National Institutional Inclusion Awards
Best in Social Mobility
In the latest Wall Street Journal America's Best Colleges rankings , UC Merced was the number one university in the nation for social mobility—a term used to describe how well colleges and universities attract, retain, and help students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds complete their degrees and graduate into promising careers.
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Top 30 Public School
Following its ranking as #1 in Social Mobility by the Wall Street Journal, U.S. News & World Report's Best Colleges report ranked UC Merced as the 26th best public school in the nation. UC Merced was also ranked 58th among all universities nationwide.
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HEED Award
UC Merced received the 2023 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.
The HEED Award measures an institution's level of achievement and commitment to broadening diversity and inclusion through initiatives, programs, outreach efforts, student recruitment, retention, completion, and faculty and staff hiring practices.
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2021–2023 Seal of Excelencia
Excelencia in Education is a national organization devoted to advancing Latino student success in higher education.
In 2021, 2022, and 2023, Excelencia in Education recognized UC Merced for its commitment to intentionally serving Latinx students and demonstrating positive student outcomes through the Seal of Excelencia.
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2024 Equity & Inclusion Colleges of Distinction
University of California, Merced received national recognition as a College of Distinction for its commitment to equity and inclusion.
Schools earning an Equity & Inclusion badge exceed expectations from student recruitment through graduation and beyond.
Institutions awarded this distinction not only incorporate high-impact educational practices into their curriculum, but also ensure those opportunities are accessible within a welcoming and supportive community. These institutions pursue equity by addressing the unique needs of students regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender, or ability.
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