Undergraduate Experience at UC Merced

Student & Alumni Success

April 29, 2026

Elementary school students get a lesson in engineering and physics from undergraduates in the CalTeach program.
Students who arrive at UC Merced planning on specific careers often discover along the way that their interests — and strengths — are broader than they first imagined. A new initiative called Education Tracks, or EdTracks, is designed to give students a flexible, low‑risk way to...
Avinav Biswas has been named a 2026 Barry M. Goldwater Scholar.
Avinav Biswas, a third‑year undergraduate majoring in biological sciences at UC Merced, has been named a 2026 Barry M. Goldwater Scholar, becoming the university’s first recipient of one of the...
At Bobcat Day 2026, a group of current students and mascot Rufus
A throng of people came to UC Merced on a crisp, blue-sky Saturday for Bobcat Day. More than 7,000 were registered to attend the April 18 event for admitted and prospective first-year and...
Headshot Simone Samra
Simone Samra’s dedication to education and community work is influenced by her mother's experience immigrating from India and her belief in the power of education for immigrant women....
Alumnus Rahim Moulanazada works on the state capitol annex reconstruction.
Rahim Moulanazada’s path from Modesto to major construction projects across California has been shaped by persistence, family and a deep appreciation for collaboration. Moulanazada, 24,...
Quantitative and Systems Biology Ph.D. student Tahirah Williams
Nervous but prepared, Tahirah Williams took the stage at UC Merced’s Grad Slam competition in March and delivered her three-minute talk, “More Than Slime: When Mucus Meets the Valley...
Social Sciences school sign outside UC Merced classroom buildin
A highly customizable degree that rewards curiosity, reaches out to a diverse set of learners and prepares scholars for people-centered careers has arrived at UC Merced. Liberal studies, a...
Depicted is a collage of UC Merced students taking part in study abroad programs in various locations around the world.
Frida Quinto Ruiz went to Sweden with a curious mind. She came home with a plan. "Studying abroad completely reshaped the direction of my college career in ways I never expected," she...
Headshot Jacqueline Garcia
Most weekdays, civil engineering major Jacqueline Garcia travels 45 minutes each way from her hometown of Hughson to attend classes at UC Merced. “The perk is being able to pursue my...
Early Childhood Education Center Director Danielle Waite speaks to a group of visiting students
Across the Valley, the need for professionals who support children and families continues to grow, spanning fields such as education, health care and social services. At UC Merced, new academic...

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