UC Schools Acceptance Rates 2023: Easiest and Hardest Schools to Get Into
What’s Covered:
- UC Schools Acceptance Rates
- Why Are the UC Schools Hard to Get Into?
- Hardest UC Schools to Get Into
- Easiest UC Schools to Get Into
- How Have UC Acceptance Rates Changed Over Time?
Whether you grew up in the Golden State or another part of the world, you might dream of earning your degree at a University of California (UC) system school. This highly-selective college system is composed of nine undergraduate institutions (and one graduate-only school) that are home to more than 238,000 students and hold the distinction of being counted among the best public universities in the country.
Founded in 1869, the UC system earns high marks for its STEM and humanities programs, multi-billion-dollar research centers, and proximity to dynamic cities like Los Angeles and San Diego. It’s no surprise that some of the UC schools’ acceptance rates are on the low side. If you’re eager to spend your college career getting a great education in one of the country’s most beautiful, diverse, and economically important states, keep reading to learn about the hardest and easiest UC schools to get into.
UC Schools Acceptance Rates: Easiest and Hardest Schools to Get Into
While there are ten institutions in the UC System, only nine of them serve undergraduate students. UC San Francisco is a graduate and professional school only and will not be included in any further discussion of the UC system in this article.
2022-2023 admissions cycle:
|
School |
Acceptance Rate |
|
9% |
|
|
11% |
|
|
21% |
|
|
24% |
|
|
26% |
|
|
37% |
|
|
47% |
|
|
69% |
|
|
89% |
Wondering what your personal chances of acceptance are? Your chances may be higher or lower than the overall acceptance rate, depending on your profile. Our free chancing engine will let you know your chances of getting into the UC schools (and many others), along with giving you feedback on how to improve your profile. Our chancing engine takes into account your grades, course rigor, test scores (if applicable), extracurriculars, and more.
Why Are the UC Schools Hard to Get Into?
Admission to UC schools is competitive and for good reason: students flock to the UCs because of their high rankings and exceptional academic quality. CollegeVine ranks UC Berkeley (4th) and UCLA (5th) in the top five on its list of best public colleges in the U.S. UCSD also places in the top 20, ranking 19th.
For three consecutive years, between 2018 and 2021, U.S. News & World Report has ranked UC Riverside number one in the nation for social mobility—nearly half of its students receive Pell Grants. In 2022, UC Riverside dropped one place in the ranking, falling to 2nd in the nation in social mobility behind Keiser University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Closely following UC Riverside on the social mobility rankings are:
- UC Merced (5th)
- UC Irvine (7th)
- UC Santa Barbara (15th)
- UC Santa Cruz (18th)
The UC system also offers a wide range of majors, extracurriculars, and resources. Students enjoy access to museums, art galleries, concert halls, observatories, and even botanical gardens, all without having to leave campus.
It’s no surprise that UC schools draw a large number of applications each year. They received 245,768 applications—206,405 for freshman admission and 39,363 for transfer admission—for fall 2023.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, only 66% are admitted and perhaps not admitted at their preferred campus. The UC system guarantees admissions to the top eighth of California students, however, it doesn’t ensure admission at a student’s favored choice or even a campus they applied to. Instead, they’re offered a place at a campus where space is available, which is often one of the less selective UC schools.
The low acceptance rates at the UCs are complicated by the fact that statistics differ significantly for in-state and out-of-state applicants. Because the UCs offer in-state residents the chance to earn an exceptional education without the private school price tag, California students are particularly drawn to these public institutions. The San Francisco Chronicle found that 27% of California public school seniors and 52% of private school seniors applied to the UC system.
In 2022, the UC system admitted a record number of California students, having received significantly more in-state applications than out-of-state ones (132,226 vs. 44,755). This represents a shift in the UC’s prioritization of non-resident students between 2008 and 2021, as these students made up additional revenue after large budget cuts. Between 2008 and 2021, UC Berkeley and UCLA increased their proportion of out-of-state undergrads from 9.5% to 24%. In general, the out-of-state acceptance rate is higher because those applicants are higher-paying and often have stronger academic profiles.
While the University of California colleges are undoubtedly competitive, the good news is that some UC schools’ acceptance rates are much higher than others.
Hardest UC Schools to Get Into
How hard is it to get into a UC school? It depends on the university. UCLA and UC Berkeley have acceptance rates well under 15%, which makes them among the most competitive institutions in the nation, not just in the UC system. UCLA and UC Berkeley’s acceptance rates place them in the company of well-regarded schools and highly selective colleges like the University of Notre Dame, USC, and Georgetown.
While the top UC schools’ acceptance rates can seem intimidating, there are still plenty of reasons to apply. UC Berkeley, the oldest of the UCs, is known for its political activism and diverse student body. It also has a reputation for exceptional academics, top-notch faculty, and exciting research opportunities. Students are also drawn to UC Berkeley’s location—San Francisco is just a 20-minute drive from campus.
Similarly, academics are a major draw at UCLA, which offers more than 3,800 courses and 109 majors. With a total undergraduate enrollment of 31,577, UCLA is a great choice for students seeking a large school with plenty of activities and extracurriculars. Also like UC Berkeley, UCLA’s location is a large part of its appeal, providing students with access to numerous internships and career opportunities. Also of note—UCLA’s robust network of entertainment alumni makes it a wise option for those considering careers in film and television.
See our post comparing UCLA vs. UC Berkeley for more info on the differences between the schools.
Easiest UC Schools to Get Into
Even if UCLA and Berkeley are reaches, there’s still hope of attending a UC school. The easiest UC schools to get into include UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside, and UC Merced, all of which have acceptance rates over 50%.
Located 40 minutes outside San Jose, UCSC earns high marks for its picturesque campus and close beach access. Along with the small class sizes and community feel, its students rave about how progressive the school is, and it’s often ranked among the most liberal colleges in the US.
Like UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside has a higher acceptance rate which makes it more accessible. It’s also a great choice for students seeking a more affordable college degree—the school admits a higher percentage of Pell Grant students than any other top research school in the U.S.
One of the newer UCs, Merced is still finding its identity. As a result, students have a chance to shape the school into the kind of institution they want to attend. Additionally, UC Merced accepts a large number of community college students. According to the school website, 96% of admitted transfer students come from a California community college.
How Have UC Acceptance Rates Changed Over Time?
Wondering what it takes to get into a University of California school? Check out the stats for incoming freshmen at the nine undergraduate UC institutions below:
2022-2023 admissions cycle
|
School |
Acceptance Rate |
|
9% |
|
|
11% |
|
|
21% |
|
|
24% |
|
|
26% |
|
|
37% |
|
|
47% |
|
|
69% |
|
|
89% |
* The UC system practiced test-blind admissions in the 2022-2023 admissions cycle, consequently, standardized test scores were not used and are unavailable.
2021-2022 admissions cycle
|
School |
Acceptance Rate |
Middle 50% SAT/ACT Score |
|
11% |
N/A |
|
|
14% |
N/A |
|
|
29% |
N/A |
|
|
29% |
N/A |
|
|
34% |
N/A |
|
|
46% |
1160-1370/25-31 |
|
|
59% |
N/A |
|
|
65% |
N/A |
|
|
86% |
1140-1390/23-32 |
In general, acceptance rates have dropped over the past year. This is particularly true for the most selective of the UC Schools. The UC system began moving toward test-blind admissions in the 2021-2022 admissions cycle and was totally test-blind in the 2022-2023 admissions cycle and going forward. You can see from the few UC schools that reported test scores in 2021-2022 just how competitive UC applicants have been.
Need more help selecting the right UC school for you? Check out CollegeVine’s guide to the UC schools.
