UC Campus Comparison: Finding Your Fit by the Numbers

The University of California system has nine undergraduate campuses, and they are not interchangeable. Acceptance rates range from 9% to 95%. Average GPAs span nearly a full point. Campus cultures vary from urban research powerhouses to small-town college experiences. Here's what the data actually says.

The Big Picture: UC Campuses at a Glance[1]UC Infocenter, 2024–2025

Campus	Accept %	Avg GPA	SAT (Mid 50%)	Enrollment	Cost (CA)	Cost (OOS)
UCLA	9%	4.32	1400–1540	~32,400	$36,300	$67,800
UC Berkeley	11%	4.28	1390–1530	~32,100	$38,100	$69,600
UCSD	24%	4.18	1350–1510	~33,300	$35,800	$67,300
UCSB	26%	4.12	1300–1490	~23,600	$36,600	$68,100
UCI	21%	4.13	1310–1490	~29,400	$35,700	$63,700
UC Davis	37%	4.04	1250–1460	~31,100	$36,300	$67,800
UCSC	47%	3.82	1170–1390	~17,500	$36,200	$67,700
UCR	66%	3.74	1100–1320	~22,800	$35,400	$63,400
UC Merced	95%	3.52	990–1210	~9,100	$34,200	$62,200

Note: Costs include tuition, fees, room and board, books, and personal expenses. Actual costs vary by housing choice and lifestyle. Important: The UC system is test-free. SAT/ACT scores are not considered in admissions decisions. The SAT ranges shown above are self-reported scores of enrolled students and are provided for informational context only, not as admissions benchmarks.

Campus-by-Campus Breakdown

UCLA. Los Angeles

The numbers: With a 9% acceptance rate for Fall 2024, UCLA is the most selective public university in the country by application volume. It received over 145,000 applications for roughly 6,500 freshman spots.

Strengths: Film/TV/digital media (#1 nationally), engineering, life sciences, psychology, political science. Anderson School of Management is a top-15 MBA program.

Culture: Urban campus in Westwood, 10 minutes from the beach. Massive school spirit (athletics are a big deal). Greek life is present but not dominant. No single ethnic majority on campus.

Watch out for: Housing crunch. UCLA guarantees housing for three years but the surrounding Westwood area is expensive.

UC Berkeley. Berkeley

The numbers: 11% acceptance rate. Berkeley's engineering and CS programs are among the hardest admits in the country, some majors within the College of Engineering accept under 5% of applicants.

Strengths: EECS, business (Haas), chemistry, physics, economics, public policy. More Nobel laureates affiliated than almost any university globally (over 110).

Culture: Politically active, intellectually intense. The city of Berkeley has a distinct culture that blends with the campus. More independent and gritty than UCLA.

Watch out for: Large introductory classes (200-800 students). Competitive culture, especially in CS and pre-med. The surrounding area has safety concerns.

UC San Diego. La Jolla

The numbers: 24% acceptance rate. UCSD has grown significantly more selective over the past decade (it was 34% in 2018).

Strengths: Bioengineering (#1 public), computer science, cognitive science, oceanography (Scripps Institution), neuroscience. Strong STEM overall.

Culture: Quieter, more studious reputation. The unique college system divides students into eight residential colleges, each with its own GE requirements and identity. Beautiful coastal campus.

Watch out for: Social scene is more subdued. The college system means GE requirements vary, research which college suits you.

UC Santa Barbara. Goleta/Santa Barbara

The numbers: 26% acceptance rate. UCSB has transformed from a "party school" reputation into a serious research university (AAU member, multiple Nobel laureates).

Strengths: Physics, materials science, mechanical engineering, communication, marine biology. Has 5 Nobel Prize winners on current faculty.

Culture: Beach campus (literally on a cliff overlooking the Pacific). Isla Vista student community is unique, extremely walkable/bikeable. Social and outdoorsy.

Watch out for: The party reputation, while fading academically, still exists in Isla Vista. Limited public transportation off-campus.

UC Irvine. Irvine

The numbers: 21% acceptance rate. UCI is the youngest campus to break into the top-10 public university rankings.

Strengths: Computer science, criminology, nursing, literary journalism, video game design. UCI's esports program is nationally recognized.

Culture: Suburban, planned-community feel. Very safe. Large commuter population. Strong Asian and Asian American community (~40% of undergrads). Proximity to tech jobs in Orange County.

Watch out for: Can feel suburban/sterile compared to other UCs. Less of a traditional "college town" vibe.

UC Davis. Davis

The numbers: 37% acceptance rate. Largest UC campus by physical acreage.

Strengths: Veterinary medicine (#1 globally), agriculture, food science, environmental science, biological sciences. Strong pre-med track.

Culture: Classic college town. Everyone bikes. Davis has more bikes per capita than almost any US city. Agricultural roots give it a distinct, laid-back feel.

Watch out for: Davis the town is small and relatively isolated (15 miles from Sacramento). Summer heat can be intense.

UC Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz

The numbers: 47% acceptance rate. UCSC punches above its weight in several research areas.

Strengths: Astronomy/astrophysics (Lick Observatory), marine biology, computer science (strong gaming/AI focus), environmental studies, film/digital media.

Culture: Redwood forest campus overlooking Monterey Bay. Progressive, eclectic, countercultural. The Banana Slug mascot says it all. Small-town feel.

Watch out for: Isolated location. Limited nightlife and off-campus amenities. Housing is expensive relative to incomes.

UC Riverside. Riverside

The numbers: 66% acceptance rate. UCR is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution with broad demographic representation.

Strengths: Entomology (#1), plant sciences, creative writing MFA, business, education. Growing engineering program.

Culture: Community-oriented. More first-generation students than any other UC (~60%). Inland Empire location means lower cost of living.

Watch out for: Riverside gets very hot (100°F+ summers). Less name recognition than coastal UCs, though academic quality is strong.

UC Merced. Merced

The numbers: 95% acceptance rate. Opened in 2005, it's the newest UC and still growing rapidly.

Strengths: Environmental engineering, cognitive science, public health. Small class sizes and accessible faculty. New facilities (many buildings are LEED certified).

Culture: Small, tight-knit community. ~9,100 undergrads means you'll know people. Central Valley location.

Watch out for: Limited course offerings compared to larger UCs. Merced is a small, rural city. Campus social life is still developing.

How to Choose: Key Factors

By Selectivity Tier[1]UC Infocenter, 2024-2025

Tier	Campuses	Typical Admit GPA
Most Selective	UCLA, Berkeley	4.25+
Highly Selective	UCSD, UCSB, UCI	4.05–4.20
Selective	Davis	3.95–4.10
Moderate	Santa Cruz, Riverside	3.50–3.85
Accessible	Merced	3.30–3.60

By Location Type

Type	Campuses
Urban	UCLA, UC Berkeley
Suburban	UC Irvine, UC Riverside
College Town	UC Davis, UC Santa Cruz
Coastal/Suburban	UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara
Rural/Small City	UC Merced

By Cost Efficiency[2]UC Office of the President, 2024–25

All UCs charge similar tuition for California residents (~$14,300/year in tuition and fees for 2024–25). The real cost differences come from housing and cost of living:

Cost of Living	Campuses
Highest	UCLA, UC Berkeley, UCSB
Moderate	UCSD, UCI, UC Santa Cruz
Lower	UC Davis, UC Riverside, UC Merced

The Bottom Line

Don't just rank UCs by prestige. A student who thrives at UC Davis's collaborative, bike-friendly campus might be miserable in Berkeley's competitive grind. A student who needs access to LA's film industry should look at UCLA over UCSD, even if they could get into either.

Look at the specific department for your intended major. Check four-year graduation rates (they range from ~60% at Merced to ~80% at UCLA). Visit if you can. The "best" UC is the one where you'll actually succeed.