UC Merced reported a second consecutive year of growth in fall applicants, with 26,043 first-year applications submitted – up from 25,458 the prior year. Transfer applications added another 4,004 students, including 3,664 from California community colleges, bringing the total above 30,000 prospective students.
The institution also reported the highest share of underrepresented-minority applicants in the UC system at 55%. Sustained applicant growth and the regional shift in higher-education footprint are structural tailwinds for the housing-demand backdrop underlying the New Course Merced Station development adjacent to campus.
