Key points
Three UC Merced professors have been named 2026 Hellman Fellows, representing the university’s School of Engineering, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts, and School of Natural Sciences.
The fellowships will advance innovative research across three fields, from heat-responsive materials and the disappearance of Indigenous and Chicana women and girls to the nutritional value of plants consumed by livestock and wildlife.
"We're still alive. We're still here. This history lives on in us."
For author and artist Gayle Romasanta, the story of Filipino American labor leader Larry Itliong is both a reflection of and a tribute to the Central Valley communities that raised him and the families who still call the region home.
UC Merced and the Kern High School District have partnered to provide eligible students with a clear pathway to guaranteed admission to the university through the Merced Automatic Admission Program, or MAAP.
The partnership was announced during a KHSD Board of Trustees meeting, where UC Merced leaders outlined the program and the admission and scholarship opportunities available to participating students. KHSD is one of 51 school districts across California connecting eligible students with UC Merced through MAAP.
UC Merced Arts has announced its season of concerts, exhibitions, festivals and programs, beginning with the Merced Symphony's annual Side-by-Side Concert.
UC Merced Arts has announced its season of concerts, exhibitions, festivals and programs, beginning with the Merced Symphony's annual Side-by-Side Concert.
In recognition of its growing national reputation, UC Merced has been named the 30th best public university in the country by U.S. News & World Report. The announcement was made today as part of USNWR’s 2027 Best Colleges list, the esteemed annual report that tabulates more than 1,700 public and private colleges and universities.
The university also ranked No. 4 for social mobility, placing it among the nation's best institutions for helping students from all backgrounds achieve greater economic success.
UC Merced is expanding its Merced Automatic Admission Program (MAAP) to students in Shasta County, creating a direct pathway for eligible students to secure guaranteed admission.
Through new agreements with Shasta Union High School District and Fall River Joint Unified School District, students who meet the program's academic requirements can receive an early guarantee of admission to UC Merced. Leaders from UC Merced and both districts formally signed the agreements during a ceremony in Redding.
UC Merced is welcoming the largest class in university history this fall, as record numbers of first-year and transfer students propel total enrollment to an all-time high of 9,647 students.
The university’s enrollment grew by 704 students, a nearly 8% increase from last fall. This surpasses the previous record of 9,148, set in Fall 2023.
Even more striking is the growth among new students. UC Merced welcomed 3,157 new students this fall — an increase of 748 students, or 31%, from last year’s 2,409. The previous record for new students was 2,678, set in Fall 2021.
For the second year, UC Merced has partnered with the Campos Foundation to host the Campos ENgage Engineering Summer Bridge Academy, a weeklong summer program aimed at supporting underrepresented minority and female students interested in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
This is part of a series of profiles of new UC Merced Bobcats enrolled for the fall 2026 semester.
Driven by a passion for animal care, incoming biological sciences major student Esperanza Garcia is already well on her way toward a future in veterinary medicine.
