Fresno Unified students can receive automatic admission to UC Merced. Here’s how
Fresno Unified students can now earn guaranteed admission to UC Merced as part of the university’s Automatic Admission Program.
UC Merced launched its guaranteed admissions program in 2021, starting with the Merced Union High School District, as a way to expand educational attainment in the Central Valley and grow the university’s student enrollment.
Superintendent Misty Her said the agreement between Fresno Unified and UC Merced, finalized on Friday, “will pave the way for more of our students to pursue their education at UC Merced, enhancing opportunities for a rich college experience.”
In order to qualify for guaranteed admission, high-school seniors at Fresno Unified must have completed the A-G courses required for UC admission with a weighted GPA of 3.0 and submit an Automatic Admission Program application by Oct. 15. Fresno Unified students are also eligible for a $3,000 annual scholarship that’s renewable for up to four years./
Fresno Unified is among 40 school districts — including Madera Unified, Modesto City Schools, Los Banos Unified and Visalia Unified — participating in the Merced Automatic Admission Program.
Two decades ago, UC Merced had an undergrad enrollment of 837, which grew to 7,881 by 2018.
Enrollment stagnated in 2020, with minimal growth. Between 2023 and 2024, undergrad enrollment remained virtually flat, while graduate enrollment dipped by 37 students.
UC Santa Barbara also saw a slight dip, going from 24,271 students in 2023 to 24,227 in 2024. UC Riverside’s enrollment began declining in 2021, and it currently sits at 26,384 — slightly lower than its 2020 numbers.
For the 2024-2025 school year, 89 Sunnyside High students applied to UC Merced — 81 of whom were accepted, but only seven enrolled. At Herbert Hoover High, all 35 students who applied to UC Merced were accepted, though no student enrolled.
The guaranteed admission process involves students submitting an application during the spring of their junior year, so members of the Class of 2026 won’t be eligible.
This story was originally published September 24, 2025 at 5:30 AM with the headline "Fresno Unified students can receive automatic admission to UC Merced. Here’s how."
