Blaze New Trails


Find Your Passion and Make a Difference

UC Merced has been ranked among 107 top universities in the country as "Higher Research" Institution*
Youngest university ever to earn Carnegie R2 research classification* and already ranked 18th**
#11 among public universities and #1 in the UC for student participation in undergraduate research and creative projects***

*The Carnegie Foundation, **2022 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings, ***2020 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings

You are coming of age in a world where change is happening at an unprecedented pace. You can lend your voice to local and global efforts no matter where on the planet you live. At UC Merced, you can find out what needs to be fixed, support your favorite cause and collaborate with the next generation of leaders.

"But Wait. I'm not an Activist."

Whether you’re a History, Biological Sciences or Mechanical Engineering major, or anything in between, there are many ways to add value to the world. At UC Merced, you’ll conduct research, learn theories and perform outreach, and discover the right fit for you.

create teachable moments for others:

UC Merced and community leaders teamed up for Merced County Project 10% in 2013 in an effort to help increase high school graduation rates. Still going strong today, our students relate their struggles in school and act as mentors to eighth-graders.

Learn about the country’s political climate first-hand:

In the UCDC program (@bobcatsindc), you can network with lawmakers, and attend debates and hearings during an internship in Washington, D.C. In 2018, Psychology major Jessica Teran Salazar, pictured below, served as a congressional intern for California Rep. Pete Aguilar. Jessica, who comes from a low-income immigrant family, said the opportunity gave her a chance to see change happen.

Students’ participation in this program will be closely monitored within health and safety guidelines.

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

Sponsored by NASA, UC Merced’s Merced nAnomaterials Center for Energy and Sensing (MACES) serves as a nexus for nano-materials-based research and education.

research innovative ways to save the planet:

UC Solar, a collaborative made up of faculty and student researchers from nine UC campuses, is finding innovative ways to lower natural gas consumption to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. They’re currently developing green technologies that purify unusable water cheaply and efficiently without leaving a large carbon footprint.

meet others who say, "i want to help, too!"

UC Merced students who are motivated to make an impact join (and help form) clubs and organizations. Like the pre-dental students in the Project Smile Pre-Dental Club (@projectsmileucm): They work in clinics in Guatemala, and so far have helped provide free dental care to more than 3,000 Guatemalan children.

support a cause and volunteer:

For students in the Bobcat Eats Food Waste Awareness and Prevention Program (@bobcateatsfoodwasteprogram), the ability to rescue food that would otherwise go to waste has allowed them to have a direct effect on an issue — food security. In less than three years, the program has already helped save more than 2,312,121 pounds of food, equating to 1,926,767 meals and reducing 2,404 metric tons of CO2 emissions from the atmosphere.

$28.9 million

spent on research in 2018

$214 million

spent on research since 2005

Exploration that is Out of this World

Learn about how UC Merced researchers are partnering with the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to help with preparing the rover for the Mars 2020 mission.

innovate to grow at uc merced


institutes and centers include


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CENTER FOR CELLULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR MACHINES

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CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR THE STUDY OF HEALTH DISPARITIES

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CENTER FOR THE HUMANITIES

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CENTER OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH IN THE INTEREST OF SOCIETY

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COMMUNITY AND LABOR CENTER

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ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYTICAL LABORATORY

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HEALTH SCIENCES RESEARCH INSTITUTE

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MERCED NANOMATERIALS CENTER FOR ENERGY AND SENSING

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NSF ENGINEERING RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE INTERNET OF THINGS FOR PRECISION AGRICULTURE

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SIERRA NEVADA RESEARCH INSTITUTE

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SECURITY AND SUSTAINABILITY RESEARCH INITIATIVE