California State University, Chico vs University of California, Merced

Odds, test scores, cost, aid and graduation rates, side by side from each school's own Common Data Set. Add more schools

CSUCalifornia State University, Chico91%admitted · 2025-26

University of California, Merced92%admitted · 2024-25

Getting in

Acceptance rate91.1%91.5%

Early decision rateNo EDNo ED

SAT middle 50%940–1170—

ACT middle 50%19–26—

Applicant reports on our site7146

Cost and aid

Tuition$6,450 in-state—

Tuition, out-of-state$19,552—

Food and housing$16,668—

Sticker price per year$38,666—

Average need-based grant$14,474—

Average % of need met61%—

Outcomes

First-year retention81.5%82%

6-year graduation rate60.3%69%

Undergraduates13,5998,372

Best value in each row is highlighted. Sticker price uses out-of-state tuition for public universities and leaves out books, travel and aid. "—" means the school left the item blank in its Common Data Set.

California State University, Chico or University of California, Merced?

Is California State University, Chico harder to get into than University of California, Merced?

They are about equally selective: California State University, Chico admitted 91.1% of first-year applicants (2025-26) and University of California, Merced admitted 91.5% (2024-25).

Does California State University, Chico or University of California, Merced have a higher graduation rate?

60.3% of California State University, Chico students graduate within six years, compared with 69% at University of California, Merced.