CA | PUBLIC
Degreeli reads this school through school + degree value, not prestige alone. Start with the Value Score, then expand each program to see cost, salary, payback, and risk.
Overview
University of California, Merced looks strongest as a selective value play, with its best program landing at $1,376,852 in completion-adjusted ROI.
Families should compare the strongest path against weaker options, especially if recoup times stretch well beyond 7.2 years.
4-year net cost
$47,932
Estimated debt
$24,925
Early salary signal
$80,009
Graduation rate
69%
Why this score?
Strong Value is a Degreeli Value Score v1 directional read based on modeled cost ($47,932), estimated debt ($24,925), early-career salary ($80,009), payback, completion, and review signals. The strongest signal is that cost looks efficient relative to expected early-career pay. The main caution is that graduate review signal is limited or modeled. Data confidence is medium, so this should support comparison rather than act as a guarantee.
Strengths
Cost looks efficient relative to expected early-career pay.
Estimated debt appears manageable relative to salary.
Earnings outlook is strong for a first-decade career path.
Risks
Graduate review signal is limited or modeled.
Programs
BACHELORS
Click to inspect salary, debt, payback, strengths, and risks.
88
Strong Value
Data Confidence
Medium
Completion ROI
$1,376,852
Salary Outlook
$80,009
Estimated Debt
$24,925
Payback
3.1 years
Strengths
Cost looks efficient relative to expected early-career pay.
Estimated debt appears manageable relative to salary.
Earnings outlook is strong for a first-decade career path.
Risks
Graduate review signal is limited or modeled.
BACHELORS
Click to inspect salary, debt, payback, strengths, and risks.
85
Strong Value
Data Confidence
Medium
Completion ROI
$1,273,291
Salary Outlook
$74,131
Estimated Debt
$24,925
Payback
3.4 years
Strengths
Cost looks efficient relative to expected early-career pay.
Estimated debt appears manageable relative to salary.
Projected payback timeline is comparatively short.
Risks
Graduate review signal is limited or modeled.
BACHELORS
Click to inspect salary, debt, payback, strengths, and risks.
83
Strong Value
Data Confidence
Medium
Completion ROI
$1,187,460
Salary Outlook
$69,260
Estimated Debt
$24,925
Payback
3.6 years
Strengths
Cost looks efficient relative to expected early-career pay.
Estimated debt appears manageable relative to salary.
Projected payback timeline is comparatively short.
Risks
Graduate review signal is limited or modeled.
BACHELORS
Click to inspect salary, debt, payback, strengths, and risks.
80
Strong Value
Data Confidence
Medium
Completion ROI
$1,107,909
Salary Outlook
$64,745
Estimated Debt
$24,925
Payback
3.8 years
Strengths
Cost looks efficient relative to expected early-career pay.
Estimated debt appears manageable relative to salary.
Projected payback timeline is comparatively short.
Risks
Graduate review signal is limited or modeled.
BACHELORS
Click to inspect salary, debt, payback, strengths, and risks.
79
Fair Value
Data Confidence
Medium
Completion ROI
$1,096,213
Salary Outlook
$64,082
Estimated Debt
$24,925
Payback
3.9 years
Strengths
Cost looks efficient relative to expected early-career pay.
Estimated debt appears manageable relative to salary.
Projected payback timeline is comparatively short.
Risks
Graduate review signal is limited or modeled.
BACHELORS
Click to inspect salary, debt, payback, strengths, and risks.
72
Fair Value
Data Confidence
Medium
Completion ROI
$905,460
Salary Outlook
$53,256
Estimated Debt
$24,925
Payback
4.7 years
Strengths
Cost looks efficient relative to expected early-career pay.
Estimated debt appears manageable relative to salary.
Projected payback timeline is comparatively short.
Risks
Graduate review signal is limited or modeled.
BACHELORS
Click to inspect salary, debt, payback, strengths, and risks.
72
Fair Value
Data Confidence
Medium
Completion ROI
$897,420
Salary Outlook
$52,800
Estimated Debt
$24,925
Payback
4.7 years
Strengths
Cost looks efficient relative to expected early-career pay.
Estimated debt appears manageable relative to salary.
Projected payback timeline is comparatively short.
Risks
Graduate review signal is limited or modeled.
BACHELORS
Click to inspect salary, debt, payback, strengths, and risks.
69
Caution Zone
Data Confidence
Medium
Completion ROI
$830,390
Salary Outlook
$48,996
Estimated Debt
$24,925
Payback
5.1 years
Strengths
Cost looks efficient relative to expected early-career pay.
Estimated debt appears manageable relative to salary.
Completion/outcome signal supports the value case.
Risks
Graduate review signal is limited or modeled.
BACHELORS
Click to inspect salary, debt, payback, strengths, and risks.
66
Caution Zone
Data Confidence
Medium
Completion ROI
$781,379
Salary Outlook
$46,214
Estimated Debt
$24,925
Payback
5.4 years
Strengths
Cost looks efficient relative to expected early-career pay.
Estimated debt appears manageable relative to salary.
Completion/outcome signal supports the value case.
Risks
Graduate review signal is limited or modeled.
BACHELORS
Click to inspect salary, debt, payback, strengths, and risks.
66
Caution Zone
Data Confidence
Medium
Completion ROI
$772,776
Salary Outlook
$45,726
Estimated Debt
$24,925
Payback
5.5 years
Strengths
Cost looks efficient relative to expected early-career pay.
Estimated debt appears manageable relative to salary.
Completion/outcome signal supports the value case.
Risks
Graduate review signal is limited or modeled.
BACHELORS
Click to inspect salary, debt, payback, strengths, and risks.
65
Caution Zone
Data Confidence
Medium
Completion ROI
$748,930
Salary Outlook
$44,373
Estimated Debt
$24,925
Payback
5.6 years
Strengths
Cost looks efficient relative to expected early-career pay.
Estimated debt appears manageable relative to salary.
Completion/outcome signal supports the value case.
Risks
Graduate review signal is limited or modeled.
BACHELORS
Click to inspect salary, debt, payback, strengths, and risks.
64
Caution Zone
Data Confidence
Medium
Completion ROI
$742,127
Salary Outlook
$43,987
Estimated Debt
$24,925
Payback
5.7 years
Strengths
Cost looks efficient relative to expected early-career pay.
Estimated debt appears manageable relative to salary.
Completion/outcome signal supports the value case.
Risks
Graduate review signal is limited or modeled.
BACHELORS
Click to inspect salary, debt, payback, strengths, and risks.
62
Caution Zone
Data Confidence
Medium
Completion ROI
$697,459
Salary Outlook
$41,452
Estimated Debt
$24,925
Payback
6 years
Strengths
Cost looks efficient relative to expected early-career pay.
Completion/outcome signal supports the value case.
Risks
Graduate review signal is limited or modeled.
BACHELORS
Click to inspect salary, debt, payback, strengths, and risks.
61
Caution Zone
Data Confidence
Medium
Completion ROI
$670,025
Salary Outlook
$39,895
Estimated Debt
$24,925
Payback
6.2 years
Strengths
Cost looks efficient relative to expected early-career pay.
Completion/outcome signal supports the value case.
Risks
Graduate review signal is limited or modeled.
BACHELORS
Click to inspect salary, debt, payback, strengths, and risks.
60
Caution Zone
Data Confidence
Medium
Completion ROI
$660,693
Salary Outlook
$39,365
Estimated Debt
$24,925
Payback
6.3 years
Strengths
Cost looks efficient relative to expected early-career pay.
Completion/outcome signal supports the value case.
Risks
Graduate review signal is limited or modeled.
BACHELORS
Click to inspect salary, debt, payback, strengths, and risks.
55
High Risk
Data Confidence
Medium
Completion ROI
$573,776
Salary Outlook
$34,432
Estimated Debt
$24,925
Payback
7.2 years
Strengths
Cost looks efficient relative to expected early-career pay.
Completion/outcome signal supports the value case.
Risks
Payback could take longer than many families expect.
Graduate review signal is limited or modeled.
Verified reviews
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ROI Snapshot
BACHELORS
88
Strong Value
On-time ROI
$2,003,568
Risk-adjusted ROI
$1,376,852
Value at risk
$626,716
Payback
3.1 years
BACHELORS
85
Strong Value
On-time ROI
$1,852,868
Risk-adjusted ROI
$1,273,291
Value at risk
$579,577
Payback
3.4 years
BACHELORS
83
Strong Value
On-time ROI
$1,727,968
Risk-adjusted ROI
$1,187,460
Value at risk
$540,508
Payback
3.6 years
BACHELORS
80
Strong Value
On-time ROI
$1,612,208
Risk-adjusted ROI
$1,107,909
Value at risk
$504,299
Payback
3.8 years
BACHELORS
79
Fair Value
On-time ROI
$1,595,188
Risk-adjusted ROI
$1,096,213
Value at risk
$498,975
Payback
3.9 years
BACHELORS
72
Fair Value
On-time ROI
$1,317,608
Risk-adjusted ROI
$905,460
Value at risk
$412,148
Payback
4.7 years
BACHELORS
72
Fair Value
On-time ROI
$1,305,908
Risk-adjusted ROI
$897,420
Value at risk
$408,488
Payback
4.7 years
BACHELORS
69
Caution Zone
On-time ROI
$1,208,368
Risk-adjusted ROI
$830,390
Value at risk
$377,978
Payback
5.1 years
BACHELORS
66
Caution Zone
On-time ROI
$1,137,048
Risk-adjusted ROI
$781,379
Value at risk
$355,669
Payback
5.4 years
BACHELORS
66
Caution Zone
On-time ROI
$1,124,528
Risk-adjusted ROI
$772,776
Value at risk
$351,752
Payback
5.5 years
BACHELORS
65
Caution Zone
On-time ROI
$1,089,828
Risk-adjusted ROI
$748,930
Value at risk
$340,898
Payback
5.6 years
BACHELORS
64
Caution Zone
On-time ROI
$1,079,928
Risk-adjusted ROI
$742,127
Value at risk
$337,801
Payback
5.7 years
BACHELORS
62
Caution Zone
On-time ROI
$1,014,928
Risk-adjusted ROI
$697,459
Value at risk
$317,469
Payback
6 years
BACHELORS
61
Caution Zone
On-time ROI
$975,008
Risk-adjusted ROI
$670,025
Value at risk
$304,983
Payback
6.2 years
BACHELORS
60
Caution Zone
On-time ROI
$961,428
Risk-adjusted ROI
$660,693
Value at risk
$300,735
Payback
6.3 years
BACHELORS
55
High Risk
On-time ROI
$834,948
Risk-adjusted ROI
$573,776
Value at risk
$261,172
Payback
7.2 years
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