UCLA Acceptance Rate 2023: A Detailed Guide

What is the University of California, Los Angeles acceptance rate for the classes of 2023 through 2027?

Being one of the best universities in LA, prospective applicants are interested in knowing the admission rate for freshmen and transfer students.

UCLA has an admission rate of 9%, and in this article, I explained everything you need to know about its acceptance rate and admission requirements for in-state, out-of-state, and international students.

University of California Los Angeles acceptance rate

UCLA has an acceptance rate of 9% for first-year students/freshmen. In 2023, 12,737 students were admitted out of the 145,910 students who applied for admission.

This is unarguably one of the lowest UCLA freshman admission rates since 2012. According to statistics, the admission rate will continue to decrease yearly.

According to its transfer admit data for fall 2022, the UCLA transfer acceptance rate is 26%. Of the 23,974 transfer applications received, only 6,189 were admitted, and 94% of admitted transfer students were from California community colleges.

Class of	Acceptance Rate	Applications	Admitted
2027	9%	145,910	12,737
2026	8.6%	149,815	12,844
2025	10.8%	139,490	15,028
2024	14.3%	108,877	15,602
2023	12%	111,322	13,720

UCLA acceptance rate for international students

UCLA’s admission rate for international students is about 9%, with students from almost 90 countries admitted annually. This implies that only 9 out of 100 applicants are offered admission to study at UCLA.

Ethnicity or Race	Freshmen
African American	6%
American Indian or Alaska Native	1%
Asian	34%
Hispanic	27%
White	29%
Unknown	3%

The low admission rate reflects the high volume of applications UCLA receives yearly. Despite the tough competition, many international students apply because of UCLA’s reputation as a world-renowned research university.

The admission rate for some faculties in the university is different from others. A good example is the Herb Alpert School of Music, which has a whopping 20% acceptance rate, while UCLA School of Nursing has a low admission rate of 1%.

UCLA’s out-of-state acceptance rate

UCLA’s reputation as a globally recognized educational institution results in many applications from out-of-state applicants yearly. However, it should be noted that the UCLA acceptance rate for out-of-state is just 10% which is significantly competitive.

The university maintains rigorous academic standards and a comprehensive evaluation of each application, paying scrupulous attention to factors including grade point averages, extracurricular activities, and potentially unique contributions to the student body.

This results in fewer out-of-state students being offered admission than in-state applicants, underscoring the competitive nature of UCLA’s admission process.

Why is UCLA’s admission rate so low?

UCLA’s acceptance rate is low because the competition for admission into this university has increased. For example, for new students in 2012, UCLA’s admit rate was 22%.

In 2021, this admission rate decreased to about 11% in less than a decade. What does this tell you? The competition has increased, and more and more students want to get into the University of California. Although the admission rate for transfer students is not as low as that of freshmen, it still applies.

Even though UCLA keeps breaking its application record, the admission quotas or available slots have not changed. Only the most qualified applicants are offered admission.

Being a public university has nothing to do with the low overall acceptance rate. It’s one of the top 20 universities in the United States. Who doesn’t want to earn a degree at a prestigious institution?

Also Read:

• AmeriCorps Acceptance Rate & Requirements
• UF Nursing School Acceptance Rate & Requirements
• Flatiron School Acceptance Rate & Requirements
• List of best WUE Schools in Reviewed

UCLA GPA Requirements 2023

The average admitted freshman has a weighted GPA of 4.57, while the average admitted transfer student has an unweighted GPA of 3.88. This shows that only the high achieving students are admitted, not luck.

GPA	Median	Middle 25% – 75%
Weighted GPA	4.57	4.37-4.74
Unweighted GPA	4.00	3.95-4.00

Before applying to UCLA, applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 (for residents) or 3.4 (for non-residents). They must also have no grades lower than a C in their high school transcripts.

Even though this might sound like a good deal, it’s the opposite. The University receives more applicants than they can admit, which leads to the competition which I explained earlier.

You should also know that the University only looks at your grades from your sophomore and junior years in high school. This is used to calculate the GPA, which will be used to determine if you are good enough to be their student.

GPA Is only one of the many requirements needed to gain admission into the University of California, Los Angeles. Your creativity, personal qualities, other achievements, etc., count.

Is it hard to get into UCLA?

Yes, getting into UCLA is as hard as the nether millstone. Even top students with almost perfect GPAs do get rejected annually. Your major also determines how hard it is to gain admission to the University of California, Los Angeles. Someone who wants to study Music has a better chance of getting in than someone who wants to study nursing.

It is not impossible. You can do it if you put in the work. Some tips can help you get into UCLA despite its low admit rate.

Remember, it’s quality over quantity. Like any other higher institution, UCLA wants to admit the best of the best. A rejection mail is not the end of the world.

What is the required TOEFL/DET/IELTS score for UCLA?

First and foremost, you should be informed that the University of California does not accept SAT or ACT scores as part of the language requirements for international students. Only TOEFL, DET, or IELTS are accepted.

When gaining admission into UCLA, your English proficiency means a lot; those who completed their secondary or high school in English are exempted from this requirement.

Your TOEFL score must be above 100 (with sub-scores above 22), your DET score above 120, and your IELTS score above 7. These tests are competitive, and those with bad or below-average English skills may not be admitted.

It feels so good to open your UCLA acceptance letter, and those endorphins kick in; it’s a day most people never forget. It’s one thing to make your parents proud. It’s another to get into your dream school.

If you didn’t get in, don’t feel so bad. It doesn’t mean you are a failure or whatnot. There are thousands of other universities in the United States that you can apply to.

Now that you know the UCLA acceptance rate and admission requirements, why not share this article with your friends who may also find it helpful? Don’t hesitate to ask in the comment section below if you have any questions.

Resource:

• Common Data Set | UCLA Academic Planning and Budget
• UCLA Undergraduate Admission