University of California Merced
Merced, CA
What are your chances of getting into University of California Merced?
UC Merced is the youngest University of California campus and has built its identity around research, access, and fast growth rather than tradition. Academically, it is especially strong for students drawn to engineering, computer science, the natural sciences, environmental fields, and interdisciplinary research, with undergraduates often able to get into labs and projects early. The campus is in Merced in California’s Central Valley, on a modern, largely residential campus that feels intentionally self-contained and still evolving. Student life is active but newer than at older universities, with a strong emphasis on clubs, leadership, service, and campus traditions that students help shape themselves. It tends to fit applicants who want a close-to-the-ground, collaborative environment, are comfortable with a less urban setting, and like the idea of helping build a campus community. With a 91% admit rate and middle-50% SAT of 960 to 1140, it is relatively accessible compared with many UC peers while still offering a research-university experience.
Calculate your chances at University of California Merced
Enter your GPA and test scores, add other schools, and see where you stand instantly.
Your Academic Profile
Estimates based on admitted-student data. Real decisions also weigh essays, recommendations, and course rigor.
Your results
Enter your GPA to see your academic score.
Your chances map appears here once you enter a GPA and add colleges.
Strengths
- Strong research university identity with early undergraduate research opportunities
- Particularly good fit for engineering, computer science, and science-focused students
- Modern residential campus with a close-knit, community-building feel
- High-access option within the UC system with a comparatively broad admissions profile
Things to weigh
- Less established national reputation than older UC campuses
- Smaller menu of majors and campus traditions than larger universities
- Central Valley location may feel remote or car-dependent to some students
- Student life is still developing, so the social scene can feel less expansive than at older, larger campuses
Frequently asked questions
How hard is it to get into University of California Merced?+
University of California Merced admits about 91% of applicants, and the middle 50% of admitted students score between 960 and 1140 on the SAT. Enter your GPA and test scores above and this calculator estimates your personal chances in seconds, and tells you whether University of California Merced is a safety, match, or reach for your profile.
Is this the most accurate college admissions calculator?+
Counselly's chances calculator runs on real, current admissions data, the actual admit rates and SAT/ACT ranges colleges report to the U.S. Department of Education, not averages scraped from forums. Our algorithm weighs your GPA, test scores, and extracurricular strength against each school's admitted-student profile the way an admissions reader would begin, which makes it one of the most reliable free tools for seeing where you'll get into college.
How does the calculator predict my chances of getting in?+
It compares your academic profile to each college's real admitted class. We look at where your GPA and test scores fall within a school's 25th to 75th percentile range, combine that with the school's overall admit rate, and factor in your extracurricular strength, then translate it into a clear percentage and a Safety, Match, or Reach label. Everything recalculates instantly as you add schools or adjust your stats.
What counts as a good chance of getting into a college?+
Roughly above 60% is a Safety, you're comfortably ahead of the typical admitted student. Around 30 to 60% is a Match, realistic and worth prioritizing. Below 30% is a Reach, still absolutely worth applying to if it's a dream school. The strongest college lists balance all three, and Counselly helps you build exactly that kind of list.
Which colleges can I check my admission chances for?+
Hundreds of US colleges and universities, from Ivy League schools to large public flagships to smaller private colleges. Just start typing, MIT, UCLA, NYU, Michigan, and pick from the suggestions. We're continuously expanding our data, and your free assessment goes even further, matching you to programs across the country based on your full profile.
Can a calculator really tell me where I will get accepted?+
No tool can promise an outcome, and you should be cautious of any that claims to. What Counselly does exceptionally well is show you, honestly and instantly, exactly where you stand academically at each college, so you can build a smart, balanced list instead of guessing. Your essays, recommendations, and story do the rest, and your free assessment is built to help you strengthen all of them.
Is the college chances calculator free?+
Completely free, and no signup is required to use it. When you're ready to go further, your full assessment, the complete list of colleges where you're a strong fit plus a step-by-step plan to raise your odds, is also free to unlock with an account.
