College comparison

UC Merced vs University of North Dakota

A side-by-side of acceptance rate, test scores, and cost — source-cited estimates, not guarantees. Want the number that actually matters for your student? Model your admit odds at each.

Metric	UC Merced Merced, CA	University of North Dakota Grand Forks, ND
Acceptance rateUniversity of North Dakota is more selective	91%	77%
SAT (25–75)	—	—
ACT (25–75)	—	—
Undergrad enrollment	8,372	9,981
Avg net price	$11,983	$18,551
Median earnings (10 yr)UC Merced reports higher median earnings	$64,368	$63,552
Graduation rate	69%	60%
Median debt	$16,144	$22,057
Economic mobility	—	1.6%
Test policy	—	—
Type	Public	Public

Quick answers

Is University of California-Merced or University of North Dakota harder to get into?

University of North Dakota is more selective: University of California-Merced's acceptance rate is approximately 91% and University of North Dakota's is approximately 77% (estimates from public and primary sources).

What SAT score do you need for University of California-Merced vs University of North Dakota?

The middle-50% SAT range is — at University of California-Merced and — at University of North Dakota. Scores outside these bands are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

Figures are estimates compiled from public datasets (College Scorecard / IPEDS) and primary sources; verify with each institution before relying on them.

These outputs are estimates from a baseline model — not guarantees of admission, cost, or outcome.