Which UC School Should I Choose?
What’s Covered:
While all UC campuses are part of the same system—the University of California system—each one is unique, offering different locations, levels of selectivity, academic strengths, and campus cultures. Determining which UC school is right for you is no different from choosing any college—it involves identifying the characteristics that matter most to you and finding a college that offers them.
Which UC Is Right For Me?
Who Should Attend UC Berkeley?
The Stats:
- Location: Berkeley
- Admissions Rate: 11%
- Undergraduates: 33,070
- In-State Tuition: $17,478
- Out-of-State Tuition: $37,602
- Room + Board: $22,398
UC Berkeley, also known as Cal, has a reputation for excellent academics. The university has had 26 faculty members and 35 alumni who have won Nobel Prizes. It even has a policy that awards free parking to Nobel Laureates.
Often called the Harvard of the West, Cal is especially strong in the natural sciences. The school is known for its hard sciences, but non-science majors are also popular. Humanities programs such as Classics and Music are particularly strong.
The school attracts an eclectic student body and is notable for its political activism.
Who Should Attend UCLA?
The Stats:
- Location: Los Angeles
- Admissions Rate: 9%
- Undergraduates: 33,040
- In-State Tuition: $15,700
- Out-of-State Tuition: $53,302
- Room + Board: $18,960
In 2024, UCLA was the most applied-to university in the country, receiving 173,651 applications for admission. There’s a lot to like about UCLA, including its beautiful campus, which provides a collegiate atmosphere despite being the only UC located in a major metropolitan area, and access to opportunities in fields like healthcare and film.
UCLA operates a number of teaching hospitals and research hospitals, including several on campus, which provide the chance to explore different healthcare fields. It’s also a major research university, with opportunities to conduct research in fields ranging from the natural sciences to the humanities.
In addition to outstanding academics, UCLA is also known for its athletics. The university has won 124 NCAA team championships and 284 UCLA alumni have won Olympic medals.
Who Should Attend UC San Diego?
The Stats:
- Location: San Diego
- Admissions Rate: 26.8%
- Undergraduates: 34,955
- In-State Tuition: $20,487
- Out-of-State Tuition: $58,089
- Room + Board: $19,629
Location, location, location—that’s what often springs to mind when thinking of UC San Diego (UCSD). Its campus is right beside the Pacific Ocean, which is fantastic for students who want to spend their time outside the classroom on the beach or in the water. San Diego stands out for its friendly vibe and vibrant student population, thanks to the many colleges and universities located in the city.
In the classroom, UC San Diego offers a number of award-winning programs—for example, its Computer Science program is recognized as one of the best in the UC system. Its Jacobs School of Engineering is also highly ranked. But it’s not all STEM at UCSD; there’s also a vibrant art scene, and the school’s Department of Theatre and Dance is highly ranked.
The University of San Diego is home to the Dr. Seuss Collection—the archive includes nearly 20,000 items, from original drawings and sketches to proofs, notebooks, and other memorabilia.
Who Should Attend UC Santa Barbara?
The Stats:
- Location: Santa Barbara
- Admissions Rate: 32.9%
- Undergraduates: 23,181
- In-State Tuition: $14,436
- Out-of-State Tuition: $48,663
- Room + Board: $19,623
UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) offers an idyllic location in a beautiful, historic beach town right on the water. Students are laid back and friendly. Sustainability is a driving force at UC Santa Barbara—roughly half of its academic departments offer at least one course related to sustainability, and it has programs in place focused on green building, serving locally grown food, and diverting waste.
UC Santa Barbara boasts excellent academics across the board with highly engaged professors. In addition to traditional coursework, UCSB offers a tailored learning experience in the College of Creative Studies. Students may choose from one of eight major disciplines that span the gamut from computer science to art.
Students often describe the University of Santa Barbara as having the perfect blend of rigor and relaxation.
Who Should Attend UC Irvine?
The Stats:
- Location: Irvine
- Admissions Rate: 28.8%
- Undergraduates: 29,503
- In-State Tuition: $14,934
- Out-of-State Tuition: $52,536
- Room + Board: $19,653
UC Irvine (UCI) is another UC system school with a beautiful beachside campus and outstanding academics. It’s known for mixing sunny SoCal character with the energy and innovation of a flourishing tech scene.
UCI is home to one of the strongest Honors Colleges in the UC system, which students are invited to join if they meet the academic requirements. It’s also home to the only Information and Computer Sciences (ICS) School in the UC system. Outside of STEM, UCI also boasts one of the strongest Philosophy programs in the country.
UC Irvine has an unusual mascot: the anteater. Since the state animal is a bear, UCI wanted to choose the wackiest animal that still classifies as a bear.
Who Should Attend UC Davis?
The Stats:
- Location: Davis
- Admissions Rate: 42.1%
- Undergraduates: 32,2730
- In-State Tuition: $14,934
- Out-of-State Tuition: $52,536
- Room + Board: $20,771
UC Davis is a hidden gem within the Central Valley. Originally established as a farm school, today it’s still recognized for its excellent agricultural program. It also boasts well-regarded Veterinary Science and Environmental programs. In homage to its agricultural roots, UC Davis’s athletic teams are nicknamed “The Aggies.”
UC Davis is more rural than many of its UC counterparts, but that makes it a nature lover’s dream. The UC Davis Arboretum is beautiful, spanning 100 acres of lush gardens that line the waterway, and campus is a short drive to many of the Golden State’s diverse climates.
Bikes are everywhere at UC Davis—on any given day, there are 22,000 bikes on campus!
Who Should Attend UC Santa Cruz?
The Stats:
- Location: Santa Cruz
- Admissions Rate: 65%
- Undergraduates: 17,312
- In-State Tuition: $16,533
- Out-of-State Tuition: $54,155
- Room + Board: $120,928
US Santa Cruz (UCSC) offers another beach town experience with its location at the northern edge of Monterey Bay. Students take advantage of its outdoor-friendly setting, heading to the water or hiking in towering nearby Redwood forests.
In terms of academics, UCSC is particularly well known for its Space Sciences and Astronomy programs. Its location also gives its students majoring in Marine Biology a distinct advantage—its Coastal Science Campus is located at the edge of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
UC Santa Cruz is another UC system school in the running for strangest mascot: Sammy the Banana Slug.
Who Should Attend UC Riverside?
The Stats:
- Location: Riverside
- Admissions Rate: 76.4%
- Undergraduates: 22,599
- In-State Tuition: $14,436
- Out-of-State Tuition: $52,038
- Room + Board: $20,691
Formerly citrus groves, UC Riverside (UCR) sits in the heart of historic California, giving students access to a variety of historic landmarks, theaters, and restaurants. Contrary to popular opinion, Riverside is not “just outside” of LA. Students will likely spend more time in Riverside County, with very occasional trips west to see museums or visit the beach.
Though not as prestigious as UC Berkeley or UCLA, UC Riverside offers over 150 majors and minors, ranging from Environmental Engineering to Gender and Sexuality Studies. The university also has a number of special collections in its research libraries, including the Eaton Collection, one of the largest collections of fantasy, horror, and science fiction in the world.
A large number—roughly 70%—of UCR students are commuters.
Who Should Attend UC Merced?
The Stats:
- Location: Merced
- Admissions Rate: 91.7%
- Undergraduates: 8,372
- In-State Tuition: $16,054
- Out-of-State Tuition: $53,656
- Room + Board: $22,594
Founded in 2005, UC Merced is the newest addition to the UC system. By far the smallest UC, this school offers a great environment for students looking for a close-knit community without paying for private school tuition. As the most recent addition to the UC system, there are still opportunities to start clubs, create new extracurricular activities, and shape the future of the university.
All of UC Merced’s buildings are LEED certified, making it one of the most environmentally conscious campuses in the UC system. Since UC Merced is also surrounded by farmland, it lends itself to learning about food literacy, sustainability, and the dynamics of food production. That said, UC Merced is not a farming college. Rather, it offers a liberal arts education.
UC Merced has the distinction of being the first American research university built in the 21st Century.
Who Should Attend UC San Francisco?
UC San Francisco is home to several stellar graduate programs and is located in one of the U.S.’s most vibrant cities. This university does not accept undergraduate applicants. However, students interested in pursuing graduate school in a biomedical field should re-examine this campus in four years.
How to Get Into the UCs
Once you’ve decided which UC(s) you’re applying to, you may want to know how you stack up against other applicants. To answer that question, check out CollegeVine’s free chancing engine! It takes into account just about every element of your application, including grades, course rigor, and extracurriculars, to give you personalized odds of acceptance at all of your top choice schools, including the UCs.
Or, if you want help on the more subjective aspects of your application, check out CollegeVine’s guide to the UC Personal Insight Questions (PIQs). The PIQs are a great place to show what you have to offer beyond the numbers!
