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The University of California, Merced receives a “D” grade by What Will They Learn? which takes into account the university’s educational prowess. Factors include composition, literature, foreign language, U.S. government or history, economics, mathematics, and natural science.

The University of California, Merced receives a “D-” grade for the Percent of Graduates with Debt (Federal and Private). In 2020, 67% of graduates accumulated student debt from federal and/or private sources according to The Institute for College Access & Success.

The University of California, Merced receives a “B+” grade for the Average Debt of Graduates (Federal and Private). In 2020, graduates accumulated $17,413 of debt on average from federal and/or private sources according to The Institute for College Access & Success.

The University of California, Merced receives a “C” grade for Mandated Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Training for Staff. The university does not appear to require any training on equity, inclusion, and diversity. The required trainings are:

• “UC Preventing Harassment and Discrimination”
• “UC Cyber Security Awareness Fundamentals”
• “General Compliance Briefing: UC Ethical Values and Conduct”
• “UCM New Employee Orientation”
• “UC Ethics and Compliance Briefing for Researchers”
• “UCM COVID-19 Health and Safety Training”

However, the university offers an optional UC Managing Implicit Bias Series. “This systemwide program consists of eCourses designed to increase awareness of implicit bias and reduce its impact on hiring processes at the University.” The six courses offered are:

• “What is Implicit Bias?”
• “The Impact of Implicit Bias”
• “Managing the Influence of Implicit Bias: Awareness”
• “Common Forms of Bias”
• “Managing the Impact of Implicit Bias: Mindfulness and Conscious De-biasing”
• “Managing Implicit Bias in the Hiring Process”

The University of California, Merced receives an “F” grade for having a Bias Response Team. Bias Reporting Systems and Response Teams are systems or teams of faculty, staff, and sometimes law enforcement.

According to SpeechFirst, students are “encouraged to report ‘bias incidents’ to these boards (or teams) in the name of inclusion and tolerance, but it’s often unclear what the school considers ‘bias’ in the first place. Overly broad or vague definitions of bias put all kinds of speech at risk of being reported – even unpopular speech which is protected by the First Amendment.”

The University of California, Merced receives an “F” grade for the Ratio of Right-Leaning Clubs to Left-Leaning Clubs. Out of a list of 20 clubs (10 from each side), the university has zero right-leaning clubs compared to four left-leaning clubs. Young Democratic Socialists of America, Planned Parenthood Generation Action, LAMBDA Alliance, and Undocu Pride are the four left-leaning clubs.

The University of California, Merced receives a “C” grade due to having no active Turning Point USA chapter. The university has not denied a Turning Point USA chapter on campus.

The University of California, Merced receives a “D” grade for In-State Tuition for Illegal Immigrants. Undocumented students can qualify for in-state tuition under Assembly Bill 540. To qualify, undocumented students must:

• “Have attended a California high school for 3 or more full academic years between grades 9 through 12 (they do not need to be consecutive years).”
• “Be (or will be) a graduate from a California high school or have attained a GED; or received a passing mark on the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE).”
• “Register or be currently enrolled at an accredited institution of public higher education in California.”
• “File or plan to file an affidavit as required by individual institutions, stating that he/she will apply for legal residency as soon as possible.”
• “Not hold a valid non-immigrant visa (F, J, H, L, A, E, etc.). Students that do not qualify for AB 540 can still attend a California institution of higher education as long as they meet the admissions criteria and are accepted by the university, but they must pay out-of-state tuition.”

The University of California, Merced receives an “A-” grade for the Amount of Foreign Funding Received. According to College Foreign Gift Reporting, the total amount of foreign funding the university has received is $182.50 per current undergraduate student. Oftentimes, foreign parties will convey their influence by funding certain courses, activities, professors, and organizations on campus. In certain cases, universities must abide by restrictions dictated by foreign parties to receive funding. In addition, there have been reports that claim that universities underreport foreign funding. The figure above only takes into account reported foreign funding.

The University of California, Merced receives an “F” grade for Required Equity, Diversity, or Inclusion Courses for Students. The university requires students to complete one course from a Diversity and Identity Intellectual Experience category. The category description says students will “Consider how multiple kinds of difference—ethnic, racial, gender, and sexual—impact individuals and societies in the past and present.” Courses include, but are not limited to:

• “Race, Gender, Sexuality”
• “LGBT Fiction”
• “Environmental Justice in Beast Fables”
• “White Supremacy and White Violence in the US: Research”
• “Climate Justice”
• “Climate Change and Society”

The University of California, Merced receives a “C” grade for Segregated Dormitories, Graduations, and Classes. The university has one segregated convocation (Lavender Graduation Reception) and one segregated living-learning community (AFRO Hall).

The university has no segregated classes.

The University of California, Merced receives an “A” grade for Protests and Canceling Speakers. Since 2021, no instances of protests, speech cancellations, or violence/attempted violence against speakers have occurred.

The University of California, Merced receives an “F” grade for Boycotting, Divesting, and Sanctioning Israel (BDS). According to the Jewish Virtual Library, since the start of the 2013-14 school year, the university’s student body has introduced two pieces of legislation that would require the university to divest from any Israeli company and from companies that do business with Israel. One piece of legislation passed while one failed.

Introducing these types of legislation often puts a target on Jewish and pro-Israel students and communities, fostering an environment vulnerable to antisemitism.

The University of California, Merced receives an “F” grade for Mask and Vaccine Mandates. Although the university no longer requires students to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, they are required to actively opt-out of the vaccination requirement.

“On August 16, 2023, the University of California updated their Policy on Vaccination Programs requiring that anyone who learns, lives, or works at any UC Merced facility or otherwise participate in person in University Programs be Up-To-Date with COVID-19 vaccination or affirmatively decline by December 1, 2023. Individuals may opt out of receiving the COVID-19 vaccine by signing a declination statement, receiving vaccine education, and agreeing to certain non-pharmaceutical interventions, which may include mask-wearing and/or other mitigations.”

The University of California, Merced receives a “C+” grade for the Percent of Students Graduating with STEM Degrees. According to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data Center (IPEDS), as of 2020, 8.60% of the current undergraduate student population graduate with a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) degree. Across the United States, students who graduate with STEM degrees tend to earn more on average than their other student counterparts.

The University of California, Merced receives a “C+” grade for Crime Rates in University City or Town. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Merced, California violent crime rate was 555.83 per 100,000 people in 2018, higher than the 2018 national average of 380.56 per 100,000 people. While campus safety is of utmost importance, it is also pertinent to consider the crime rates of the surrounding town or city as students often tend to venture off campus, especially after their freshman year.

The University of California, Merced receives an “F” grade for Required Western Civilization Courses for Students. The university does not require any course or category of courses designed to teach students about the history of the United States and Western Civilization as a whole.