History
The history of UC Merced dates back to 1988, when the UC Regents Opens a New Window.first authorized planning for at least one additional campus based on projections of long-range enrollment demand. From an initial review of more than 80 sites in the San Joaquin Valley, 20 were initially advanced for additional study.
Education
UC Merced’s three schools - the School of Engineering Opens a New Window., School of Natural Sciences Opens a New Window., and School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts Opens a New Window. - offer undergraduate and graduate programs, resources and laboratories that enrich students’ educational experiences.
Research
Just like at other UC campuses, academic research is a critical part of UC Merced's mission. The process of discovery provides our students with a deeper understanding of the world and its cultural, social, natural and engineered systems, but more, it solves issues and challenges that are critical to the growth, health and overall well-being of the region, the state, nation and world.Our researchers are conducting groundbreaking work in diabetes, cancer, bacterial diseases, antibiotic resistance, solar energy, climate change, water quality and availability, ecology, engineering, archeology, cultures, history, political science, computer science and much, much more.
Career
Career - Explore career areas
- Trial and error jobs
- Take career assessments
- Attend career fairs
- Attend career planning workshops or meet with a career counselor individually.
University of California, Merced Key Statistics & Highlights
- #401 Ranking
- 149 Scholarships
- 395 Academic Staff
- 8,459 Students
- 946 Students (int'l)
- 4,399 Students (female)
- Public Institution Type
University of California, Merced Overview
University of California, Merced Scholarships
University of California, Merced Scholarships
Below you will find scholarships related to University of California, Merced. Distinction can be made between scholarships provided by the University and those provided by independent providers.
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
07 Oct 2026
Fulbright U.S. Student Program
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
Not specified
Other Scholarships For Graduate Students
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
72000 USD
Deadline
31 Oct 2026
Belgian American Educational Foundation (BAEF)
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
25600 USD
Deadline
Not specified
Next 100 (Kitas 100)
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
40000 AUD
Deadline
30 Sep 2026
Veterans’ Fund Indigenous Scholarships
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
20000 USD
Deadline
31 Mar 2027
Thanks To Scandinavia Grants To Danish Students
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
40000 AUD
Deadline
30 Apr 2026
Veterans’ Fund Graduate Scholarships
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
Not specified
The Fulbright Program
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
38000 GBP
Deadline
16 Sep 2026
Marshall Scholarships
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
40000 USD
Deadline
30 Sep 2026
Study Abroad Graduate Scholarships of Chungcheongnam-do
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
01 Sep 2026
Fulbright Award For Postgraduate Study
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
30000 USD
Deadline
Not specified
International Education Center's Study Abroad Programs
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
11000 USD
Deadline
Not specified
Dositeja Fund For Young Talents Of Serbia
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
30000 USD
Deadline
Not specified
Baltic American Freedom Foundation Scholarships
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
300000 HKD
Deadline
30 Sep 2026
Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fellowships For Overseas Studies
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
5000 USD
Deadline
31 Jul 2026
Udaan India Scholarship
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
332500 USD
Deadline
31 May 2026
Study Abroad Graudate Scholarships Of SBS Foundation
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
01 Nov 2026
Fulbright-Masaryk Award
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
30000 CZK
Deadline
30 Jun 2026
Olomouc Region Study Scholarship
Read more about eligibility
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
31 May 2026
National Parent Volunteer Association Scholarships
Merit-based
Read more about eligibility
University of California, Merced Rankings
Study Portals Meta Ranking
Top 9% United States
Top 8.2% Worldwide
Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.
World University Rankings
401
By Times Higher Education
The university hasn’t moved up or down in the rankings over the past year.
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend World University Rankings
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 401 | 401 | 401 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Academic Ranking of World Universities
501
By Shanghai Jiao Tong University
The university hasn’t moved up or down in the rankings over the past year.
ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend Academic Ranking of World Universities
| 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 501 | 501 | 501 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Best Global Universities Rankings
763
By U.S. News & World Report
Dropped 65 places compared to 2025
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
3 year trend Best Global Universities Rankings
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 673 | 698 | 763 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Student services
The Office of Student Life is here to encourage involvement in campus life, support student initiatives and serve as a primary liaison for students. Education happens both inside and outside the classroom and a successful college career includes social as well as intellectual development. Invest in your own success by getting involved!
Housing services
- Valley Terraces
- The Summits Tenaya Hall
- The Summits Half Dome
- The Summits Cathedral Hall
- Tuolumne Hall
- Sierra Terraces Tuolumne Hall
- Mariposa Hall
- Sierra Terraces
- Mariposa Hall.
Library services
In keeping with the University’s mission of teaching, research and service, the mission of the UC Merced Library is to achieve excellence by meeting the diverse research, teaching and public service needs of UC Merced researchers (students, faculty and staff) with targeted, quality collections and relevant services.
ICT services
The primary mission of the Office of Information Technology (OIT) at UC Merced is to provide students, faculty, and staff high quality infrastructure, support, and innovation in the delivery of information technology products and services.
Medical services
The Health Care Facilitator Program can assist you with:
- Understanding your insurance plan evidence of coverage booklet
- Medicare questions and problems
- Navigating your health plan systems
- Quality of care issues
- Escalated billing problems which you have been unable to resolve yourself
- Appeals and grievances
- Denial of treatment issues not related to enrollment/eligibility.
Campus life
UC Merced students have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to help create the student life experience for those who will follow. They are invited to add to campus traditions, create new student organizations and activities, and offer ideas on student services, planning priorities and university growth and development.
Sports facilities
UC Merced’s Athletics Opens a New Window. and Recreation Opens a New Window. program offers an abundant assortment of activities to develop the body, from group fitness classes and sports clubs to intramural sports and outdoor activities.
Student clubs
- Anthropology Society
- Club Chess
- Club Fraternity and Sorority Life
- Greek Life
- Go Cart Racing
- Radio Club.
Accreditation
UC Merced was granted Initial Accreditation in July 2011 for a seven year period, the maximum term possible for a newly accredited institution. This achievement confirms our educational effectiveness as demonstrated through a comprehensive, multi-year review process. Most importantly, it reflects the dedication of our faculty, students, and staff to pursuing excellence in our mission of teaching, research, and service.
University of California, Merced Campus Locations
#1 Main Campus
United States Country
Merced City
University of California, Merced Student Reviews & Awards
3
Based on 4 reviews
- 5 Star 0 Reviews
- 4 Star 2 Reviews
- 3 Star 1 Review
- 2 Star 0 Reviews
- 1 Star 1 Review
Well‑lit and safe grounds
The campus is really nice, and it's well lit at night, which definitely helps you feel safer walking around. The food has had its ups and downs, but honestly, it's pretty decent most of the time.
Learned the basic of art and design
The first year was amazing as they brushed up my basic in art. I learned how to sketch properly, cast lighting, coloring, and much more. The second year was more into design. I learned a lot of things. But at the same time, I felt like the professor wasn't that active as he took more than 30 minutes break in our only 3 hours lessons, 4 days a week. So here, in the Erasmus internship, I'm hoping to learn further and eventually get hired whilst experiencing Spain.
1/5
i liked the whole experience
It's a good college overall , they don't have campus placements but thy participate in rookies , the global game jam competitions and also help you out personally with your problem.
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