Table of Contents
About
Incoming first-year students for Fall 2025 are guaranteed housing for two years*. Incoming transfer students are guaranteed housing for their first year at UC Merced.
On-campus housing priority is as follows:
- Incoming first-year and new transfer students
- Students who have approved housing accommodation requests
- Students with guaranteed housing (Regent's Scholar, etc...)
- Second-year students eligible for housing guarantee*
- All other continuing (third-year+) and second year students
Students who need assistance looking for off campus housing in the Merced area are encouraged to visit och.ucmerced.edu or email och@ucmerced.edu.
*About the housing guarantee:
- Students must live on campus fall and spring terms of their first year to be eligible
- Students must live on campus consecutive, academic year semesters (fall and spring) to maintain their guarantee
- Students must follow all housing application processes, including deadlines for applications, to be eligible
- The housing guarantee expires following the second, spring term after the student's admission date
Learn more about the guarantee here.
Contracts and Rates
The food and housing rate billed to students will depend on their contract type, room type, and meal plan.
- Contract type: Undergraduate housing offers an academic year contract which grants the student housing during the Fall and Spring semesters. This does not include winter intersession or summer.
- Room type: single, double, triple, and quad. Please click here to browse residence halls and housing options.
- Meal plan: All meal plans grant unlimited access to the cafeteria. Meal plans differ in how many CatDollars are loaded onto the student's CatCard. CatDollars can easily be added online at any time.
Please note that although you may indicate a room preference in your application, you are not guaranteed that room type. Room assignments will be sent out in late July. Billing will be posted to your student account in August.
For more information on housing contracts and rates, please visit Housing Contracts and Rates.
Application Process and Timeline
All housing applications are submitted through the Housing Portal. Applications are a two-step process. The first step is submitting your housing application. If you are offered housing, the second step is signing the housing contract.
| First Year Students | Second Year and Continuing Students | New Transfer Students | |
| Application Opens | December 19, 2024 | 1:00pm, February 10 | 1:00pm, March 1 |
| Priority submit date | 11:59pm, May 6 | 11:59pm pm, February 24 | 11:59pm, June 6 |
| Priority contract sign | 11:59pm, May 7 | 11:59, February 25 | 11:59pm, June 7 |
| Cancel without penalty | 11:59pm, June 1 | 11:59pm, May 1 | 11:59pm, June 14 |
| Roommates and room selection |
June16 - June 20
June 23-July 7:
|
Februrary 27-March 5:
March 6-March 21: online room selection* |
June 16-June 20:
June 23-July 7: online room selection |
How to Apply
- Prepare
- Learn more about housing options and check out building info here.
- Consider Living Learning Community options.
- If you would like to request housing accommodations, please click here for more information. The priority deadline for housing accommodations is June 1, 2024 by 11:59 p.m. Accommodations submitted after that time can not be guaranteed for fall semester.
- SIR to UC Merced is required for access to the housing portal.
- Apply for Housing
- Go to the Housing Portal to submit your application. Click here for a step-by-step guide on how to submit your application.
- Once you have submitted your application, you will receive a confirmation email.
- Applications signed prior to May 7 have LLC priority; applications recieved later are eligible at the programs discretion.
- Sign your contract
- Within 2-3 business days, a housing offer and contract will be posted on your housing portal OR you will be added to the housing waitlist. Please check your email regularly for notifications, as your status may change.
- When you receive an offer, visit to the Housing Portal to sign your contract. Click here for a step-by-step guide on signing your housing contract. (Click here for under-18 years old signing process)
- Once you have signed your contract, you will receive a confirmation email.
- Select Roommates and rooms
- Create preferred roommate groups with other students or look for a roommate using the matching tools in the housing portal. You are not required to form a group; all ungrouped, unassigned students will be assigned rooms by July 15. Roommate groups are prioritized for placement, but we can't guarantee all roommate groups will get assigned together due to differs in room size and availability. A roommate group is not a guarantee of specific roommates; the group is only a request.
- Rooms will be available based on your roommate group size. Your roommate group leader will select a room from those available for your group in the housing portal. You are not required to choose a room; all unassigned students will be assigned rooms by July 15
- Housing Assignment
- Please check your UC Merced email regularly for updates on roommate selection, room assignment, and move-in details.
Students interested in residential overnight parking may visit the UC Merced Transportation and Parking Services site to learn more. Overnight parking is available for permit holders in Bellevue Lot and in Scholar Lot - designated H Zone.
Moving In
Move-in will take place between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 21 through Sunday, Aug. 24. Students will self-schedule their move in date and time through the housing portal starting July 1, 2025.
Please visit our move in information page! https://housing.ucmerced.edu/Fall-Move-In
During fall move-in Merced tends to have temperature from 90 to 105 degrees. We want to make sure that families are aware of the hot temperature when making move-in plans.
CatCard
CatCards are UC Merced student ID cards. They are used to check out books at the library, access the gym, check in at events, etc. On-campus residents need their CatCard to access their residence hall and the dining center.
CatCards can be loaded with CatDollars. CatDollars are university-only money that can be used for university transactions. For example: textbooks, the campus store, vending machines, the Lantern Cafe, campus food trucks, etc. Simply tap, swipe, or scan your card at the checkout to pay.
New students pick up their CatCard at orientation or at move-in. Students may opt to submit their photo online to expedite the move-in process. Otherwise, an ID photo will be taken on-site. For more information, please visit the CatCard website.
In the event that you lose or damage your CatCard, please click here to get a replacement.
Resident Information
Campus Policies
The housing handbook covers all the policies, rules and amenities for students living on campus.
Mailing Address
Use the following format as your mailing address:
[Your Name]
5400 N. Lake Rd.
[Building] [Room]
Merced, CA 95340
You can pick up your mail at the Valley Terraces Residence Education Office.
Utilities
Please click here to see information about residence hall utilities and resources, including information about HVAC, kitchens, work orders, etc.
Campus Resources
Students First Center
For questions about Admissions, Financial Aid and Registrar. Please visit https://studentsfirst.ucmerced.edu/contact-us-0 for contact information and hours.
Student Business Office
Emails and phone calls only. No in-person services. Closed on weekends. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. General inquiries of the department can be made to sbs@ucmerced.edu.
Academic Advising
The Bobcat Advising Center (BAC) is the academic advising home for all first-year students in every major.
Recreation Center
Please visit https://recreation.ucmerced.edu for most current information and updates.
UC Merced Police Department
For information about campus safety escorts or bike and electronics registration, please contact UC Merced Police Department at https://police.ucmerced.edu/.
IT Help Desk
For questions related to technology/online courses, game console set up and VPN, please contact https://it.ucmerced.edu/student-services.
Library
For updates and services, please go to the library FAQ at http://library.ucmerced.edu/node/70101.
