But here is what those headlines don't tell you: nearly 3 out of 4 applicants got into at least one UC campus. 

While 1.1 million applications sounds overwhelming, they came from 'just' 250,000 actual students. The average applicant cast a wide net, applying to 4–6 different campuses. Smart strategy. Sure, gaining admission to UCLA or Berkeley remains highly competitive. But the UC system is vast, with nine distinct campuses offering world-class education. When you apply broadly across the system, your odds flip dramatically in your favor. 

The takeaway? Don't get spooked by individual campus statistics. The real question isn't whether you can get into the UC of your dreams—it's whether you can get into a UC that will launch your future. And for most applicants, the answer is yes. Of the 249,824 students who applied across the UC system, 180,382 were admitted to at least one campus—a 72% overall admit rate!

Students and families often focus on the most competitive campuses (UCLA and UC Berkeley) but that only tells part of the story. The UC system was built to offer multiple tiers of access within a shared application process.

Most Competitive Campuses
UCLA and UC San Diego are now the most applied-to universities in the United States. These two, along with UC Berkeley, receive tens of thousands more applications than they can admit.Their admit rates—between 12% and 32%—are similar to those of elite private institutions, despite being large public universities.

Mid-Range Selectivity
Campuses like UC Irvine, UC Davis, and UC Santa Barbara are still competitive, but far more accessible to qualified students. With admit rates between 30% and 46%, they represent strong “match” options for qualified applicants, offering top academics without the ultra-selectivity of the flagships.

Broad-Access Campuses
UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside, and UC Merced admit a large share of applicants, between 73% and 98%. These campuses play a vital role in the UC system, especially for first-generation, rural, and low-income students. The UC system also offers guaranteed admission pathways for well-prepared transfer students. Six UC campuses (Davis, Irvine, Merced, Riverside, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz) participate in the Transfer Admission Guarantee program which offers guaranteed admission to transfer students from California community colleges who meet specific GPA and course requirements. 

Key Takeaway
Students who apply across a range of campuses, not just to UCLA or Berkeley, have a much higher chance of admission somewhere in the system.

First-Year Students
Of the 205,158 first-year applicants, the breakdown showed the UC's broad appeal: 130,707 California residents, 42,336 out-of-state domestic students, and 32,115 international students applied to at least one UC campus. While California residents made up 64% of the applicant pool, they received 68% of admission offers — a clear advantage that reflects UC's mission to prioritize in-state students over the growing number of applicants from beyond California's borders.

Transfer Students
Transfer students also found strong opportunities in the UC system. Of the 44,666 transfer applicants, 31,014 received admission offers—a solid 69% acceptance rate! Nearly 90% of UC transfer admits come from California community colleges, keeping the UC’s promise of an affordable, accessible path for those seeking an alternate route into the system.

International Students

With 25,019 accepted international students in 2025, the UC admitted more students from abroad than in the past. In a press release, the university noted that the increased international offers were due to “rising uncertainty of their likelihood of enrolling.” That uncertainty comes from the changing immigration landscape. Recent policy shifts created confusion for both universities and international students.

As we reported previously, U.S. visa appointments were temporarily paused, creating further enrollment uncertainty. Although consular processing has resumed, it is proceeding with tighter scrutiny and more aggressive vetting, complicating many international students’ timelines and decisions.

In response to the current climate, the UC campuses extended more international offers than usual, anticipating that many students may not be able to follow through due to these external obstacles.

While it is encouraging that 72% of applicants were admitted somewhere in the UC system, that doesn’t mean every applicant got into their top-choice campus or major. If you are planning to apply in Fall 2025 for entry in 2026, here is how to interpret this data and shape your application strategy:

Build a Balanced UC List
For all students, UCLA and UC Berkeley are reach schools, no matter how strong your GPA or extracurriculars! UC Santa Barbara, UC Davis, UC Irvine, and UC San Diego are still highly selective but more accessible to well-prepared students. UC Riverside, UC Merced, and UC Santa Cruz offer broader access while still providing a UC-quality education.

Some Majors Much Harder to Get Into
Programs like Computer Science, Engineering, Biology, Psychology, and Economics are impacted, meaning they have more applicants than seats. At many campuses, Computer Science admits fewer than 5% of applicants, even when the campus average is much higher! Know what you are applying for, and be sure your PIQs and coursework support that interest. Consider alternate majors that may be less impacted to maximize your admissions chances.

Focus on Academics
The UC recalculates your GPA, based only on 10th and 11th grade A–G courses (with bonus points for approved honors/AP/IB classes). Use my UC GPA Calculator to estimate your official UC GPA and see how it compares to past admits. In addition, take the most rigorous classes available to you, especially in core academic subjects.

Comprehensive Review
For their admission decisions, the UC employs a comprehensive review process that evaluates applicants across 13 comprehensive criteria. The admissions team is looking beyond the GPA and considers factors like leadership experience, special talents, personal challenges overcome, and contributions to your community. The eight Personal Insight Questions give you a chance to share your story — don’t treat them like essays for English class. Focus on depth and impact in both your PIQs and your activities. What have you done that mattered to you — and why? All nine UC campuses review applications holistically, so academics, leadership, responsibility, creativity, and resilience all count.

If you are applying for Fall 2026 admission, mark your calendar: The UC application opens on August 1, 2025 and the submission window is from October 1 to December 1, 2025. To understand how your academic record stacks up, use my UC GPA Calculator to estimate your GPA based on UC's official criteria. It is a great first step to see where you stand.

Need help planning your application strategy, writing your PIQs, or choosing the right UC campuses? I am happy to help. Reach out anytime for personalized support.

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