August 26, 2025 - By James Leonard - Merced College welcomes students to the Fall 2025 semester with strong momentum across enrollment, new academic pathways, investments in hands-on learning, and facility upgrades that expand opportunities for students across the region.
Merced College’s enrollment for Fall 2025 is very strong, with an annual projection of more than 20,000 students, continuing a multi year trend that reflects increasing demand for high quality, affordable education in the Central Valley. And starting this fall, the college will move from 18-week to 16-week semesters, giving students the opportunity to complete their educational goals more efficiently and freeing up room for expanded summer offerings.
“Merced College is laser focused on student success,” President Chris Vitelli said. “As we begin the fall term, our faculty and classified professionals are delivering innovative instruction and support, our partners are opening new transfer and career pathways, and our campuses are ready to support every student who chooses Merced College.”
Pathways & Partnerships
Merced College is expanding on ramps to four year degrees and professional careers.
Construction has begun on the new Merced Promise Housing project, which will provide on-campus housing at UC Merced for Merced College students who plan to transfer there. The project is expected to be ready for students to move in starting in Fall 2027.
Through a new partnership with ASU Online, eligible students and alumni can save 22% on tuition through the California Community College Achievement Plan. The special discount requires no income qualifications or special application. Students can map a smooth transfer through MyPath2ASU, which connects Merced College coursework to more than 180 online bachelor’s degrees and provides access to one to one success coaching.
In addition, the California LAW Pathway (Cal LAW) will launch soon at Merced College, providing a structured route from community college to law school with mentoring, academic planning, co curricular learning, and a holistic review at partner law schools for students who complete program requirements. The first Merced College Cal LAW Scholars cohort is expected to begin in Spring 2026, with outreach to local high schools and community partners ramping up throughout Fall 2025.
Dual enrollment and justice impacted learners continue to thrive. This fall, more than 1,300 high school students are enrolled through College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) in 107 course sections, while Rising Scholars is serving 658 incarcerated students across 61 sections.
The college is also growing its Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) options, which allow students to earn college credit for knowledge and skills gained through previous work or academic experience—helping them avoid redundant coursework and reduce the time and cost to complete a degree.
Hands-On Ag Education, New Facilities
Agriculture remains a signature strength of the college, and this year the program advances with facilities designed to mirror the professional workforce.
Now in its second year, the college’s competency based Ag Systems Certificate has enrolled about 100 students this fall, providing working learners a flexible, skills focused path into in demand roles across the region.
The 2.5-acre Plant Science Complex—featuring three industry-sized greenhouses, a state-of-the-art plant propagation building, and three storage shops—is nearing completion and will provide students with the same tools and environments they will encounter in the professional workforce.
The college is also advancing development of its instructional farm, including ground preparation, irrigation, and planting of permanent crops slated for completion in early fall.
Construction is also underway on the Ag Innovation Center, a state of the art facility slated for completion in December 2026. The center will house food processing labs, meat and nutrition facilities, and a retail farm market—serving as a hub for workforce training, industry partnerships, and product development.
“Our agriculture program is entering an exciting new chapter,” said Cody Jacobsen, Dean of Agriculture and Industrial Technology. “We are building the infrastructure, programs, and partnerships that will ensure our students are career-ready, while helping to drive the future of farming in California.”
Learning Innovation: Dreamscape, Year Two
Now entering its second year at Merced College, Dreamscape Learn is gaining momentum with growing adoption led by biology faculty and a cross-disciplinary cohort preparing to integrate VR modules into fall courses.
Working with the Innovation Team and Dreamscape developers, faculty are aligning immersive scenarios to course outcomes and assessments. Beginning this fall, the college will co-create and pilot custom, live, in-person Dreamscape experiences that extend classroom instruction and enable real-time interaction.
Together, these features create a dynamic, engaging learning environment that is unlike any in the region and one of few at any community college nationwide.
“When students step into Dreamscape, they’re not watching content—they’re inside it,” said Kody Stimpson, Dean of Innovation and Institutional Effectiveness. “That shift is already translating into stronger student engagement and persistence, and we are excited to be expanding our immersive learning opportunities to benefit even more students.”
Community Support & Engagement
With the passage of Measure P, the Merced College Los Banos Campus is preparing for its next phase of growth. Already serving more than 4,000 students each semester, the campus recently expanded programs in welding, agriculture, and EMT, and opened a new Child Development Center.
Planning for a new Career Technical Education building to house welding—funded by Measure P—is already underway, as is planning for a major quad renovation to create modern student spaces.
At the Main Campus in Merced, the college’s theatre department will present “The Outsiders” this semester, with performances Oct. 24 to Nov. 2. Music events will include the Concert Band (Dec. 4), Community Chorus (Dec. 5), and Jazz Concerts (Dec. 11–12).
In athletics, Merced College welcomes two dynamic and accomplished new head coaches this year in Amaurys Fermin (men’s basketball) and Jason Ingraham (baseball), strengthening Blue Devil programs as they prepare for their upcoming seasons.
The 2025-26 academic year kicked off for employees on Aug. 22 at the college’s annual Convocation event. This year’s theme emphasized the importance of being an organization that embraces change and innovation.
“Merced College strives to be the most innovative community college in the nation,” Vitelli said, “and this is an aspiration that is well within our reach.”
Source: Merced College
