What is UC Merced ranked on Forbes?

For Forbes' 2026 rankings, UC Merced is ranked #190 among all U.S. colleges and #80 among public universities, reflecting strong performance with gains in areas like faculty strength, research opportunities, and overall momentum as a newer R1 institution, noted by its university news.

Where does UC Merced rank nationally?

#57 in National Universities. It's also ranked No. #3 in Top Performers on Social Mobility. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 8,372 (fall 2024), its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 815 acres.

What are the top 3 UC's?

The top 3 UC campuses consistently ranked highest in recent years by publications like U.S. News & World Report and Forbes are UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC San Diego, often trading the top spots, with UC Davis and UC Irvine also frequently appearing in the top tier. These rankings consider factors like academics, selectivity, and return on investment, with Berkeley and UCLA often leading as the top public universities in the nation.
 

Why is UC Merced ranked so high?

UC Merced ranks high due to exceptional performance in social mobility, serving disadvantaged students with high graduation rates and positive post-graduate outcomes, combined with strong academic growth, significant research opportunities (achieving R1 status), diversity, and a commitment to innovation and sustainability, making it a leader in creating opportunity. Its success is highlighted by near-identical graduation rates for Pell Grant and non-Pell Grant students, surprising many, and high rankings in publications like U.S. News and The Wall Street Journal.
 

Is UC Merced a tier 1 school?

Yes, UC Merced is officially a Carnegie R1 university, which designates it as a "highest research activity" institution and places it in the top tier of research universities nationally, making it a top-tier research school. This status reflects very high research spending, doctoral degrees conferred, and a strong commitment to discovery, innovation, and academic excellence.
 

UC Merced ranks 28th as best public university in the nation

Is UC Davis better than UC Merced?

Among public universities, three UC campuses placed in the top 5, with UC Berkeley at No. 1, followed closely by UC Davis at No. 3 and UC Merced at No. 5.

What is the #1 university in California?

There isn't one single "number 1" university in California, as rankings vary, but Stanford University consistently ranks highest overall (private), while the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) is often named the top public university, closely followed by UCLA, with Caltech also a top contender. Stanford and Caltech are private powerhouses, while UC Berkeley and UCLA lead the public sector, with UCSD, UCSB, and others also highly ranked. 

What is the hardest UC to get into in California?

The hardest University of California (UC) to get into is consistently UCLA (Los Angeles), followed closely by UC Berkeley (UCB), both having the lowest acceptance rates, often in the single digits to low teens, making them the most selective public universities in California and the nation. UCSD and UCI are also very competitive, while other UCs like UCSB, UCDavis, and UC Merced round out the most selective tier, with acceptance rates reflecting high demand and rigorous standards. 

Where do top 1% send kids to college?

The "top 1%" of students, referring to those from the highest income brackets, tend to attend elite universities like MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, and Yale that consistently rank high in national and global lists, with some even having more students from the top 1% income bracket than the bottom 60% combined, according to The New York Times data. Top-ranked institutions like MIT, Princeton, Harvard, and Stanford are frequent top contenders in various 2026 rankings from U.S. News & World Report and Times Higher Education. 

How difficult is it to get into UC Merced?

UC Merced is generally considered not hard to get into compared to other UCs, often having acceptance rates well over 90% (e.g., 91-95%), making it relatively accessible if you meet minimum UC requirements, though some sources cite lower rates like 39% or 72% depending on the year and applicant pool, and meeting the baseline A-G courses and GPA (around 3.0+) is key. It's seen as a great option for students who might not get into more selective UCs, but it's still a UC, so strong academic preparation is important. 

What is the easiest UC to go to?

UC Merced is the easiest UC to get into, with a relatively high acceptance rate of 91.7%. According to the school's latest statistics, UC Merced accepted 29,233 students out of 31,875 applicants. That means the majority of applicants were admitted.

What is UC Merced ranked compared to UC Riverside?

UC campuses also prevailed as Top Performers on Social Mobility, a ranking that evaluates how well universities help lower-income students earn degrees that propel them to financially successful futures. UC Riverside was ranked No. 1, UC Merced was third, and all nine of UC's undergraduate campuses ranked highly.

What is the safest UC campus in California?

The University of California, Merced, reported just 24 criminal offenses on its campus in 2022, making it the safest University of California (UC) System institution that year. The safest private school on our list is St. Joseph's College of Nursing, which had one reported criminal offense in 2022.

What is the reputation of UC Merced?

In its 2026 report of the Best Colleges in the U.S., the highly respected media outlet has named UC Merced the 14th best college in the nation. Among public institutions, UC Merced ranked third nationwide – right after UC Berkeley and UC Davis – and placed fifth among all California universities, public and private.

What are the big 3 UC schools?

Three University of California (UC) campuses are UC Berkeley, UCLA (Los Angeles), and UC San Diego, with other major ones including UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside, UC Merced, and the graduate-only UC San Francisco. These campuses offer diverse academic programs and unique campus cultures across California, from the Bay Area (Berkeley) to Southern California (UCLA, UCSD).
 

Is UC Merced moving to D2?

Yes, UC Merced is officially moving to NCAA Division II athletics starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, competing in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) for most sports, with full postseason eligibility expected in the 2026-2027 season, marking a big step up in their athletic program's competition level. 

Where do most billionaires go to college?

American universities like Harvard, Stanford, and Penn lead in producing billionaire alumni. Most wealth comes from technology startups and entrepreneurial ventures (e.g., Microsoft, Google, DoorDash, Baidu).

What is the easiest ivy to get into?

While all Ivy League schools are highly selective, Cornell University is generally considered the "easiest" to get into due to having the highest acceptance rate (around 8-9%), partly because it's the largest Ivy with diverse colleges, like the less competitive Agriculture and Life Sciences, though its engineering programs are tough. Dartmouth College and Brown University often follow as the next most accessible Ivies, while Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia are typically the most difficult, with lower acceptance rates. 

Where do the 1% go to college?

The 1% of the wealthiest Americans disproportionately attend highly selective, elite universities, particularly Ivy League schools (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Brown, Penn, Columbia) and other top institutions like MIT, Stanford, Duke, and UChicago, where they make up a large percentage of the student body, often outnumbering students from the bottom 60% of income earners combined. Liberal arts colleges and prestigious public universities also attract many wealthy students, with specific examples including WashU St. Louis, UVA, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Vanderbilt, and Johns Hopkins.
 

Which UC has the happiest students?

UC Davis Is One of the 25 Happiest Public Universities in the US.

What is the 9% UC rule?

The Statewide Index identifies California-resident students in the top 9 percent of California high school graduates and offers these students a guaranteed space at a UC campus, if space is available.

What is UC Merced ranked in the US?

University of California, Merced is ranked #57 out of 436 National Universities. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence. Read more about how we rank schools.