Summer 2026 Housing

Overview and Eligibility

UC Merced summer housing applications open at 1 p.m. Monday, March 16, 2026. Students who are enrolled and registered for summer sessions and/or enrolled for the fall 2026 semester are eligible to apply. Please apply through the Housing Portal*.

Faculty, staff, programs, and visiting scholars seeking summer housing for groups or themselves should contact UC Merced Hospitality Services.

Sessions

Rates and Contract

Summer contract and rates are posted on our "Contracts and Rates" page here.

Summer Programs

Summer program housing is coordinated by the academic staff member in charge of the program. If you're participating in any of the programs below, please contact the program administrator about housing for that program.

• UROC
• USDA FACTS
• Summer Bridge

Important Dates

Please click here for a step-by-step tutorial on the summer housing application process.

Please click here for a step-by-step guide on how to sign summer housing contract.

Housing Type

Summer housing will be in the El Portal residence hall. Summer rooms will be triple occupancy, exluding documented housing accommodations.

Roommates

Summer housing students will be able to choose roommates who share the same contract type(A,B,C,D). Summer contract residents will be able to choose their roommate from other summer contract roommates. Roommate groups are prioritized within the room assignment process; however, roommate groups are subject to space availability. Choosing a roommate or being in a roommate group is not required. All summer housing students without roommate groups will be placed with best-fit roommates based on responses to their housing profile questions in the application.

Dining

The summer meal plan is an unlimited swipes meal plan that does not feature CatDollars. The summer meal plan is required for students living on campus. Learn more about dining at https://dining.ucmerced.edu. Glacier Point features a kitchen accessible to Granite Pass residents on the first floor.

Accommodations

Students with existing accommodations will be assigned to summer spaces consistent with their accommodations. In some cases, this assignment may be outside of Granite Pass. Students who need new or modified accommodations for summer housing should begin this process with Student Accessibility Services as soon as possible. Learn more here: https://housing.ucmerced.edu/accommodations.

Intersession Housing

Housing during the intersession period between spring and summer terms and the summer and fall terms is available at the daily summer rate of $63.43 per night. This price includes housing and meals. Intersession housing is available but not required. Please register on the portal (link) if you need intersession housing.

Contract Cancellation and Move Out

To cancel your housing contract, please visit the Housing Portal and complete a cancellation request. Housing Services will approve your cancellation within 72 hours. Please click here for more information on the move-out process. Housing and meal plan fees will be prorated based on check-out/move-out date. Check out/move out is not complete until you return your room key.

A $300 housing cancellation/liquidated damages charge will be applied to your account if you did not cancel by Wednesday before move-in day for your session. These dates are listed here. 

Questions About Summer Housing

The Housing Services office is availble to answer questions you might have about summer housing. Our hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT Monday-Friday. Please see the contact methods below:

• Email: housing@ucmerced.edu
• Phone: 209-228-2293

Move-In and Move-Out Schedule, Location and Details

For A and D sessions, students currently living on campus for spring 2026 who need intersession housing must move to their summer space on Friday, May 22, 2026. You must be present on that date and moves must be completed by 8 p.m. on May 22. Students who have concerns with the Friday, May 22 move-in date, please contact housing@ucmerced.edu. Moves must be completed by 8 p.m.. Students in A & D sessions who can't move on Friday, May 22 must move out May 15 and return on or after Sunday, May 24. New residents move in for Summer A & D session housing is 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday, May 24.

After summer term, students in B, C and D sessions who will be living on campus for fall 2026 must move into their fall assignments Aug. 15, 2026. If summer residents can't move on August 15th, they must move out and return to campus housing on or after Wednesday, August 19, 2026.

Check in and check out will be at the Resident Services Desk in the Terrace Center. The phone number for the office is 209-228-4663.

For more information about the move-out process, please click here.

Additional Information

CatCard

If you do not have a CatCard, please email CatCard@ucmerced.edu or visit CatCard.ucmerced.edu to make sure they have a CatCard ready for you when you check in. You will not be able to enter buildings or go to the dining halls without a CatCard.

What to Bring

UC Merced Housing and Residence Education wants to help make your transition to college as smooth and comfortable as possible. To help ensure students have what they need in their residence hall and make it feel like home, we have put together a list of what to bring and what to leave at home.

Internet Access

Learn more about internet access here. Please contact IT Help Desk if you have questions or concerns.

Parking and Transportation

Parking for move in is at Scholars Lot. Please connect with UC Merced Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) if you have questions about bus service or parking on campus: 209-228-8277 or taps@ucmerced.edu.

Resident Services Desk Operations

Please visit the housing office to get questions answered, request toilet paper/cleaning supplies, pick up mail and borrow games/den game items. Residents who need help with lock outs should first visit the desk during its hours of operation. If the desk is not open, please use the after hours information listed below.

Summer Hours for Resident Services Desk at 100 Terrace Center

Resident Services Desk phone: 209-228-4663 

Email: residenceeducation@ucmerced.edu

Mail and Packages

Please learn more about how to get mail and packages living on campus here.

Work Orders

For repairs needed in your room or in the common areas/lounges, kitchen, or hallways, please complete the work order here , using UC Merced VPN and the “Guest Log In” option for work orders.

Handbook

Residents are expected to know and abide by all Housing and Residence Education policies. Policies and information regarding living on campus can be found in the Housing Handbook (Behavioral, Conduct and Occupancy Policies) at https://housing.ucmerced.edu/ABC-policies.

Basic Needs Services

Please refer to this webpage for updated information: https://basicneeds.ucmerced.edu/covid-19-basic-needs-resources.

Residence Education Staff

Residence Education Coordinator Alejando Castaneda will provide direct staff support to all summer academic residents. His contact information, including a link to schedule a meeting with him, can be found on our staff directory page. Alejandro is available to help residents with any issues. These may include community challenges, policy violations or general questions about help and support resources available.

After-Hours Service and Contacts

Professional staff are on site and available to assist you after hours in case of emergency or for general assistance.

For assistance after hours, please contact: Residence Education/RA On-Call at 209-325-9114 (No texting).

For emergencies, please contact UC Merced Police Department at 209-228-2677.

Student safety is important to us. Please check out more information at https://housing.ucmerced.edu/current-residents/safety-and-emergency-procedures.