Transferring to UC Merced

UC Merced admitted 3,550 community college transfers for fall 2025, more than its 3,241 direct applicants, because UC refers qualified applicants who aren’t admitted elsewhere to Merced. The middle half of admitted transfers had GPAs from 2.97 to 3.68 for fall 2024, the latest range published.

Checked against official UC and campus sources in October 2026.

Admission numbers

Fall 2026 admit rate: 67.5%
Fall 2025, community college: Referral
Admitted GPA, middle half: 2.97–3.68
TAG minimum GPA: 2.80

Cycle	Who	Applicants	Admits	Admit rate
Fall 2026 (snapshot)	All transfer applicants	6,635	5,089	67.5%
Fall 2025	Community college applicants	3,241	3,550	Includes referrals

UC’s fall 2026 numbers are a snapshot taken during the cycle and count transfers from every kind of school. The fall 2025 numbers are final counts.

Your odds at UC Merced

Move the GPA and pick a major. The range uses UC Merced’s published numbers.

UC-transferable GPA3.40

Intended major

Target

About 50–96% in regular review for applicants like you

With a TAG on file for Psychology, admission is guaranteed from a 3.00, which you meet. Filing for fall 2027 closed September 30, 2026.

Major preparation is the factor UC readers weigh most for transfers — often ahead of GPA.

Regular-review estimate for a California resident on track for 60 units and the 7-course pattern, with major prep unconfirmed. The full calculator adds your prep, residency and TAG status.

TAG at UC Merced

UC Merced’s Transfer Admission Guarantee needs a 2.80 UC-transferable GPA by the end of summer 2026, and some majors need more. Merced reviews your record and also offers a spring TAG window, May 1 to 31.

Majors	GPA line
Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Earth Science / Geology, Environmental Science, Statistics	2.90
Aerospace Engineering, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Psychology	3.00

Every UC Merced major is open to TAG.

Full UC Merced TAG requirements and timing

Selective majors

UC Merced opens every major to TAG and is the only campus with a spring TAG window. UC refers qualified applicants who aren’t admitted elsewhere to Merced, and Merced’s Count Me In invitation lets some applicants be considered without listing it.

Campus rules by major

Major	Rule
All majorsShared rule	No major changes after you submit.
All majorsEvery campus	Switching into a selective STEM major after admission is, in UC’s words, very slim. Apply to the major you want.

Every major at UC Merced

Each major links to UC’s shared course list and the rules every campus adds to it.

Major	TAG	Extra campus rule
Aerospace Engineering	3.00	None listed
Anthropology	2.80	None listed
Bioengineering	3.00	None listed
Biological Sciences	2.90	None listed
Business Administration	2.80	None listed
Chemical Engineering	3.00	None listed
Chemistry	2.90	None listed
Civil Engineering	3.00	None listed
Communication	2.80	None listed
Computer Science	3.00	None listed
Data Science	2.80	None listed
Earth Science / Geology	2.90	None listed
Economics	2.80	None listed
Electrical Engineering	3.00	None listed
English	2.80	None listed
Environmental Engineering	3.00	None listed
Environmental Science	2.90	None listed
History	2.80	None listed
Materials Science and Engineering	3.00	None listed
Mathematics	2.90	None listed
Mechanical Engineering	3.00	None listed
Philosophy	2.80	None listed
Physics	2.90	None listed
Political Science	2.80	None listed
Psychology	3.00	None listed
Sociology	2.80	None listed
Statistics	2.90	None listed

Official links

UC Merced transfer admissionsadmissions.ucmerced.edu
UC Merced transfer admit data (UC)admission.universityofcalifornia.edu
ASSIST: course agreements to UC Mercedassist.org
UC TAG Matrixadmission.universityofcalifornia.edu

From UC Merced’s own pages

UC Merced requires 60 semester (90 quarter) units, a 2.40 GPA (2.80 for nonresidents) and the 7-course pattern. Majors in Engineering, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts require specific lower-division major preparation. Source
Students entering in fall 2027, 2028 or 2029 who complete an approved ADT in the same major may qualify for guaranteed admission and a $4,000 annual scholarship for up to two years. Approved pathways include Biological Sciences, Anthropology, History, Political Science, Liberal Studies and Critical Race and Ethnic Studies. Source
TAG minimum GPAs are 3.0 for Engineering, 2.9 for Natural Sciences and 2.8 for Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts (3.0 for Psychology and Public Health). Merced offers a fall TAG filed September 1-30 and a spring TAG filed May 1-31. Source
The primary selection criteria are completing the UC transfer admission requirements and the required major preparation, with GPA, grade trends and planned coursework also considered. Source
New transfer students are guaranteed one year of campus housing if they meet housing application deadlines and live on campus for both fall and spring of their first year. Source

Other UC campuses

Questions

What GPA do you need to transfer to UC Merced?

The middle half of admitted transfers had GPAs from 2.97 to 3.68 for fall 2024, the latest range published. UC’s minimum is 2.4 for California residents and 2.8 for nonresidents, but admitted transfers sit well above it. UC Merced’s TAG needs at least a 2.80.

What is UC Merced’s transfer acceptance rate?

UC’s fall 2026 snapshot shows UC Merced admitting 67.5% of all transfer applicants, 5,089 of 6,635.

Does UC Merced offer TAG?

Yes. The minimum is a 2.80, with higher lines for some majors. Filing runs September 1–30 for the following fall.

When is the UC Merced transfer application due?

For fall 2027 entry the UC application is due November 30, 2026. One application covers every campus you choose, and the Transfer Academic Update follows by January 31, 2027.