •Restaurants and coffee shops
- •A farmers market
- •Bookstores
- •Local shops
- •Art galleries
- •Live music
- •Parks
Biking is central to everyday life, with an extensive network of bike routes and greenbelts. Sacramento is about 20 minutes away by car. Other approximate drive times include:
- •Napa: about 50 minutes
- •San Francisco: about 90 minutes
- •Lake Tahoe: about two hours
Sacramento can be particularly relevant for students interested in:
- •California government
- •Public policy
- •Healthcare
- •Nonprofits
- •Research
- •Public service
- •Business
Which setting sounds more like you: Merced
Which setting sounds more like you: Davis
How do career opportunities compare?
UC Merced
UC Merced provides career specialists assigned by academic program along with:
- •Individual coaching
- •Job-search help
- •Interview preparation
- •Employer connections
- •Company information sessions
- •Graduate-school sessions
- •Career and internship fairs
- •Career treks to Silicon Valley, San Francisco and Los Angeles
UC Merced also lists recent employers of graduates including organizations such as Apple, Google, Genentech, Kaiser Permanente, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, PG&E, Tesla, the National Park Service, the California State Assembly and E. & J. Gallo Winery.
These are examples of organizations that have hired UC Merced graduates, not a placement rate or hiring guarantee.
Students can also build experience through:
- •Undergraduate research
- •Engineering and computing projects
- •Internships
- •Public-agency work
- •Community projects
- •University research partnerships
UC Davis
The UC Davis Career Center provides:
- •Individual advising
- •Drop-in advising
- •Résumé and cover-letter support
- •Interview preparation
- •Internship and job-search assistance
- •Handshake
- •Employer recruiting
- •Workshops and information sessions
UC Davis currently hosts four to six major career fairs each year. The university reports that individual fairs can attract more than 2,000 students and about 100 employers.
UC Davis students can also build experience through:
- •Undergraduate research
- •Internships
- •UC Center Sacramento
- •Programs in Sacramento
- •Global internships
- •Engineering and research projects
- •Campus employment
Student takeaway
UC Davis offers a larger career and employer infrastructure. UC Merced offers career advising, employer connections, project and research experience and access to regional, Bay Area and national-laboratory relationships. The meaningful comparison is by major. Ask:
- •Which employers recruit in my field?
- •Where do recent graduates in my major go?
- •Which internships fit my interests?
- •What research or project work can I put on a résumé?
- •Which geographic job market interests me?
- •What opportunities am I realistically likely to use?
What would UC Merced or UC Davis actually cost you?
The difference is $355. A $355 difference in published annual cost does not tell you which university will actually cost your family less. Financial aid can change the result by thousands of dollars.
These figures are budgeting estimates that include more than tuition, such as housing, food, books, transportation, personal expenses and health insurance.
The comparison that matters
UC Merced financial aid context
UC Merced participates in federal, California and UC aid programs including:
- •Pell Grants
- •Cal Grants
- •UC grants
- •Middle Class Scholarship
- •Scholarships
- •Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan for eligible California residents
- •Work-study
Current UC Merced reporting also states that the university has the lowest average student debt at graduation in the UC system. Money rated UC Merced 4.5 out of 5 stars in 2026.
UC Davis financial aid context
UC Davis participates in the same major federal, California and UC financial-aid programs. Its current Enrollment Management report states that UC Davis awarded $878 million in financial aid to more than 29,000 students.
Money rated UC Davis 5 out of 5 stars in 2026.
What should your family compare?
- •Grants and scholarships
- •Remaining family cost
- •Loans
- •Work-study
- •Housing
- •Transportation
- •Recurring vs. one-time aid
- •Likely four-year cost
What if undergraduate research matters to you?
Both universities are Carnegie R1 research universities. Their research enterprises differ substantially in scale, and both offer undergraduate pathways.
UC Merced
UC Merced earned Carnegie R1 classification in February 2025. Its Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center helps students connect with faculty-mentored research. Faculty have earned 44 CAREER Awards, and research expenditures totaled $77 million in 2024–25.
Current UC Merced research spans fields including:
- •Artificial intelligence
- •Machine learning
- •Computer vision
- •Autonomous systems
- •Engineering
- •Neuroscience
- •Health
- •Water
- •Climate
- •Drought
- •Wildfire
- •Agriculture
- •Sustainability
- •Energy
- •Advanced materials
Recent examples of research moving toward practical use include:
- •Project Nexus solar-over-canal work
- •AI computing research
- •Autonomous-systems research
- •Expanded work with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
UC Davis
UC Davis is also Carnegie R1 and operates a substantially larger research enterprise. The university currently reports that 50% of undergraduates conduct research or creative projects beyond the classroom, along with more than $1 billion in annual research funding in its current research materials.
Research spans areas such as:
- •Agriculture
- •Food
- •Biological sciences
- •Medicine and health
- •Veterinary science
- •Engineering
- •Computing
- •Environment
- •Climate
- •Energy
- •Humanities
- •Social sciences
Distinctive research settings include resources such as:
- •Bodega Marine Laboratory
- •Tahoe Environmental Research Center
- •Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science
- •UC Davis Institute of the Environment
- •UC Davis Health research environments
Student takeaway
UC Davis has the larger research enterprise and publishes a strong undergraduate participation figure. UC Merced provides structured undergraduate research pathways within its R1 environment, with particularly visible work in areas including AI, engineering, water, climate, sustainability and Central Valley health. Ask:
- •Which faculty are studying something I care about?
- •How do undergraduates find openings?
- •What opportunities exist in my major?
- •Are summer research programs available?
- •Can research earn academic credit?
- •What preparation is expected?
How do sustainability opportunities compare?
UC Merced
UC Merced currently holds an AASHE STARS Platinum rating. Its campus is built to LEED-certified standards, and the university reports that all campus buildings are LEED certified.
Students can encounter sustainability through areas including:
- •Water
- •Climate
- •Energy
- •Transportation
- •Biodiversity
- •Environmental engineering
- •Environmental Systems Science
- •Campus sustainability projects
- •Living Lab work
UC Merced's research setting also connects sustainability with major Central Valley and Sierra Nevada questions involving water, agriculture, wildfire and climate.
UC Davis
UC Davis currently holds an AASHE STARS Gold rating and ranks No. 1 in the United States and No. 7 globally in the 2025 UI GreenMetric sustainability ranking.
Sustainability is especially visible in areas such as:
- •Agriculture
- •Food systems
- •Transportation
- •Climate
- •Energy
- •Environmental science
- •Campus operations
- •Land management
Student takeaway
UC Davis has particularly strong national and global sustainability recognition and exceptional breadth in agriculture, food and environmental fields.
UC Merced has a STARS Platinum rating and a distinctive sustainability story connecting campus operations with water, climate, energy and Central Valley research.
Choose based on the part of sustainability you want to study or participate in.
Where can students build and test new ideas?
UC Merced
- •Innovate to Grow — engineering and computing students work on real problems with outside organizations
- •Project Nexus — research originating at UC Merced helped lead to California's first solar-over-canal pilot
- •Merced 2 Market — university research with potential practical uses is introduced to outside partners and potential investors
- •Research partnerships — UC Merced has expanded research relationships with organizations including Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
UC Davis
- •Student Startup Center — entrepreneurship programming, mentors, workshops and resources
- •Entrepreneurship curriculum — students can pursue entrepreneurship coursework alongside their primary academic field
- •PLASMA — a startup accelerator supporting student ventures
- •Aggie Square — UC Davis also connects research, healthcare, companies and community partners through major initiatives such as Aggie Square
Student takeaway
UC Davis has a large entrepreneurship and research-development infrastructure. UC Merced has a growing set of student projects, applied research and outside partnerships that allow students to see ideas move toward practical use. Ask:
- •Can undergraduates participate?
- •Are there project-based classes?
- •Can I work with an outside organization?
- •Are mentors available?
- •Can I test or pitch an idea?
- •Does the university have opportunities in the field I care about?
How do the Engineering options compare?
UC Merced
UC Merced currently offers undergraduate Engineering and related computing programs including areas such as:
- •Aerospace Engineering
- •Bioengineering
- •Biochemical and Biomolecular Engineering
- •Civil Engineering
- •Electrical Engineering
- •Environmental Engineering
- •Materials Science and Engineering
- •Mechanical Engineering
- •Computer Science and Engineering
Current specialized pathways also include areas such as:
- •Artificial intelligence
- •Robotics
- •Sustainable energy
- •Semiconductors
- •Electric vehicles
- •Biotechnology
- •Biomedical instrumentation
Students can build experience through undergraduate research, capstone and design work, Innovate to Grow and engineering organizations. See UC Merced majors and minors.
UC Davis
The UC Davis College of Engineering currently offers 13 undergraduate majors:
- •Aerospace Science and Engineering
- •Biochemical Engineering
- •Biological Systems Engineering
- •Biomedical Engineering
- •Chemical Engineering
- •Civil Engineering
- •Computer Engineering
- •Computer Science
- •Computer Science and Engineering
- •Electrical Engineering
- •Environmental Engineering
- •Materials Science and Engineering
- •Mechanical Engineering
UC Davis is especially distinctive where Engineering connects with agriculture, biological systems, medicine and health, food, environment and energy. Students also have access to research, student design work, Engineering clubs and teams and Engineering-focused career fairs.
Student takeaway
Both universities offer substantial Engineering options. UC Davis has a larger established Engineering research environment and distinctive strengths involving biological systems, agriculture and health. UC Merced offers Engineering options tied to areas such as AI, robotics, environmental systems, sustainable energy and current applied research.
If Engineering is one of your main reasons for choosing between the universities, compare the exact programs side by side.
How do the Computer Science options compare?
UC Merced
Current undergraduate computing pathways include (UC Merced majors and minors):
- •Computer Science
- •Computer Science and Engineering
- •Artificial Intelligence
- •Data Science and Computing
- •Data Science and Analytics
- •Related Electrical Engineering options
Current research includes:
- •Artificial intelligence
- •Machine learning
- •Computer vision
- •Autonomous systems
- •Robotics
- •High-performance computing
- •Cloud and distributed systems
- •Cybersecurity
UC Davis
Current computing options include (UC Davis Computer Science):
- •Computer Science
- •Computer Science and Engineering
- •Computer Engineering
- •Data Science
- •Related computing minors and interdisciplinary options
UC Davis' large research environment also lets students connect computing with areas such as biology, health, agriculture, environment, Engineering and data-intensive research.
Student takeaway
UC Davis offers computing within a much larger research and academic environment. UC Merced offers several computing and data pathways with particularly visible current work in AI, vision, autonomous systems and high-performance computing.
If Computer Science is central to your enrollment decision, compare the curricula and research areas program by program.
How do the Pre-Med experiences compare?
There is no required undergraduate "pre-med major" at either university. Students can choose a major that fits their interests while completing medical-school prerequisites.
UC Merced
UC Merced provides dedicated Pre-Health Advising. Students can prepare through fields such as:
- •Biological Sciences
- •Public Health
- •Neuroscience
- •Bioengineering
- •Biochemistry
- •Chemistry
- •Other majors combined with medical-school prerequisites
Preparation can also include:
- •Undergraduate research
- •Health-related community work
- •Public health
- •Advising
- •Regional health programs
SJV PRIME+
UC Merced also offers SJV PRIME+, an eight-year B.S.-to-M.D. pathway developed with UCSF and UCSF Fresno.
SJV PRIME+ is a selective pathway for qualifying incoming first-year students with strong ties to the San Joaquin Valley and a commitment to serving the region. It is not a general medical-school guarantee for UC Merced pre-med students.
UC Davis
UC Davis Health Professions Advising serves students pursuing medicine and other health careers, regardless of undergraduate major. Resources include:
- •One-to-one advising
- •Prerequisite planning
- •Pre-med orientation
- •Application guidance
- •Advice on health-related experience
- •Workshops
- •Medical-school preparation
UC Davis also has extensive biological and health sciences, biomedical research, UC Davis Health and a School of Medicine in Sacramento.
Attending UC Davis as an undergraduate does not guarantee or automatically provide preference for admission to the UC Davis School of Medicine.
Student takeaway
UC Davis may deserve a particularly close look if its large biological and health-sciences environment, Health Professions Advising and connection to UC Davis Health align with your goals.
UC Merced may deserve a particularly close look if SJV PRIME+ fits your background and goals, or if you want pre-health preparation connected to Central Valley health, public health and undergraduate research.
For either university compare:
- •Intended major
- •Prerequisites
- •Advising
- •Research
- •Clinical and community experience
- •Cost
- •Medical-school application preparation
Which one feels more like your college?
UC Merced may fit you especially well if…
Academics
Research
Recognition
Location
Campus experience
Career opportunity
Affordability
Sustainability
Social mobility
UC Davis may fit you especially well if…
Academics
Research
Recognition
Location
Campus experience
Career opportunity
Affordability
Sustainability
Social mobility
Before you choose, answer these
-
Which university has the stronger program for the major I actually want?
-
Does UC Davis offer a specialized field I cannot study at UC Merced?
-
Does UC Merced offer a program, emphasis or combination that fits me especially well?
-
What will each university cost my family after grants and scholarships?
-
Which aid package requires less borrowing?
-
Which faculty or research areas genuinely interest me?
-
How do undergraduates find research opportunities in my intended field?
-
What internships, career fairs and employers are relevant to my major?
-
Would I rather live in a bike-centered college town or in Merced with Central Valley and Sierra Nevada connections?
-
How important is Sacramento access to my plans?
-
How important are Central Valley, Yosemite and Sierra Nevada connections?
-
Which campus events, organizations and traditions would I actually join?
-
Which housing situation works better for me?
-
If I am considering Engineering, have I compared the exact programs?
-
If I am considering Computer Science, have I compared the curricula and research areas?
-
If I am Pre-Med, which university's advising, research and pathway opportunities fit my actual goals?
-
If SJV PRIME+ interests me, do I meet its eligibility and mission requirements?
-
Which campus felt more like a place I could see myself living after I visited?
Frequently asked questions
- Is UC Davis or UC Merced ranked higher?
- UC Davis ranks higher in U.S. News, while the two universities are almost tied in the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2026 ranking. U.S. News 2027 places UC Davis at #34 nationally and #8 among public universities, compared with #69 nationally and #30 among publics for UC Merced. Wall Street Journal/College Pulse places UC Davis at #13 overall and #2 public, with UC Merced immediately behind at #14 overall and #3 public.
- How do undergraduate research opportunities compare at UC Merced and UC Davis?
- Both are Carnegie R1 universities with undergraduate research pathways, but UC Davis operates the larger research enterprise. UC Davis reports that 50% of undergraduates participate in research or creative projects beyond the classroom. UC Merced's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center helps students find faculty-mentored research across its R1 environment. The stronger fit depends on the faculty and projects available in your field.
- Which university has more majors?
- UC Davis has the larger academic catalog. It offers more than 120 major programs and more than 110 minors, while UC Merced offers 43 majors and 48 degree programs. If both universities offer the field you want, compare the curriculum, research, projects and career opportunities inside the major rather than choosing only by the total number of programs.
- How do the costs compare?
- Their published on-campus cost estimates are almost identical before financial aid. UC Merced lists $48,654 and UC Davis lists $49,009, a difference of $355. These are budgeting estimates rather than net prices. Grants, scholarships and housing choices can create a much larger difference in what a family actually pays.
- What is campus life like at UC Merced?
- UC Merced combines more than 200 student organizations with concerts, traditions, recreation and NCAA Division II athletics. Current major Campus Activities Board events include Treats N' Beats, Cowtopia and CABapalooza. Incoming first-year students who meet housing requirements receive a two-year university housing guarantee.
- What is campus life like at UC Davis?
- UC Davis offers the scale of a large university, with more than 900 student organizations, 25 Division I sports and major traditions such as Picnic Day, Whole Earth Festival and Lawntopia. Incoming first-year students who meet the requirements receive a first-year on-campus housing guarantee.
- What is Merced like for a college student?
- Merced is a Central Valley city with a downtown restaurant and arts scene, Lake Yosemite next to campus and access toward Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. UC Merced's location also connects students with research and community work involving agriculture, water, climate, healthcare, energy and other regional issues.
- What is Davis like for a college student?
- Davis is a bike-centered college town with downtown only a few blocks from campus and Sacramento about 20 minutes away. Restaurants, coffee shops, the farmers market, greenbelts, art and live music are integrated into the student experience, while Sacramento adds access to government, healthcare, nonprofits, business and public-service opportunities.
- How do Engineering programs compare?
- Both universities offer substantial Engineering choices, but their areas of depth differ. UC Davis offers 13 Engineering and computing majors and has distinctive connections to biological systems, agriculture, health and a large research enterprise. UC Merced offers Engineering fields spanning aerospace, civil, mechanical, environmental, electrical, materials, bioengineering and computing, with current pathways in areas such as AI, robotics and sustainable energy.
- How do Computer Science options compare?
- Both universities offer multiple computing routes. UC Davis offers Computer Science, Computer Science and Engineering, Computer Engineering and Data Science in a large research environment. UC Merced offers Computer Science, Computer Science and Engineering, Artificial Intelligence and Data Science pathways, with current research in AI, machine learning, computer vision, robotics and high-performance computing.
- How do the universities compare for Pre-Med students?
- Both support pre-health students, but they offer different distinctive resources. UC Davis has Health Professions Advising, extensive biological and health sciences and a university health system and School of Medicine in Sacramento. UC Merced offers dedicated Pre-Health Advising, undergraduate research and SJV PRIME+, a selective B.S.-to-M.D. pathway for qualifying students committed to serving the San Joaquin Valley. Attending UC Davis does not guarantee admission to its School of Medicine, and SJV PRIME+ is not a general medical-school guarantee for UC Merced students.
- How do sustainability opportunities compare?
- Both universities have unusually strong sustainability records. UC Merced holds an AASHE STARS Platinum rating and has a LEED-certified campus, with research and student work involving water, climate and energy. UC Davis holds a STARS Gold rating and ranks #1 in the United States in the 2025 UI GreenMetric sustainability ranking, with major strengths in agriculture, food, transportation and environmental research.
- How do the universities compare for first-generation and lower-income students?
- UC Merced has the stronger current U.S. News social-mobility ranking. It ranks #4 nationally, compared with #37 for UC Davis, and UC Merced reports that 66% of its undergraduates are first-generation and 62% are Pell-eligible. UC Davis also serves a substantial first-generation and Pell-eligible population. Compare the specific advising, financial aid, mentoring and student-support resources you expect to use.
Could UC Merced be the right fit for you?
UC Davis and UC Merced can both offer a strong University of California education. Your decision should come down to what you will actually experience: the subject you study, the opportunities you pursue, the campus and community where you spend your time, and the cost your family will carry.
Compare your programs, review your financial aid offers and visit both campuses before you decide.
How do UC Merced and UC Davis compare on social mobility?
U.S. News 2027 social mobility
UC Merced
UC Davis
UC Davis' current entering undergraduate cohort includes:
These percentages should not be treated as a direct head-to-head comparison. UC Merced's figures describe the undergraduate population, while the UC Davis figures above describe its entering undergraduate cohort. The directly comparable measure here is the U.S. News social-mobility ranking.
What should students compare beyond the ranking?
Explore Social Mobility at UC Merced