UC Merced vs University of Vermont (UVM)

Nestled in the heart of California's Central Valley, University of California-Merced (UC-Merced) stands as a beacon of academic excellence, while nestled amidst the rolling Green Mountains of Vermont, University of Vermont (UVM) exudes a charm that is uniquely its own. Both institutions offer a wealth of opportunities for students to thrive, but they also possess distinct characteristics that set them apart. UC-Merced boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for aspiring scholars, while UVM's acceptance rate is more selective, ensuring a highly competitive and academically rigorous environment. Delve into the comparison table below to uncover further distinctions between these two esteemed universities, including popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates, and discover which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
University of California-Merced logo

University of California-Merced

University of Vermont logo

University of Vermont

Overview

Location Merced, California Burlington, Vermont
Campus setting Rural: Fringe City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 79.0% 89.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 86.6% 63.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $120
Undergraduate: $55

Graduate: $65
SAT range N/A 1240 - 1410
ACT range N/A 29 - 33
Students submitting SAT score 34.0%
Students submitting ACT score 14.0%
Total number of applicants 27,793 25,559
Total number of admissions given out 24,068 16,233
Admitted students who chose to enroll 2,410 2,932
Yield rate 10.0% 18.1%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $28,870

Out of state: $58,624
In state: $36,880

Out of state: $61,768
Average net price $11,586 $19,873
Tuition
In state: $11,442

Out of state: $41,196
In state: $16,392

Out of state: $41,280
Room & board $18,901
Room/dormitory: $8,756

Meal plan: $4,568
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

92.0%
Average amount $21,623
94.0%
Average amount $18,366
Students receiving federal student loan 18.0%
Average amount $4,470
46.0%
Average amount $5,032
Students taking out private loans 1.0%
Average amount $2,687
14.0%
Average amount $17,064

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 8,321
Men 47.7% Women 52.3%
11,626
Men 37.8% Women 62.2%
Graduate students 772
Men 55.8% Women 44.2%
2,200
Men 38.1% Women 61.9%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students 0.2% 82.3%
International students 8.7% 2.8%
Campus local/setting Rural: Fringe City: Small
Dormitory capacity 3,634 6,492
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California Alaska Idaho Missouri Texas Mississippi Vermont New York Connecticut New Jersey

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Physical Science
  • Social Sciences
  • English Language and Literature
  • Psychology
  • Health Professions
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Business
  • Natural Resources and Conservation
  • Social Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 19:1 17:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 71.6% 77.1%
Dropout rate 5.0% 22.2%
Transferred out 22.6% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,675
  • Year 2: $55,286
  • Year 3: $68,164
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,936
  • Year 2: $51,392
  • Year 3: $67,761
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,771
  • Year 2: $43,000
  • Year 3: $57,642
Biomedical/Medical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,420
  • Year 2: $39,729
  • Year 3: $53,045
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,245
  • Year 2: $41,937
  • Year 3: $50,288
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,755
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $49,047
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,917
  • Year 2: $38,721
  • Year 3: $47,958
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,685
  • Year 2: $31,391
  • Year 3: $43,274
Chemistry (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,397
  • Year 2: $29,685
  • Year 3: $42,368
Cognitive Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,909
  • Year 2: $28,960
  • Year 3: $40,928
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $83,546
  • Year 3: $92,960
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,622
  • Year 2: $72,325
  • Year 3: $80,403
Medicine (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,569
  • Year 2: $59,177
  • Year 3: $71,878
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,707
  • Year 2: $67,287
  • Year 3: $70,084
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,950
  • Year 2: $56,641
  • Year 3: $65,279
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,784
  • Year 2: $61,875
  • Year 3: $64,632
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,570
  • Year 2: $55,770
  • Year 3: $64,381
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,024
  • Year 2: $57,770
  • Year 3: $64,348
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,867
  • Year 2: $47,846
  • Year 3: $61,295
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,959
  • Year 2: $54,361
  • Year 3: $59,719

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