A side-by-side look at what California colleges actually cost after grants, and what students get for that price — academic opportunity, research, career preparation and outcomes.
Last updated: August 2026
- California colleges compared
- 11
- Public & private models
- Side by side
- Cost and outcome figures from
- Federal College Scorecard
The short answer
Finding the best value college in California means looking past the published price — the sticker cost before any aid. The more useful question is what you are likely to pay after grants and scholarships, and what academic, career and research opportunities come with that price. A strong-value college helps you graduate with costs your family can manage while still giving you the experiences that lead to a career or graduate school. California offers very different value models across the University of California, the California State University and private colleges, and the right answer depends on what you want out of four years. UC Merced is a strong starting point for students who want the research environment of a University of California campus along with wide access and standout outcomes for the price.
Quick answers
What makes a college a good value?
Value is what you get compared with what you actually pay. Four things decide it: the net price after grants and scholarships, the academic and research opportunities available to you, how much experience you can build before graduation, and outcomes such as graduating on time, the debt you carry and earnings afterward. A college with a higher published price can still be a strong value if its grant aid is generous and its opportunities are real.
Which California public universities offer strong value?
Several, in different ways. UC Merced pairs a University of California research environment with the lowest average net price among the UC campuses compared on this page, according to the federal College Scorecard. UC Riverside and UC Davis offer large research campuses with strong outcomes. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and San José State are known for hands-on, career-connected programs. Fresno State, Sacramento State and Cal State Long Beach report some of the lowest average net prices in the state.
Is a cheaper college always a better value?
No. Price is only half of the equation. A low-cost college is a great value when students also graduate, gain useful experience and go on to earn well. Compare net price alongside graduation rates, research and internship access, typical debt and median earnings after graduation — the College Scorecard publishes all of these using the same definitions for every school.
Is UC Merced a good value?
For many California students, yes. The College Scorecard reports an average annual net price of about $11,983 at UC Merced with median federal debt of $16,144 at graduation and median earnings of $64,368 ten years after entry. Students get a Carnegie Research 1 university, classified in February 2025, with undergraduate research through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center. UC Merced also holds Carnegie's Opportunity — Higher Access, Higher Earnings designation and was ranked No. 3 nationally for social mobility by U.S. News for 2026.
Public or private: which one is the better value for you?
California has strong options in both columns. The published prices are very far apart; the prices families actually pay are often much closer. Here is how the two models differ before you compare any single school.
Published price
Public universities charge far less up front for California residents. Private colleges publish much higher tuition, but almost no family at a well-funded private pays the sticker price.
How aid works
Both publics and privates use federal aid — Pell Grants, federal loans and work-study are available at every accredited college. Publics layer on Cal Grant, the Middle Class Scholarship and university grants. Privates also draw on their own endowment funds, and those with higher admission rates tend to offer substantial merit aid to attract students. The mix varies enormously from one private college to the next.
Merit aid at privates
Private colleges with higher admission rates often use merit scholarships — aid not based on financial need — to compete for students. A private that admits 50% of applicants may offer generous merit packages, while a highly selective private like Stanford focuses aid on need. This is why two privates with similar sticker prices can have very different net prices.
What you get
Large publics offer scale — more majors, more research, more employers recruiting on campus. Smaller privates offer smaller classes and more individual attention. Research access is not exclusive to either model: UC Merced is a Research 1 university where undergraduates work directly with faculty.
How to compare a public and a private offer fairly
- Compare net price, never published tuition
- Run both colleges' net price calculators with your family's real numbers
- Count grants and scholarships separately from loans and work-study
- Check whether each award renews for all four years
- Ask how many students actually finish in four years — a fifth year is a full extra year of cost
- Apply to a mix: it costs little to hold both options open until offers arrive
- U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard
- Stanford — undergraduate financial aid
- USC — financial aid for undergraduates
- University of California — tuition & cost of attendance
Starting at a California community college: the transfer pathway
Two years at a community college followed by two years at a University of California is one of the lowest-cost routes to a UC degree in the state, and the UC system is built to support it — about a third of UC bachelor's degrees go to transfer students.
Why the cost drops
Community college tuition is a fraction of university tuition, and the California College Promise waives first-year and second-year fees for many eligible students. You pay university prices for just two years.
The degree is the same
Your diploma comes from the UC campus you graduate from. It does not record where you completed your first two years.
TAG — a guaranteed seat
Six UC campuses, including UC Merced, offer a Transfer Admission Guarantee: meet the published GPA and coursework requirements and your admission is guaranteed before you apply.
Plan courses with ASSIST
ASSIST.org is the state's official tool showing exactly which community college courses satisfy which UC and CSU requirements. Using it from your first semester prevents wasted credits.
How to keep a transfer pathway on track
- Name a target campus and major early, then map the courses in ASSIST
- Complete the required lower-division major preparation, not just general education
- Ask your community college transfer center about TAG deadlines — they fall a year ahead
- Check whether your major is selective at your target campus
- Confirm housing options for transfer students before you commit
- Compare the two-year net price at each campus, not the four-year total
- University of California — transfer admission
- University of California — Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG)
- ASSIST.org — official California course transfer tool
- UC Merced — transfer students
Best options for students who want a University of California research experience at a manageable price
All three are Carnegie Research 1 campuses where undergraduates can join faculty-led projects, and all three report average net prices well below their published cost of attendance.
1)University of California, Merced
A Research 1 university since February 2025 with a $11,983 average annual net price and $16,144 median federal debt at graduation, and one clear front door to undergraduate research through UROC.
2)University of California, Riverside
A large Research 1 campus ranked No. 1 in the nation for social mobility by U.S. News for 2026, with an average annual net price of $14,304 and median earnings of $67,699 ten years after entry.
3)University of California, Davis
Recognized in 2025 rankings for research, social mobility and value, with an 86% completion rate, median earnings of $80,838 ten years after entry, and a centralized Undergraduate Research Center.
Strong options for students who want career-focused public programs
These three take different routes to the same goal — graduating with experience employers recognize. The value case is not identical, so match it to the career you have in mind.
1)University of California, Merced
Pairs research-university credentials with career advising and internship support, at the lowest average net price and the lowest median federal debt among the UC campuses on this page.
2)San José State University
Sits in the middle of Silicon Valley, was named the No. 3 top public school among regional universities in the West by U.S. News for 2026, and reports an average annual net price of $13,760 with median earnings of $78,988 ten years after entry.
3)California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Built on a Learn by Doing model, ranked best in the West by U.S. News for a 33rd straight year, with an 86% completion rate and median earnings of $90,768 ten years after entry at an average net price of $16,665.
Great options for students focused on low cost with real opportunity
Each of these enrolls a large share of Pell Grant recipients and reports one of the lowest average net prices in California, according to the same federal source.
1)University of California, Merced
Combines a low net price with Carnegie's Opportunity — Higher Access, Higher Earnings designation and Research 1 status, a pairing only a small number of universities nationally hold.
2)Fresno State
Reports the lowest average annual net price in this comparison at about $7,000, with 57% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and median earnings of $61,244 ten years after entry.
3)California State University, Long Beach
Ranked No. 3 among national universities for social mobility by U.S. News for 2026, with a $10,440 average annual net price and median earnings of $64,403 ten years after entry.
What should you compare when looking for the best college value?
Eight questions get you to a real answer. Here is what each one gets you, and how UC Merced answers it.
What will I actually pay?
The published cost of attendance and the price your family pays are two different numbers. Ask for the net price — the cost after grants and scholarships — and run each college's net price calculator with your own family information.
UC Merced lists California resident tuition and fees of $16,054 for 2025-26, and the federal College Scorecard reports an average annual net price of about $11,983 after grants and scholarships — the lowest among the University of California campuses compared on this page.
How much aid do students receive?
Grants and scholarships you do not repay change the math more than anything else. Look at how many students receive grant aid and how much of the cost it typically covers.
Across the University of California, nearly 70% of California undergraduates receive an average of $24,000 in grants and scholarships. At UC Merced, the College Scorecard reports that about 59% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants — one of the highest shares in the system.
Can I get strong academic opportunities for that cost?
The academic side is what you are buying. Look for the research designation, the range of majors, and whether faculty who run funded projects also teach undergraduates.
UC Merced became a Carnegie Research 1 university in February 2025, the top tier of research activity, and undergraduates reach faculty-mentored projects through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center.
Will I have ways to build experience before graduation?
Research, internships, capstone projects and lab work are what turn a transcript into a job offer or a graduate school acceptance. Ask when students typically start and whether positions are paid.
UROC runs faculty-mentored research pathways for undergraduates, and the Center for Career and Professional Advancement supports internships and career preparation across all four years.
What do outcomes look like?
Graduation, earnings and debt tell you whether the investment tends to work out. Compare them from one standardized source so the numbers mean the same thing at every school.
College Scorecard figures for UC Merced show a 69% completion rate, median earnings of $64,368 ten years after entry, and Carnegie's 2025 designation as an Opportunity institution — Higher Access, Higher Earnings — which compares graduate earnings to a regional benchmark.
How much debt might I need?
Debt is one part of value, not the whole of it. What matters is the size of the loan next to the career it helps you reach. Federal median debt at graduation is published for every college and is directly comparable.
The College Scorecard reports median federal debt of $16,144 for UC Merced graduates, with about 29% of students taking federal loans.
Does the college create opportunity for students like me?
If you are the first in your family to attend college, or your family qualifies for aid, look for a campus where that is the norm and where the support has a name, a building and staff.
UC Merced reported 61% first-generation and 61% Pell-eligible undergraduates in its April 2025 Carnegie announcement, and concentrates support in the Calvin E. Bright Success Center and the Fiat Lux Scholars Program.
Does the location change the total cost?
Housing, food and transportation often cost more than tuition, and they vary widely by region in California. Compare the full cost of attendance for the housing option you would realistically choose, and check whether living at home is possible.
UC Merced publishes separate cost of attendance estimates for on-campus, off-campus and living-at-home students for 2025-26, so a family can budget the option that fits.
California colleges that offer strong value
Nine California public universities and two private universities, each with a different way of turning what you pay into what you get. Cost, debt and earnings figures come from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard so they can be compared directly.
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Carnegie Research 1 university with wide access
Why it's a great choice
Why it can be a great value: a University of California research environment at the lowest average annual net price among the UC campuses compared here — about $11,983 after grants, with median federal debt of $16,144 at graduation. UC Merced became a Carnegie Research 1 university in February 2025, undergraduates reach faculty-mentored projects through the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center, and the campus holds Carnegie's Opportunity — Higher Access, Higher Earnings designation.
Who thrives here
Students who want a top-ranked public university — UC Merced was named the No. 3 public university and No. 14 overall in the Wall Street Journal's 2026 Best Colleges, a Top 25 public university by U.S. News for 2026, and No. 3 in the nation for social mobility by U.S. News — with close faculty contact and a California public price their family can plan around.
- College Scorecard — UC Merced (U.S. Dept. of Education)
- UC Merced — R1 classification (February 2025)
- UC Merced — Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center (UROC)
- UC Merced — Carnegie access & earnings recognition (April 2025)
- UC Merced — WSJ 2026 Best Colleges (No. 14 overall, No. 3 public)
- UC Merced — named a Top 25 public university, U.S. News 2026 (Sept. 2025)
- U.S. News — Top Performers on Social Mobility, 2026
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University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA
Large Research 1 campus in inland Southern California
Why it's a great choice
Why it can be a great value: ranked No. 1 in the nation for social mobility by U.S. News for 2026, with an average annual net price of $14,304 and median earnings of $67,699 ten years after entry. Undergraduate research runs through a campus-wide office with faculty mentors across the sciences, humanities and engineering.
Who thrives here
Students who want the scale and program breadth of a big UC campus with a strong record of graduating students from every background.
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University of California, Davis
Davis, CA
Comprehensive Research 1 campus with a college-town setting
Why it's a great choice
Why it can be a great value: an 86% completion rate and median earnings of $80,838 ten years after entry at an average annual net price of $14,741, with the lowest median federal debt among the UC campuses here at $13,000. UC Davis was recognized in 2025 rankings for research, social mobility and value, and runs a centralized Undergraduate Research Center.
Who thrives here
Students headed toward the life sciences, agriculture, environmental fields, engineering or veterinary medicine who want a bike-friendly college town.
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California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA
Polytechnic university built on Learn by Doing
Why it's a great choice
Why it can be a great value: the highest median earnings in this comparison at $90,768 ten years after entry, with an 86% completion rate and an average annual net price of $16,665. Cal Poly was ranked best in the West by U.S. News for a 33rd straight year, and its Learn by Doing model puts students in labs, shops and projects from early on.
Who thrives here
Students set on an applied technical, agricultural, design or business path who want to build things from their first year.
Tradeoff: Its Pell share of 19% is the lowest here, so fewer students arrive with need-based grant aid covering the cost.
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San José State University
San José, CA
Urban public university in Silicon Valley
Why it's a great choice
Why it can be a great value: median earnings of $78,988 ten years after entry at an average annual net price of $13,760, helped by a location that puts internships and employers within a short ride of campus. U.S. News named San José State the No. 3 top public school among regional universities in the West for 2026.
Who thrives here
Students aiming at technology, engineering, design or business careers in the Bay Area who want to start building a network while enrolled.
Tradeoff: Bay Area housing raises the total cost of attending, so compare the full budget and not just tuition.
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San Diego State University
San Diego, CA
Large public research university on the coast
Why it's a great choice
Why it can be a great value: a 76% completion rate and median earnings of $64,909 ten years after entry at an average annual net price of $15,364, with a wide range of majors and a research office that supports undergraduate projects.
Who thrives here
Students who want a large, active campus with broad program choice and strong Southern California employer connections.
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California State University, Long Beach
Long Beach, CA
Large comprehensive CSU campus
Why it's a great choice
Why it can be a great value: an average annual net price of $10,440 with half of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and median earnings of $64,403 ten years after entry. U.S. News ranked Cal State Long Beach No. 3 among national universities for social mobility for 2026.
Who thrives here
Students who want a low net price, a large slate of majors and a coastal metropolitan campus.
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Fresno State
Fresno, CA
Regional CSU serving the Central Valley
Why it's a great choice
Why it can be a great value: the lowest average annual net price in this comparison at about $7,000, with 57% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants, median federal debt of $14,505 and median earnings of $61,244 ten years after entry. Strong programs in agriculture, business, health and education connect directly to Central Valley employers.
Who thrives here
Central Valley students who want to keep costs low, stay close to family, and move into regional careers after graduation.
Tradeoff: Its 57% completion rate is lower than the UC campuses here, so ask about advising and four-year graduation planning.
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Sacramento State
Sacramento, CA
Capital-city CSU with strong public-sector ties
Why it's a great choice
Why it can be a great value: an average annual net price of $9,338 with 49% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and median earnings of $64,876 ten years after entry, in a city where state agencies, health systems and nonprofits hire interns year-round.
Who thrives here
Students interested in public service, health, business or education who want a low-cost degree with internship access built into the location.
Tradeoff: Completion sits at 56% in the federal data, so ask how advising supports finishing in four years.
What these California colleges cost, and what students get for it
One source, one set of definitions, every school measured the same way. Use this to shortlist, then run each college's own net price calculator with your family's numbers.
| College | Average annual net price | Median federal debt at graduation | Median earnings 10 years after entry | Share receiving Pell Grants | Who it fits best | Related rankings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC Merced | $11,983 | $16,144 | $64,368 | 59% | Students who want full R1 research access and a low net price at the same time. About 9,000 undergraduates in the Central Valley, small enough that faculty know students by name, and a national leader in social mobility, sustainability and innovation. |
|
| UC Riverside | $14,304 | $17,500 | $67,699 | 47% | Students who want a large, diverse Inland Empire campus of roughly 22,000 undergraduates with strong pre-health and business pipelines and nationally recognized mobility results. |
|
| UC Davis | $14,741 | $13,000 | $80,838 | 31% | Students drawn to a college-town setting near Sacramento with about 32,000 undergraduates and deep strength in agriculture, veterinary science, environmental science and engineering. |
|
| Cal Poly San Luis Obispo | $16,665 | $18,500 | $90,768 | 19% | Students who learn by building. A coastal campus of roughly 21,000 undergraduates on the Central Coast with a learn-by-doing model in engineering, agribusiness and architecture. | U.S. News 2026: No. 1 Regional Universities West |
| San José State University | $13,760 | $15,000 | $78,988 | 35% | Students who want to work while they study. An urban campus of about 28,000 undergraduates in downtown San José, minutes from major technology employers. | U.S. News 2026: No. 3 Top Public Schools, Regional Universities West |
| San Diego State University | $15,364 | $15,000 | $64,909 | 32% | Students who want breadth and a busy campus life. Roughly 31,000 undergraduates in a coastal metro with strong study-abroad, business and health programs. | U.S. News 2026: No. 172 Best Value Schools |
| Cal State Long Beach | $10,440 | $14,289 | $64,403 | 50% | Students staying in the Los Angeles area on a modest budget. About 33,000 undergraduates on a beach-adjacent campus with well-known arts, nursing and engineering programs. | Money Best Colleges list, Best Public Colleges |
| Fresno State | $7,000 | $14,505 | $61,244 | 57% | Central Valley students who want to stay close to home at the lowest net price on this page. Roughly 22,000 undergraduates with strong agriculture, education and health pathways. | Money Best Colleges, 4.5 of 5 stars |
| Sacramento State | $9,338 | $15,000 | $64,876 | 49% | Students who want internships in state government, health care and regional business. About 27,000 undergraduates in the state capital at a low net price. | Money Best Colleges list |
| Stanford University (private) | $13,807 | $12,000 | $124,080 | 19% | Students admitted to a highly selective private university who need aid. Around 8,000 undergraduates on a large Silicon Valley campus, with need-based aid that can bring the net price below many publics. | U.S. News 2026: No. 10 Best Value Schools |
| University of Southern California (private) | $32,740 | $18,000 | $92,498 | 22% | Students who value a large private university in the center of Los Angeles. About 21,000 undergraduates, a wide professional alumni network, and merit as well as need-based aid worth modeling before you compare prices. | No current ranking confirmed for this category (checked Aug 2026) |
Net price, debt, earnings and Pell figures in this table all come from the same source — the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, most recent published year, read in August 2026. Net price is the average annual cost after grants and scholarships for federal aid recipients; earnings are the median for former students ten years after they first enrolled, not a guarantee for any individual graduate.
Where does UC Merced fit among California's best-value colleges?
Start with the question a family actually asks at the kitchen table: what are we getting for what we are likely to pay? At UC Merced the first half of that answer is unusually clear. The federal College Scorecard puts the average annual net price at about $11,983 — the lowest among the University of California campuses compared here — with median federal debt of $16,144 at graduation and roughly 29% of students borrowing at all.
The second half is what makes UC Merced worth a close look. This is a Carnegie Research 1 university, classified in February 2025, so the faculty are running funded research and undergraduates can join it. The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center is the front door, and the Center for Career and Professional Advancement carries the same work into internships and job searches. That combination — top-tier research activity at a low net price — is not common anywhere in the country.
UC Merced also holds Carnegie's 2025 Opportunity — Higher Access, Higher Earnings designation, which means it enrolls more students from modest backgrounds than its region would predict and those graduates go on to earn above the regional benchmark. It reported 61% first-generation undergraduates in April 2025, and federal College Scorecard data puts Pell recipients at about 59%. U.S. News ranked it No. 3 in the nation for social mobility for 2026 and among the top 25 public universities, and the Wall Street Journal placed it No. 14 nationally and No. 3 among U.S. public universities for 2026.
For a student weighing California options, the practical case is this: a University of California degree, real research to put on a resume, staff whose job is to help you finish, and a price that leaves most graduates with modest debt. Other California colleges will win on a single measure — Fresno State on price, Cal Poly on earnings, UC Davis on completion. UC Merced is one of the few that is strong on the cost side and the opportunity side at the same time.
How to decide whether a college is a good value for you
Work through these before you compare offers. They turn a pile of numbers into a decision.
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Compare what you would actually pay after aid.
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Look at grants and scholarships before you look at loans.
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Add up housing, food and transportation for the way you would actually live.
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Check that the college offers your likely major, and a second one in case you switch.
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Look for research, internships, projects and career support you could realistically join.
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Compare likely debt with the earnings typical for your intended field.
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Check graduation rates, especially for students in your situation.
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Ask what opportunities you would gain for the price, not just what the price is.
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Run each college's own net price calculator with your family's numbers.
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Compare your actual financial aid offers side by side before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
- What makes a college a good value?
- A good value college gives you more than you pay for. That means a manageable net price after grants, academic programs and research you can actually access, ways to build experience before graduation, and outcomes such as graduating on time, modest debt and solid earnings afterward. Price alone does not decide it.
- What are the best value colleges in California?
- California has several strong value models. Among the University of California campuses, UC Merced, UC Riverside and UC Davis pair research-university opportunity with average net prices well below their published cost. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and San José State are known for career-connected programs and strong earnings. Fresno State, Sacramento State and Cal State Long Beach report some of the lowest average net prices in the state. The best fit depends on your major, your budget and where you want to live.
- Are UC schools a good value?
- For many California residents, yes. Nearly 70% of California undergraduates across the University of California receive an average of $24,000 in grants and scholarships, and UC tuition stays flat for each entering class for up to six years under the Tuition Stability Plan. The net price you pay depends on your family's income, so run the net price calculator for each campus.
- Are CSU schools cheaper than UC schools?
- Published tuition is lower at the California State University — systemwide undergraduate tuition is $6,838 a year, before campus fees and living costs. After grants the gap can narrow, and several CSU and UC campuses land in a similar range on the federal College Scorecard's average net price. Compare the full net price, including fees and living costs.
- Should I compare sticker price or net price?
- Net price. The sticker price is the published cost before any aid; the net price is what students in your income range typically pay after grants and scholarships. Every college publishes a net price calculator, and the College Scorecard publishes an average net price using the same definition at every school.
- How should I compare financial aid offers?
- Line the offers up and separate grants and scholarships, which you keep, from loans and work-study, which you repay or earn. Subtract the gift aid from each college's full cost of attendance for the housing option you would choose. Then compare the remaining cost against what each college gives you in programs, research and career preparation.
- Is the cheapest college always the best value?
- No. The lowest price is only a bargain if you graduate and the degree takes you somewhere. Look at completion rates, research and internship access, and median earnings afterward alongside the cost. A slightly higher net price can be the better value when the opportunities are stronger.
- Is UC Merced a good value?
- For many California students, yes. The College Scorecard reports an average annual net price of about $11,983, median federal debt of $16,144 at graduation, and median earnings of $64,368 ten years after entry. Students get a Carnegie Research 1 university with undergraduate research through UROC, and UC Merced holds Carnegie's Opportunity — Higher Access, Higher Earnings designation.
- How much does UC Merced cost after financial aid?
- UC Merced lists California resident tuition and fees of $16,054 for 2025-26, plus food, housing and other expenses that vary by living situation. After grants and scholarships, the College Scorecard reports an average annual net price of about $11,983 for federal aid recipients. Your own figure depends on your family's finances, so use the campus net price calculator.
- Is UC Merced a good value for first-generation students?
- It is one of the clearest options in California. UC Merced reported 61% first-generation undergraduates in April 2025, concentrates support in the Calvin E. Bright Success Center, and runs the Fiat Lux Scholars Program for income-eligible first-generation students with multi-year aid. U.S. News ranked UC Merced No. 3 nationally for social mobility for 2026.
Methodology
This guide compares California colleges using current publicly available information on cost, financial aid, student access, academic and research opportunity, and outcomes. Data comes primarily from the colleges and universities themselves, the U.S. Department of Education, the University of California, the California State University system and the Carnegie Classifications. The colleges are presented as strong choices for different student priorities, with no scored ranking.
Ranking criteria
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Cost after aid. Average annual net price for federal aid recipients, from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, most recent published year.
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Debt at graduation. Median federal debt for completers, from the same College Scorecard release, so every college is measured identically.
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Earnings after entry. Median earnings for former students ten years after first enrolling, from the College Scorecard. Earnings reflect past cohorts and are not a promise for any individual.
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Access. Share of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants, plus first-generation shares where a university publishes them with a year.
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Academic and research opportunity. Carnegie research designation and the university's own published undergraduate research, internship and career programs.
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Published tuition. UC and CSU systemwide tuition levels as published by the UC Office of the President and the CSU Chancellor's Office.
Data sources
- U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard
- College Scorecard — UC Merced (U.S. Dept. of Education)
- University of California — tuition & cost of attendance
- UC Office of the President — 2025-26 tuition and fee levels
- California State University — tuition and fees
- Carnegie Classifications — UC Merced profile
- Carnegie — Opportunity Colleges and Universities methodology
- U.S. News — Top Performers on Social Mobility, 2026
Related pages
Net price, debt at graduation and what a UC Merced degree returns.
Universities that enroll students from modest means and graduate them into careers that pay.
Named first-generation programs and research access, campus by campus.
Where California undergraduates find funded, faculty-mentored research.
The federal tool behind the cost, debt and earnings figures on this page.
