Internet Providers in University of California-Merced, CA

Over 940 people in University of California-Merced found the best Internet Provider in the last 30 days.

#1

EarthLink Fiber

27.89% availability
EarthLink Fiber logo

Connection Types:

Fiber
Speed up to:

5 Gbps

User Review:

(2728)

View Plans

100% Fiber. All the way to your door. $24.95/mo

#2

AT&T

27.89% availability
AT&T logo

Connection Types:

Fiber / DSL / Television
Speed up to:

1 Gbps

User Review:

(2629)

View Plans

AT&T Internet offers lightning-fast, high-speed internet with speeds up to 100 Mbps at a great price.

#3

Viasat

96.09% availability
Viasat logo

Connection Types:

Satellite / Phone
Speed up to:

150 Mbps

User Review:

(2975)

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#4

HughesNet

98.71% availability

Connection Types:

Satellite / Phone
Speed up to:

100 Mbps

User Review:

(2869)

*24-month commitment and early service termination fees apply. Monthly Fee reflects the applied $5 savings for ACH enrollment. Offer may vary by geographic area.

Unlimited Data – With no hard data limits, if you use the data in your plan, speeds will reduce.

#5

Starlink

97% availability

Connection Types:

Satellite
Speed up to:

400 Mbps

User Review:

(2978)

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Fast Satellite Internet available almost anywhere on Earth.

Television Only Providers in University of California-Merced, CA

#1Dish Network

  • DISH is ranked #1 in Customer Satisfaction by J.D. Power for the third year in a row.
  • 2-Year TV Price Guarantee.
  • Free Google Voice Remote and Smart DVR Included.
  • Record up to 16 shows at once.
  • 80,000 On Demand Titles.
  • FREE Standard Professional Installation from a trusted, local expert.
Pricing starting at:
$64.99

#2DIRECTV

  • Best entertainement options for any sports fan over Cable TV, including NFL Sunday Ticket!
  • Includes local channels
  • HBO, Showtime, Starz, Cinemax free for first 3 months
  • Free upgrade to Genie HD-DVR
  • Free professional installation in up to 4 rooms
Pricing starting at:
$64.99

Best Internet Providers in University of California-Merced

The UC Merced campus sits in the eastern San Joaquin Valley at the edge of the Sierra Nevada foothills. Out near Highway 99 and Campus Parkway development is denser, so providers ran main lines along those routes. Fiber is widely available on the UC Merced campus and in the adjacent student housing neighborhoods, while orchard-fringed outskirts and large rural parcels remain served mainly by fixed wireless and satellite. That means dorms and newer apartments typically get low-latency, high-upload connections for video calls and backups, whereas households outside the built-up corridor often cope with higher latency, data limits, or inconsistent wireless signal.

In University of California-Merced, internet competition varies by neighborhood, but most residents have multiple options to choose from. After reviewing provider availability, plan pricing, typical speeds, and customer sentiment across the 25 areas we track, here are our top recommendations for 2026.

EarthLink Fiber is the standout pick if it is available at your address. With speeds up to 5 Gbps (and, in some areas, symmetrical upload speeds), it is often the best option for gaming, remote work, and busy households with many users and connected devices. Availability has expanded across parts of University of California-Merced, so it is worth checking your exact address first.

unWired Broadband is usually the most widely available choice in University of California-Merced and a strong option when you need a reliable connection. Its network reaches approximately 100% of University of California-Merced, with speeds up to 21 Mbps and plans starting around N/A/mo, making it the most accessible option for many residents. In neighborhoods where EarthLink Fiber is not offered yet, unWired Broadband is often the best overall mix of speed and price.

AT&T can be a strong third option if you would rather keep things simple, with straightforward pricing around $55/mo and fewer stipulations like symmetrical upload speeds.

Coverage reaches roughly 28% of University of California-Merced, and speeds range between 50 Mbps and 1 Gbps, which is enough for streaming, video calls, and everyday home use. It can be a great fit in parts of University of California-Merced where signal strength is strong.

AT&T or Viasat may still offer service in parts of University of California-Merced, if none of these are available at your address, with speeds up to 1 Gbps. Since promotions change often, it is always smart to check current deals before you order.

What is the fastest internet provider in University of California-Merced?

EarthLink Fiber is the fastest internet provider in University of California-Merced, CA, with download speeds up to 5 Gbps and upload speeds up to 1 Gbps — available to 27.89% of the city.
ProviderConnectionsMax DownloadMax UploadAvailability
EarthLink FiberFiber5 Gbps1 Gbps27.89%
AT&TFiber / DSL / Television1 Gbps1 Gbps27.89%
StarlinkSatellite400 Mbps44 Mbps97.00%
ViasatSatellite / Phone150 Mbps3 Mbps96.09%
HughesNetSatellite / Phone100 Mbps5 Mbps98.71%

What is the cheapest internet provider in University of California-Merced?

EarthLink Fiber offers the cheapest internet in University of California-Merced starting at $39.95/month with speeds up to 5 Gbps. Viasat offers the next lowest price at $49.99/month.
ProviderStarting PriceSpeedContractData Cap
EarthLink Fiber$39.95Up to 5 GbpsYesUnlimited
AT&T$55.00Up to 1 GbpsNo1 TB
Starlink$55.00Up to 400 MbpsNoUnlimited
Viasat$49.99Up to 150 MbpsNoUnlimited
HughesNet$74.99*Up to 100 MbpsYes100-200 GB

What type of internet connection is best in University of California-Merced?

University of California-Merced has 3 main types of internet connections. Your best option depends on where you live and what you need.

DSL

27.89%

AT&T, max 1 Gbps. Being phased out for fiber. Only consider if no other options exist.

5G Wireless

100.00%

No contracts or data caps. unWired Broadband leads at 100.00%. Typical 15 Mbps - 450 Mbps. Great for renters and budget-conscious users.

Satellite

100.00%

Viasat (150 Mbps), HughesNet (100 Mbps), Starlink (400 Mbps). Higher latency. Last resort for most University of California-Merced residents.

University of California-Merced, CA - Internet Connection and Coverage Map

University of California-Merced, CA has a total of 8 internet providers including  2 DSL providers, 3 Fixed Wireless providers and 3 Satellite providers.

Compare Internet Providers in University of California-Merced, CA by Coverage Area

All 8 internet providers serving University of California-Merced by coverage area. This is the most comprehensive provider comparison available for the city — no competitor lists more than 4 providers with coverage data.

ProviderMax DownloadMax UploadInternet ConnectionCoverage
1.unWired Broadband21 Mbps5 MbpsFixed Wireless100.00%
2.Fire2Wire6 Mbps1 MbpsFixed Wireless100.00%
3.HughesNet100 Mbps5 MbpsSatellite / Phone98.71%
4.Starlink400 Mbps44 MbpsSatellite97.00%
5.Viasat150 Mbps3 MbpsSatellite / Phone96.09%
6.EarthLink Fiber5 Gbps1 GbpsFiber27.89%
7.AT&T1 Gbps1 GbpsFiber / DSL / Television27.89%
8.Cyberonic11 Mbps11 MbpsFiber / Cable / DSL / Fixed Wireless27.89%

Is there financial assistance for internet service in University of California-Merced?

Yes. University of California-Merced residents may qualify for free or discounted internet service through the federal Lifeline program, or provider-specific, low-income, affordable internet plans.

Federal Program

Lifeline

An FCC program that provides up to a $9.25/mo discount on internet service to eligible low-income households at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

Provider Program

AT&T Access

$30/month for up to 100 Mbps for qualifying households. Access from AT&T includes Wi-Fi & installation; no equipment fees or annual contract.

Frequently Asked Questions about University of California-Merced

EarthLink Fiber is the best internet provider in University of California-Merced, CA, based on speed and pricing. It's Fiber internet reaches speeds up to 5 Gbps, and plans start at $39.95. When comparing providers and plans, keep in mind how you use the internet and how many others in your household use it. High-demand activities, like streaming and working from home, and multiple users will require faster speeds to avoid buffering and poor performance.

There are 8 internet providers in University of California-Merced, CA. Residents have a variety of service options, including DSL, fixed wireless and satellite.

EarthLink Fiber offers the cheapest internet plans that start at $39.95. Note that some pricing may be promotional or tied to autopay and paperless billing. If it is promotional pricing, your monthly bill will likely go up when the promo ends.

EarthLink Fiber has the fastest speeds in University of California-Merced, with a top download speed of 5 Gbps. Faster speeds provide more bandwidth for work-from-home activities (like video conferencing), online gaming, 4K video streaming, and households with multiple users and devices.

Yes, fiber internet is available in University of California-Merced. We recommend fiber internet for its fast symmetrical (equal) download and upload speeds, low latency for real-time activities like gaming and video calls, and its stability and resilience to interference. Fiber availability varies by address.

Yes. University of California-Merced residents could get assistance to reduce internet costs through various programs. AT&T Access starts at $30/month for up to 100 Mbps. Since the ACP (Affordable Connectivity Program) ended in 2024, eligible households may take advantage of the federal Lifeline program, which provides up to $9.25/month in discounts.

If it's available in University of California-Merced, fiber internet is the best internet option for online gaming. Fiber offers the fastest download and upload speeds, but more importantly, it offers very low latency, which is important for fast-paced games that rely on stability and quick response times.

No, 5G home internet is not available in University of California-Merced. Use our search tool at BroadbandSearch to see what services and providers are available in your area.

The average download speed in University of California-Merced is 21 Mbps. For comparison, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) defines broadband internet as having a download speed of 100 Mbps and an upload speed of 20 Mbps. Go to TestMySpeed and run an internet speed test to see how fast your internet connection is compared to speeds in University of California-Merced, CA.

HughesNet, Starlink, Viasat, EarthLink Fiber, and AT&T offer internet in University of California-Merced, CA.

  • HughesNet: Offers speeds up to 100 Mbps starting at $74.99*/mo.
  • Starlink: Offers speeds up to 400 Mbps starting at $55.00/mo.
  • Viasat: Offers speeds up to 150 Mbps starting at $49.99/mo.
  • EarthLink Fiber: Offers speeds up to 5 Gbps starting at $39.95/mo.
  • AT&T: Offers speeds up to 1 Gbps starting at $55.00/mo.

Internet Providers in Nearby Cities

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How We Research Internet Providers

BroadbandSearch is committed to providing accurate and current internet provider data so you can choose the provider and service in your area that best suits your needs and budget. Here is how we source and verify the information we provide:

Data Sources

We pull provider data from FCC Broadband Data Collection filings, the NTIA National Broadband Map, U.S. Census Bureau data, and direct provider disclosures.

Coverage

Availability percentages represent estimated households that can order service, based on FCC Form 477 data and provider-reported service areas.

Reviews

Aggregated reviews from verified BroadbandSearch users. Ratings are based on speed performance, reliability, customer service, and value.

Updates

We review pricing monthly and coverage is updated quarterly with new FCC data. Last updated: July 12, 2026.

BroadbandSearch earns commissions from some providers. These partnerships do not influence rankings or editorial recommendations. Learn more about our data sources →