If you’re looking for a school that offers an interesting and diverse range of majors, UC Merced is the place for you. With over 130 majors to choose from, you’re sure to find one that’s perfect for you. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at some of the most popular majors at UC Merced, as well as what the school is most known for. We’ll also examine capped or impacted majors at UC Merced. So whether you’re still trying to decide on a major or are just curious about what’s available, read on!

UC Merced Overview

UC Merced is a young university, having only opened its doors in 2005. Nevertheless, it has already made a name for itself as one of the country’s most innovative and sustainable campuses.

The university is built on land that was formerly an agricultural research center, and it includes a variety of features that are designed to minimize its impact on the environment.

University of California Merced Overview - California Transfer Support Network

For example, the campus features a solar power plant, a green roof, and a rainwater harvesting system. In addition, UC Merced is home to the largest LEED-certified building in the world.

The university’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond its physical infrastructure; it also offers a variety of academic programs related to environmental issues.

As UC Merced continues to grow, it is poised to become a leading voice in the discussion of how to create a more sustainable future.

Related Reading(s)

6 Impacted Majors at UCLA you Should Know About | 2023

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11 Impacted Majors at UC Berkeley | 2022-2023 Admit Rates & Average GPA

UC Merced Student Demographics

EthnicityNumberPercent
African-American4024.4%
Asian/Pacific Islander188320.7%
Hispanic476252.3%
Native American8>0.1%
White8879.7%
Nonresidents7117.8%
Two or More Races3433.8%
Unknown/Declined to State1071.2%
Total9104100%
UC Merced Student Demographics via Race/Ethnicity

UC Merced Enrollment Totals

UC Merced enrolls around 9,000+ graduate and undergraduate students annually.

UC Merced Enrollment Totals: Graduate, Undergraduate. Majors at UC Merced Ideas and Topics

UC Merced Types of Degrees Issued

The University of California Merced has both an undergraduate and graduate college. According to the UC Merced Center of Institutional Effectiveness, the institution awarded:

Degree Type# of Degrees Awarded
Bachelors Degree13,494
Doctorate Degree501
Masters Degree511
Chart of UC Merced Degree Types Awarded

UC Merced Rankings

UC Merced is ranked #97 in the Top 100 of US Colleges & Universities according to the US News & World Report.

UC Merced is further ranked 49th in the nation according to the Washington Monthly and is ranked #5 in terms of social mobility for UC Merced students.

Campus Named Among Top 100 National Universities by U.S. News Three Years  Running | Newsroom. Majors at UC Merced
UC Merced Celebrates Top 100 on US News & World Rankings

In the State of California, UC Merced ranks #15 and is often considered one of the bottom-level UC institutions. However, it is important to remember that UC Merced is still the new kid on the block when compared to the behemoths of UCLA and UC Berkeley.

Different Majors & Minors at UC Merced

In total, the University of California Merced offers 27 majors, 25 minors, and 18 graduate-level degree programs. As the campus grows, the number of majors and minors that will be offered will increase as we have seen in the past few years a significant number of additions to UC Merced Majors and Minors.

Undergraduate Majors

  • Anthropology, B.A.
  • Applied Mathematical Sciences, B.S.
  • Bioengineering, B.S.
  • Biological Sciences, B.S.
  • Chemical Sciences, B.S.
  • Civil Engineering, B.S.
  • Cognitive Science, B.S., B.A.
  • Computer Science and Engineering, B.S.
  • Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, B.A.
  • Environmental Systems Science, B.S.
  • Economics, B.S., B.A.
  • English, B.A.
  • Environmental Engineering, B.S.
  • Global Arts Studies Program, B.A.
  • History, B.A.
  • Management and Business Economics, B.S.
  • Materials Sciences and Engineering, B.S.
  • Mechanical Engineering, B.S.
  • Philosophy, B.A.
  • Physics, B.S.
  • Political Science, B.A.
  • Psychology, B.A.
  • Public Health, B.A.
  • Sociology, B.A.
  • Spanish, B.A.
  • Sociology, B.A.
  • Writing Studies, B.A.

Undergraduate Minors

  • American Studies
  • Anthropology
  • Applied Mathematical Sciences
  • Chemical Sciences
  • Chicano/a Studies
  • Cognitive Science
  • Community Research and Service
  • Economics
  • English
  • Environmental Science and Sustainability
  • Geospatial Technology
  • Global Arts Studies Program
  • History
  • Management Analytics and Decision-making
  • Management and Business Economics
  • Natural Sciences Education
  • Natural Sciences Education Minor with Teaching Credential
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Public Health
  • Services Science
  • Sociology
  • Spanish
  • Writing

Most Popular Majors at UC Merced

UC Merced is popularly known for its STEM majors (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). These majors are some of the most in-demand majors in todays modern worforce.

The most popular majors at UC Merced are: Psychology; Public Health, Biological Sciences, Computer Science & Engineering; and Management & Business Economics

UC Merced MajorApplicantsAdmitsAdmit Rate
Psychology3,1682,78488%
Public Health1,4071,22887%
Management & Business Economics Majors4,1503,44483%
Biological Sciences4,2443,70987%
Computer Science and Engineering3,4862,97985%
Mechanical Engineering1,3851,21187%
Applied Mathematical Sciences1,3971,10579%
UC Merced Most Popular Majors (Applicants, Admits, Admit Rate)

Related: 11 Impacted Majors at UC Berkeley | 2022-2023 Admit Rates & Average GPA

Related: 6 Impacted Majors at UCLA you Should Know About | 2023

Capped/Impacted Majors at UC Merced

In terms of the number of applicants to admits, it is clear that UC Merced does not have any impacted or capped majors. However, this is not to say that the most popular majors at UC Merced will not turn away students, particularly in the Engineering and Biological Sciences schools.

In other words, every major offered at UC Merced has above a 50 percent acceptance rate, but if we were to try and isolate a few majors at UC Merced that are capped or impacted it would be:

Economics

  • Applicants: 559
  • Admits: 442
  • Admit Rate: 79%

Applied Mathematical Sciences

  • Applicants: 1,397
  • Admits: 1,105
  • Admit Rate: 79%

Conclusion

UC Merced has a diverse range of majors that are popular among students. The most in-demand majors at UC Merced include Psychology, Biological Sciences, Computer Science & Engineering, and Management & Business Economics.

While every major offered at UC Merced is open to any student, some majors are more competitive than others. For example, the capped or impacted majors at UC Merced are Economics and Applied Mathematical Sciences.

UC Merced is well known for its STEM related majors which make up nearly 50 percent of all degrees awarded. These majors are some of the most in-demand majors today and can be difficult to get into due to the high number of applicants.

However, other popular majors such as Public Health and Psychology also have high acceptance rates. We hope you were able to learn more about majors at UC Merced and what majors the school is known for.

Good luck deciding which majors to pursue!