UC Admission Statistics: What the Numbers Tell You
- UCLA and UC Berkeley now admit fewer than 12% of applicants, making them as selective as many private universities.
- Mid-tier UCs like Davis and Santa Barbara have seen the largest swings in acceptance rates over the past five years.
- Weighted GPA matters more than test scores in the UC system, a 4.2+ weighted GPA is competitive at most campuses.
- Applying to at least 4–6 UCs across selectivity tiers significantly improves your odds of landing at a good-fit campus.
The University of California publishes detailed admission data through its Infocenter. Here's what the numbers actually reveal about who gets in, where the trends are heading, and which campuses and majors are the hardest to crack.
Acceptance Rates by Campus[1]UC Office of the President, Fall 2025 Preliminary Admissions Data
UC selectivity has increased dramatically across the board. The table below shows historical rates alongside the most recent Fall 2025 preliminary data.
| Campus | Fall 2020 | Fall 2021 | Fall 2025 (Preliminary) |
|---|---|---|---|
| UCLA | 14% | 11% | 9.4% |
| UC Berkeley | 17% | 15% | 11.4% |
| UC San Diego | 32% | 30% | 28.4% |
| UC Irvine | 27% | 21% | 28.7% |
| UC Santa Barbara | 30% | 26% | 38.3% |
| UC Davis | 39% | 39% | 44.6% |
| UC Santa Cruz | 52% | 47% | 72.7% |
| UC Riverside | 57% | 56% | 87.1% |
| UC Merced | 90% | 95% | 95.1% |
Key trends:
- UCLA and Berkeley remain the most selective at 9.4% and 11.4% respectively
- Mid-tier campuses (Davis, Santa Barbara, Irvine, San Diego) admit rates have risen significantly from 2021 lows as application volumes stabilized and campuses expanded capacity
- UC Santa Cruz, Riverside, and Merced admit the vast majority of applicants, reflecting their role in broad UC access
- Systemwide, UC admitted almost 101,000 California first-year students for Fall 2025, an all-time high
Admitted Student GPA Ranges[2]UC Admissions, First-Year Admit Data by Campus, Fall 2025
These are GPAGrade Point Average: a numerical measure of academic performance ranges for the middle 50% of admitted freshmen (25th–75th percentile), using capped weighted UC GPA. Data is from each campus's official first-year admit profile for Fall 2025.
| Campus | GPA (Middle 25%–75%) | Admit Rate | Admits |
|---|---|---|---|
| UCLA | 4.20–4.30 | 9.4% | 13,660 |
| UC Berkeley | 4.15–4.29 | 11.4% | 14,451 |
| UC San Diego | 4.11–4.28 | 28.4% | 38,846 |
| UC Irvine | 4.04–4.27 | 28.7% | 35,661 |
| UC Santa Barbara | 4.09–4.28 | 38.3% | 42,170 |
| UC Davis | 4.00–4.26 | 44.6% | 45,963 |
| UC Santa Cruz | 3.83–4.20 | 72.7% | 48,244 |
| UC Riverside | 3.65–4.16 | 87.1% | 61,718 |
| UC Merced | 3.54–4.15 | 95.1% | 46,932 |
What this means: At UCLA and Berkeley, the middle 50% GPA range is extremely tight (4.15–4.30). If your capped weighted GPA is below 4.0, your realistic targets are Davis and below (statistically speaking). A 3.8 puts you in range for Santa Cruz, Riverside, and Merced.
SAT/ACT Score Ranges
UC went test-free permanently in 2021 following the Kawika Smith et al. v. Regents of the University of California settlement. SAT and ACT scores are not considered in UC admissions decisions. Not even as supplemental information. Students cannot submit test scores to UC campuses.
This is a significant departure from most selective universities, many of which have returned to test-required or test-optional policies. For UC applicants, GPA, course rigor, PIQs, and extracurriculars are the deciding factors.[4]UC Board of Regents, 2020
Most and Least Competitive Majors
Not all admits are created equal. Admission rates vary dramatically by major, especially at UCLA and Berkeley where applicants apply to specific colleges or schools.
Hardest Majors to Get Into (Estimated Admit Rates)[5]Estimated from Common Data Sets and departmental reports, 2023-2024. UC does not officially publish admit rates by major.
| Campus | Major | Estimated Admit Rate |
|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley | EECS (College of Engineering) | 4–6% |
| UC Berkeley | Computer Science (L&S) | 6–8% |
| UCLA | Computer Science | 5–7% |
| UCLA | Nursing | 2–4% |
| UC Berkeley | Haas Business (transfer) | 6–8% |
| UCLA | Film & Television | 4–6% |
| UCSD | Computer Science | 10–15% |
| UCSD | Bioengineering | 12–16% |
| UCI | Computer Science | 8–12% |
More Accessible Majors at Selective Campuses[5]Estimated from Common Data Sets and departmental reports, 2023-2024. UC does not officially publish admit rates by major.
| Campus | Major | Estimated Admit Rate |
|---|---|---|
| UCLA | Geography | 20–25% |
| UCLA | English | 18–22% |
| UC Berkeley | Rhetoric | 25–30% |
| UC Berkeley | Environmental Science | 20–25% |
| UCSD | Literature | 35–40% |
| UCSD | Urban Studies | 35–40% |
Estimated from campus CDS data and departmental reports, 2023–2024. UC does not officially publish admit rates by major for all departments.
Important caveat: UC admits by major, not just by campus. Applying to computer science at UCLA vs. English at UCLA are essentially different applicant pools with very different odds.
Demographic Data[6]UCOP, Fall 2025 CA Resident Admit Percentages (Table 2b)
For Fall 2025 California resident first-year admits systemwide:
| Race/Ethnicity | % of CA Resident Admits |
|---|---|
| Hispanic/Latino(a) | 39% |
| Asian | 33% |
| White | 18% |
| African American | 6% |
| American Indian | 1% |
| Pacific Islander | <1% |
| Unknown | 3% |
42% of CA resident admits are first-generation college students, and 42% come from low-income backgrounds. UC conducts admissions in compliance with Proposition 209, which prohibits consideration of race in admissions decisions.
By campus: Asian representation is highest at UCI (46%), UCSD (40%), and Berkeley (42%). Hispanic/Latino(a) representation is highest at Merced (44%) and Riverside (40%). African American representation ranges from 3% (UCSB) to 7% (UCLA).
Geographic Distribution[1]UC Office of the President, Fall 2025 Preliminary Admissions Data
For Fall 2025 first-year admits systemwide:
| Residency | % of Admits |
|---|---|
| California Resident | 68% |
| Domestic Out-of-State | 18% |
| International | 15% |
Residency mix varies significantly by campus. Merced and Riverside admit ~87-89% Californians, while Davis, Irvine, and San Diego have higher international shares (~26% each).
UCLA and Berkeley historically enrolled the most nonresidents (up to 24% at peak) but have reduced these numbers under the cap policy.
Yield Rates[1]UC Office of the President, Fall 2025 Preliminary Admissions Data
The yield rate measures what percentage of admitted students actually enroll. It reveals how often a UC is a student's top choice.
| Campus | Approximate Yield Rate |
|---|---|
| UCLA | 44% |
| UC Berkeley | 43% |
| UC Merced | 20% |
| UC San Diego | 24% |
| UC Santa Barbara | 20% |
| UC Irvine | 27% |
| UC Davis | 22% |
| UC Santa Cruz | 14% |
| UC Riverside | 25% |
What this tells you:
- UCLA and Berkeley have yield rates comparable to elite privates, meaning admitted students overwhelmingly choose to attend
- Santa Cruz's 14% yield is notably low, many admits use it as a safety school
- Riverside's relatively strong 25% yield reflects its role as a first-choice school for many Inland Empire students
- Low yield rates mean more students are admitted to fill seats, which partially explains higher acceptance rates
Application Volume Trends[3]UC Infocenter, Admissions Data, 2018–2025
Application volume data is available through the UC Infocenter interactive dashboard. The Fall 2025 admitted class includes 149,368 first-year admits systemwide, with the California resident first-year admits reaching an all-time high of almost 101,000 students.
The massive spike in applications around 2021 coincided with UC going test-free, which removed a barrier for many applicants. Volume has remained elevated since.
Transfer Admission Rates[1]UC Office of the President, Fall 2025 Preliminary Admissions Data
Transfer students (primarily from California Community Colleges) have different (and often better) odds:
| Campus | Freshman Admit Rate | Transfer Admit Rate |
|---|---|---|
| UCLA | 9% | 23% |
| UC Berkeley | 11% | 24% |
| UC San Diego | 28% | 53% |
| UC Irvine | 29% | 39% |
| UC Santa Barbara | 38% | 59% |
| UC Davis | 45% | 57% |
| UC Santa Cruz | 73% | 76% |
| UC Riverside | 87% | 76% |
| UC Merced | 98% | ~100% |
Transfer is a significantly easier path to UCLA and Berkeley. A 23–24% transfer admit rate vs. 9–11% freshman rate makes the community college route genuinely strategic: especially combined with TAGTransfer Admission Guarantee: a UC program guaranteeing admission to qualified CC transfer students at other campuses. Note: Fall 2025 data is preliminary as of June 2025 and may change as waitlist offers finalize.
The Bottom Line
UC admissions have gotten dramatically more competitive over the past five years, particularly at the top four campuses. The test-free policy shifted weight heavily toward GPA and course rigor. Major choice matters enormously, applying to CS vs. humanities at the same campus can mean a 5x difference in your odds.
Use this data to build a realistic list. If your GPA is 4.0+, you're competitive at most UCs but nothing is guaranteed at UCLA or Berkeley. If you're in the 3.5–3.9 range, focus on Davis through Merced and consider the transfer path for top campuses. The numbers don't lie, but they also show there's a UC for nearly every qualified California student.
▶Sources
- UC Office of the President, Fall 2025 Preliminary Admissions Data
- UC Admissions, First-Year Admit Data by Campus, Fall 2025, individual campus pages: UCLA, Berkeley, San Diego, Irvine, Santa Barbara, Davis, Santa Cruz, Riverside, Merced
- UC Office of the President, Application Data
- UC Board of Regents, 2020
- Common Data Sets, 2023-2024. Major-level admit rate estimates derived from CDS data and departmental reports
- UCOP, Fall 2025 CA Resident Admit Percentages (Table 2b)
- UC Campus Comparison3 min read
- UC GPA Calculator3 min read
- PIQ Strategy Guide3 min read
- TAG Program Guide3 min read