UC Admissions Trends – Fall 2024

As one of the most prestigious public universities in the United States, the University of California (UC) has a highly competitive admissions process. Admissions data for fall 2024 shows the University of California admitted the largest and most diverse class in its history across its nine undergraduate campuses, including bumps for residents, underrepresented groups, first-gen applicants, and transfer students.

Applications for fall 2024 first-year admission were flat from last year’s record total (increasing by 19 applications, or 0.01 %). However California resident applications were up from last year, increasing by 1.2% (1,545 applications), while nonresident applicants decreased 3.7% (1,680 applications). Overall, UC saw a total of 250,436 applications, and offered admission to nearly 167,000 students, representing a two-thirds overall acceptance rate that includes 137,200 first-year students and 29,506 transfers.

California first-year applicants saw a favorable surge in admission offers, up 4.3 percent compared to the previous year. At UC Berkeley, 79% of the first-year students offered admission were from California. Interestingly, UC Riverside had the most California applicants of any UC campus for this application cycle.

This is all good news for California-based seniors who are interested in attending one of UC's nine undergraduate campuses.

• Increased chances of admission: The overall acceptance rate for California first-year students has increased by two percentage points from 2023.
• Focus on diversity: UC is committed to increasing diversity on its campuses. This means that students from underrepresented groups have increased chances of admission.
• Community college transfer opportunities: Admission offers to California community college (CCC) transfer students have increased by almost 8 percent.