Expected
Regular Decision
- Mar 21 ’26
Dates marked announced come from the college itself, with the announcement linked. Dates marked expected rest on the evidence named right next to the date — that college's own release history or the timeline its admissions office publishes — and the label switches to announced only when the college says so.
Regular Decision
Regular Decision isn't announced yet — expect March 2027. UC campuses notify first-year applicants during March, and last cycle Merced's admits went out in waves on March 14 and March 21.
When UC Merced actually released — past cycles
| Cycle | Released | Day | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025–26 | March 21, 2026 | Saturday | Second wave; the earlier group of admits went out March 14 | ThinquePrep |
Where to check
Decisions post to the applicant portal, not your inbox — the email just says the portal updated. Check yours at decision.ucmerced.edu.
Official timing straight from the school: UC Merced admissions.
One application, one round: the UC application goes in during the fall filing period and Merced posts first-year decisions in March, across more than one wave rather than in a single drop.
Every date on this page last hand-checked August 14, 2026