Is UC Davis harder to get into than UC Merced?

Yes. UC Davis is generally harder to get into than UC Merced, and most applicants would treat Davis as the more selective campus on a college list. Within the UC system, Davis draws a larger and more competitive applicant pool, while Merced is typically more accessible overall.

For a student aiming for a well-established, larger UC with broader name recognition, more developed campus traditions, and a more competitive admissions environment, UC Davis fits that profile. It tends to attract many applicants interested in strong programs across biology, engineering, agriculture, environmental fields, and the social sciences, which raises the bar for admission.

UC Merced makes more sense for a student who wants the UC experience but is looking at a campus that is newer, smaller, and usually less selective. It still offers real UC academics and research opportunities, but admissions are typically less intense than at Davis. For list-building purposes, many students would place Merced closer to a likely or safer UC option than Davis, assuming their academic profile is in range for both.

So if your question is purely about selectivity, Davis is the tougher admit. That does not make Merced a weak option, just a different one in terms of competition and campus profile.