Side-by-side
California State University-Fresno vs University of California-Merced
The numbers that actually decide it — net price after aid, how hard each is to get into, and how many students finish — compared straight across. Net price beats sticker price every time.
Similar selectivity (95% vs 91%) but out-of-state cost runs $20k — meaningfully less than $50k.
| California State University-Fresno | University of California-Merced | |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 95% | 91% |
| Net price (in-state) what the average family actually pays after aid | $7,350 | $15,623 |
| Net price (out-of-state) | $19,950 | $49,823 |
| Sticker tuition (in-state) | $7,350 | $15,623 |
| Sticker tuition (out-of-state) | $19,950 | $49,823 |
| Graduation rate | 56% | 69% |
| Total enrollment | 21,605 | 8,372 |
Net price = sticker price minus the average grant aid for that school (IPEDS / Dept. of Education data). Real numbers vary by family income and student stats — verify each school's own Net Price Calculator before committing. Canonical: /compare/california-state-university-fresno-vs-university-of-california-merced.