By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
UC Merced enrollment sets new record
Placeholder Image

In the fall, the largest freshman class ever will walk through the halls of the University of California, Merced.

Enrollment is up 6 percent year over year, UC Merced said, to 1,829 freshmen who intend to register for classes in fall 2011. That’s up from 1,725 last year.

Final enrollment figures won’t be available until after registration is completed, but UC Merced officials expect the freshman class to push the college’s total enrollment over 5,000 students for the first time. UC Merced opened in 2005 with just 875 students.

“This is an exciting time for UC Merced as we welcome the Class of 2015 and surpass the 5,000 enrollment mark,” said Jane Lawrence, vice chancellor for student affairs. “Both the academic qualifications and the diversity of the class of applicants accepted by UC Merced are at record high levels.”

About 14.8 percent of the 12,395 freshman applicants who were admitted to UC Merced intend to register, up from last year’s 8.4 percent. The total number of admitted students fell to 20,515 though, due to a change in the UC application process.

The university also admitted 1,483 transfer students from community colleges. Of those, 236 – nearly 16 percent – intend to enroll.