How to get into UC Merced
What 195 admitted applicants actually had: their grades, test scores, activities, awards and intended majors, counted from 196 UC Merced results that students posted for the 2019 to 2026 cycles. Every number below is counted, not estimated.
Applying to UC Merced? Book a free call with a Specialist to see how your student’s file compares.
UC Merced admits by the numbers
Median unweighted GPA
3.91
Middle half 3.70 to 3.98
Median SAT
1,520
Middle half 1,460 to 1,550
Median ACT
34
Middle half 33 to 35
Median weighted GPA
4.34
Middle half 4.13 to 4.50
Results posted: 195 admitted, 1 rejected, 0 waitlisted. People who post results are a self-selected group, so this is not the UC Merced acceptance rate; the official rate is in UC Merced’s Common Data Set.
What UC Merced admits did outside class
Share of admitted applicants listing at least one activity of each type.
- Nonprofit/Service69%
- Tutoring/Teaching47%
- Research43%
- Athletics35%
- STEM club/competition35%
- Internship32%
- Music30%
- Coding/Tech28%
Held a leadership role
82%
Founded something
37%
National or intl. award
64%
Did research
43%
Intended majors of UC Merced admits
- Computer Science28%
- Engineering14%
- Biology10%
- Political Science6%
- Pre-med/Health6%
- Business5%
Who got in
Of the admitted posters, 16% first-generation, 13% low income, 9% underrepresented minority, 7% legacy, 1% recruited athlete and 5% international. Of those who said where they enrolled, 0% chose UC Merced.
Three recent UC Merced admits
2026 cycle · Physics
Physics student and visual-novel studio leader who publishes astrophysics research and exhibits digital art.
GPA 4.00 UW · SAT 1530 · Original post
2026 cycle · Economics
Multidisciplinary student blending economics, orchestral leadership, autism research, and Chinese-language fluency.
GPA 3.98 UW · SAT 1550 · Original post
2026 cycle · Engineering
Refinery-town environmental activist and electrochemistry researcher with city commission work and science fair awards.
GPA 4.00 UW · SAT 1530 · Original post
Where else UC Merced admits got in
UC Merced admissions questions
- What GPA do you need to get into UC Merced?
- Among 195 applicants who posted a UC Merced admission on r/collegeresults, the median unweighted GPA was 3.91 and the middle half reported 3.70 to 3.98 (183 reported a GPA). UC Merced sets no minimum GPA; these are what admitted posters reported.
- What SAT score do you need for UC Merced?
- Among 195 applicants who posted a UC Merced admission on r/collegeresults, the median SAT was 1,520 and the middle half scored 1,460 to 1,550 (147 reported an SAT). The median ACT was 34.
- What extracurriculars do UC Merced admits have?
- The most common activity types among admitted posters were nonprofit/service (69%), tutoring/teaching (47%), research (43%), athletics (35%). 82% held at least one leadership role and 64% listed a national or international award.
- What is the UC Merced acceptance rate?
- The official rate is published by UC Merced in its Common Data Set. These pages do not compute one: people who post results are a self-selected group, so the share of admits among them is far higher than the real rate.
Applying to UC Merced?
A Specialist who got into a school like UC Merced can read your student’s file against these numbers and say where it stands out and where it doesn’t.
Source: self-reported results posts on r/collegeresults, each linked from our Database, counted across the 2019 to 2026 cycles with transfer applicants excluded. Aristo Scholars is not affiliated with UC Merced. All colleges