Onward & Upward
Rankings Recognize
a Campus on the Rise
The climb continues.
UC Merced moved up again in the closely watched U.S. News & World Report rankings of the nation’s universities. The university rose to No. 93 among all institutions – up 72 spots in four years. Among public universities, it was 38th.
This confirms yet again that what we do at UC Merced is making an impact on the world, and greatly improving the lives of young people. Our reputation is solidly grounded in our world-class research and teaching, in the amazing students who join us every year and the successful alumni who tell our story.
Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, BEST COLLEGES RANKINGS, 2022
No. 93 among all national universities
No. 38 among public universities
No. 8 among all universities in economic diversity
No. 4 among all universities in social mobility
U.S. News is hardly the only list we’ve rocked. Other recent notables:
No. 7
Sierra magazine
2021 Cool Schools
No. 119
Forbes America’s Top Colleges
(FIRST APPEARANCE ON LIST)
No. 3
Princeton Review Green Honor Roll
No. 3
Times Higher Education Young University (U.S.)
Newsom Throws Support Behind Medical Education Building
We hope that students stay in the Valley and serve the people who made their education possible. To develop the talent, it takes time. But this is the beginning,”
California Governor Gavin Newsom
UC Merced’s plans for a new medical education building got a shot in the arm from Gavin Newsom.
The California governor came to campus Oct. 25 to announce his support of the $210 million building, the signature element of a degree program designed to address an urgent need for medical professionals in the San Joaquin Valley.
Construction costs of the Health, Behavioral Sciences and Medical Education Building will be covered by the state’s general fund. The building will support a B.S.-to-M.D. joint degree program with UCSF-Fresno, and house UC Merced’s public health and psychological sciences departments. The program’s first students are expected to begin in fall semester 2023.
“We hope that students stay in the Valley and serve the people who made their education possible," Newsom said. "To develop the talent, it takes time. But this is the beginning.”
A 2017 study by UCSF indicated the Valley had the lowest ratio of doctors and nurses to population of any California region.
“Medical education has been part of the plan for UC Merced since before we opened our doors to undergraduates in 2005,” Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz said. “This was driven in large part by the critical lack of health care professionals in the Central Valley.
“The historical significance of this future facility to our campus and our region cannot be overstated.”
New Centers Help Establish University’s Identity
Research centers can define a university’s mission to its community and beyond. In 2021, UC Merced made news with collaborations that address social justice, agricultural science and climate change.
- In his State of the University address in October, Chancellor Juan Sánchez Muñoz announced plans for the Center for Research, Equity, Anti-Racism and Transformative Engagement (CREATEs). Supported by state funding, the group of scholars and community members will tackle social inequities.
- The university joined a multi-institutional collaborative to develop artificial intelligence solutions to agriculture’s biggest challenges, such as water management and climate change. The AgAID Institute is supported by a $20 million federal grant. Learn More
- Plans for a Center for Analytic Political Engagement also was announced in the chancellor’s address.
- Developing sustainable agriculture through innovation and technology is the charge of the Engineering Research Center for the Internet of Things for Precision Agriculture (IoT4Ag). UC Merced and three other campuses form the collaborative, backed by a five-year, $26 million National Science Foundation grant. Learn More
- Led by UC Merced Professor Tracey Osborne, the Center for Climate Justice is a UC system-wide initiative to address climate change as a social justice and equity issue. The center also will tackle the broad range of associated social, racial and environmental injustices. Learn More
