University of California, Merced

University of California, Merced
MottoFiat lux (Latin)
Motto in English
Let there be light
TypePublic land-grant research university
EstablishedSeptember 5, 2005; 19 years ago (September 5, 2005)[1][2]
Parent institution
University of California
AccreditationWSCUC
Endowment$29.64 million (2023)[3]
Budget$399.4 million (2022-23)[4]
ChancellorJuan Sánchez Muñoz
ProvostGregg Camfield[5]
Academic staff
1,359 (April 2023)[6]
Administrative staff
2,816 (April 2023)[6]
Students9,148 (fall 2023)[7]
Undergraduates8,373 (fall 2023)[7]
Postgraduates775 (fall 2023)[7]
Location
Merced
,
California
,
United States

37°21′58″N 120°25′25″W / 37.366°N 120.4235°W / 37.366; -120.4235
CampusFringe rural[8]
Core Campus: 245 acres (99 ha)[9]
Total: 8,195 acres (3,316 ha)[10], 1,026 acres (415 ha)
Other campuses
NewspaperThe Prodigy
Colors  Bobcat Blue
  Bobcat Gold[11]
NicknameGolden Bobcats
Sporting affiliations
MascotRufus the Bobcat
Websiteucmerced.edu

The University of California, Merced (UC Merced or colloquially, UCM) is a public land-grant research university in Merced, California, United States. It is one of the ten campuses in the University of California (UC) system.[12] Established in 2005, UC Merced is the newest campus within the UC system. The primary campus is located around five miles north of Merced and sits adjacent to Lake Yosemite. The main campus is around 1,026 acres (415 ha) in size. Large swaths of protected natural grasslands surround the university.

The forming of UC Merced was initiated to address population growth of the San Joaquin Valley, and to make higher education more accessible. UC Merced consists of three undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools. The upcoming medical school is being established in partnership with UCSF and UCSF Fresno. UC Merced offers over 60 undergraduate degrees and 18 graduate and professional degrees and roughly 8,000 undergraduates and 700 graduate students were enrolled at UCM as of fall 2023. The university is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity" and had $45.9 million in research and development expenditures in 2021.[13][14]

UC Merced is one of the largest employers in Merced County and contributes about $1.7 billion to the economy of the San Joaquin Valley.[15] The UC Merced Golden Bobcats currently compete in the NAIA as members of the Cal Pac. In 2025, the university plans to move to NCAA Division II.

  1. ^ "A brief history of the University of California". Academic Personnel and Programs. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  2. ^ "About UC Merced | Research University in California". www.ucmerced.edu.
  3. ^ As of June 30, 2023. "University of California Annual Endowment Report Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2023" (PDF). Office of the President. University of California. November 13, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  4. ^ "UCM Base Budget FY23". UCM Budget FY23. University of California, Merced. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  5. ^ "Gregg Camfield Named Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost". Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  6. ^ a b "UC Employee Headcount". University of California. June 30, 2023. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c "Fast Facts 2022-23". University of California, Merced.
  8. ^ "College Navigator – University of California-Merced". nces.ed.gov.
  9. ^ "University of California Annual Financial Report 18/19" (PDF). University of California. p. 8. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  10. ^ "2018-2019 Annual Financial Report (Unaudited)" (PDF). University of California, Merced. February 27, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  11. ^ "Brand Standards and Colors". Merced Brand Colors/Standards. University of California, Merced. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  12. ^ "Fast Facts". UC Merced. November 2014.
  13. ^ "Carnegie Classifications Institution Lookup". carnegieclassifications.iu.edu. Center for Postsecondary Education. Archived from the original on July 20, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  14. ^ "Rankings by total R&D expenditures". Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  15. ^ "About UC Merced | UC Merced". www.ucmerced.edu. Retrieved January 1, 2021.