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 our ranking as #1 in Social Mobility by the Wall Street Journal, US 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 of all universities across the nation!
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HEED Award
UC Merced has 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 intensity of commitment to broadening diversity and inclusion on campus through initiatives, programs, and outreach; student recruitment, retention, and completion; and hiring practices for faculty and staff.
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2021-2023 Seal of Excelencia
Excelencia in Education is a national organization devoted to the advancement of 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 for demonstrating positive student outcomes with the Seal of Excelencia.
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2024 Equity & Inclusion Colleges of Distinction 
University of California Merced has received national recognition as one of the renowned Colleges of Distinction for its commitment to equity and inclusion.
Schools bearing an Equity & Inclusion badge exceed expectations from a student’s recruitment, throughout school, and beyond the completion of their degree.
Institutions awarded an Equity & Inclusion badge not only enliven their curriculum with high-impact practices, but they also make these practices accessible in a welcoming community. Beyond diversity, these schools pursue equity by catering to the unique needs of their students regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender, or ability.
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