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West, Small city: UC Merced is located on a 815-acre site in the San Joaquin Valley, about 5 miles north of downtown Merced, California. The campus is known for its modern, sustainable architecture and is surrounded by rolling grasslands and scenic vistas of the Sierra Nevada mountains. As the newest campus in the UC system, UC Merced features state-of-the-art facilities and a compact, pedestrian-friendly layout that promotes a close-knit academic community while offering easy access to nearby natural areas for recreation and research.
UC Merced encourages artistic experimentation within its rapidly growing campus in California's Central Valley. Imagine yourself learning traditional Mexican folk dance, showcasing your digital art installations, or attending a groundbreaking performance merging music and technology. UCM fosters an emerging arts scene, inviting students to shape it with their creativity.
Greek Life at UC Merced is growing but relatively small, with about 5% of students participating. As a newer campus, it hosts a few fraternities and sororities, focusing on leadership and community building.
UC Merced is a newer UC campus with growing programs and a research focus. Popular majors include Biology, Psychology, Computer Science, Management, Engineering, and Environmental Systems Science. Students have access to minors, certificates, and opportunities for interdisciplinary exploration. For a full list of academic programs, click the link below.
A college campus might lean a certain way politically, but the surrounding community can have a very different cultural and political vibe. Exploring the area beyond campus can give you a better picture of the local political landscape. Use the link below to research the location of any college you're considering.
University of California Merced is a medium school with approximately 8,700 undergraduate students on campus.
UCM has a diverse student body. Hispanic/Latino students comprise the largest group (around 53%), followed by Asian students (around 22%) and White populations (around 11%). Smaller, but notable populations of Black/African American and multiracial students are present. UCM primarily draws from California.
UC Merced offers various scholarships and grants based on academic merit and financial need, including the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan and the Regents' Scholarship. The university also provides support services like the Calvin E. Bright Success Center and the First-Generation Initiative, which offer academic and personal support to first-generation students.
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