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💰 University of California-Merced Merit Scholarships

Total Scholarships
4
Automatic
3
In-State Awards
$7,000/yr
Out-of-State Awards
$7,000/yr
Typical Requirements for Automatic Merit
3.2 GPA

University of California-Merced awards merit scholarships automatically on GPA and test scores, with no separate application. Awards run $7,000/yr for out-of-state students. Eligibility starts at 3.2 GPA. Against tuition of $47,346, students receiving the largest award pay about $40,346 a year before other aid.

What you'd actually pay at University of California-Merced

Tuition & fees
$47,346
Largest annual award
$7,000
=
Students receiving it pay about
$40,346/yr

Tuition and fees only — housing (about $21,445), books and travel are extra. Awards must still be won and may carry renewal conditions. Need-based aid is separate and may reduce this further.

Official Scholarship Information
View complete details on University of California-Merced's website
Visit School Website →

Automatic merit scholarships at University of California-Merced — no separate application

3 awards granted on your admission application, based on GPA and test scores.

New students - automatic consideration
In-State Requirements
GPA 3.2+
Eligibility: All incoming students are automatically considered for all institutional scholarships administered by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships simply by submitting a FAFSA (citizen/eligible non-citizens) or CADAA (Dreamers) by March 2nd. New students must have at least a 3.25 GPA to be considered for most scholarships. Students must submit a FAFSA (citizens/eligible non-citizens) or CADAA (Dreamers) by March 2nd AND update their scholarship information through ScholarshipUniverse (available online beginning Feb. 1 each year). students must have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA as of the end of the prior fall semester to submit the Continuing Student General Scholarship Application.
How to apply: ["submit FAFSA or CADAA by March 2nd", "FAFSA/CADAA and completed admissions information for new students (automatic consideration)"]
📋 Some scholarships are awarded for multiple years as long as you continue to meet certain renewable qualificati Source ↗
Regents' Scholarship honorarium
Award
$7,000/yr in-state
$7,000/yr out-of-state
Entering freshmen are awarded a four-year scholarship (eight academic semesters); Entering transfer students are awarded a two-year scholarship (four academic semesters). All Regents' Scholars are considered for a $7,000 honorarium regardless of financial need. If a Regents' Scholar has additional financial need beyond the $7,000 honorarium, the scholar will be awarded the maximum amount of university scholarships and/or grants to cover the remainder of the scholar’s in-state need.
Eligibility: Recipients are selected on the basis of demonstrated academic excellence, leadership and exceptional promise. All entering students are automatically considered for a UC Regents’ Scholarship and need not submit any additional information or applications. The selection process may take into account each student’s academic performance, quality of essays submitted on the application for admission, the quality of the student’s extra-curricular activities, letters of recommendation, personal achievement rankings, life’s hardships and additional distinctive personal achievements.
How to apply: ["no separate application required"]
📋 Renewal: 3.2 GPA Source ↗
Regents' Scholarship need-based supplement
Entering freshmen are awarded a four-year scholarship (eight academic semesters); Entering transfer students are awarded a two-year scholarship (four academic semesters). All Regents' Scholars are considered for a $7,000 honorarium regardless of financial need. If a Regents' Scholar has additional financial need beyond the $7,000 honorarium, the scholar will be awarded the maximum amount of university scholarships and/or grants to cover the remainder of the scholar’s in-state need.
Eligibility: Recipients are selected on the basis of demonstrated academic excellence, leadership and exceptional promise. All entering students are automatically considered for a UC Regents’ Scholarship and need not submit any additional information or applications. The selection process may take into account each student’s academic performance, quality of essays submitted on the application for admission, the quality of the student’s extra-curricular activities, letters of recommendation, personal achievement rankings, life’s hardships and additional distinctive personal achievements.
How to apply: ["no separate application required"]
📋 Renewal: 3.2 GPA Source ↗

Other scholarships at University of California-Merced (1)

These require a separate application, or the school does not publish their eligibility criteria.

Continuing students - Continuing Student General Scholarship Application
Eligibility: All incoming students are automatically considered for all institutional scholarships administered by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships simply by submitting a FAFSA (citizen/eligible non-citizens) or CADAA (Dreamers) by March 2nd. New students must have at least a 3.25 GPA to be considered for most scholarships. Students must submit a FAFSA (citizens/eligible non-citizens) or CADAA (Dreamers) by March 2nd AND update their scholarship information through ScholarshipUniverse (available online beginning Feb. 1 each year). students must have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA as of the end of the prior fall semester to submit the Continuing Student General Scholarship Application.
How to apply: ["submit FAFSA or CADAA by March 2nd", "Continuing Student Scholarship Application (update ScholarshipUniverse profile; available beginning Feb. 1) by March 2nd"]
Source ↗

Common questions about University of California-Merced scholarships

How much merit aid does University of California-Merced give?

Published awards range $7,000/yr. University of California-Merced lists 4 merit scholarships in total.

What GPA or test scores do you need for a scholarship at University of California-Merced?

The lowest published threshold across automatic awards is 3.2 GPA. Individual scholarships set their own cutoffs.

Does University of California-Merced give merit scholarships to out-of-state students?

Yes. Awards for out-of-state students run $7,000/yr.

Is there a full-ride scholarship at University of California-Merced?

Not a full ride. The largest published award covers about 15% of tuition.

Do you have to apply separately for merit scholarships at University of California-Merced?

1 of the published awards are granted automatically on your admission application, with no separate scholarship application.

💡 Tip: Award amounts and cutoffs change year to year. Confirm current figures with University of California-Merced's financial aid office before making decisions — or check their scholarship page.

More on University of California-Merced

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