UCLA Acceptance Rate | Requirements, SAT/ACT Scores, GPA, & Admissions

If you’ve arrived here, it’s because you want to know your chances of admission to one of the most prestigious universities in the United States: the University of California.

So, if you’re wondering, what is the UCLA acceptance rate? Just know that you’ve landed on the right page.

Being one of the top universities in the world, the University of California, Los Angeles, or UCLA is one of the most popular universities for undergraduate and graduate degrees.

The university has over 100 undergraduate majors and is ranked sixth among the top universities in the United States, as well as 35th in the 2020 QS World University Rankings.

As one of the most prestigious universities in the United States, the university has stringent admissions requirements and a low acceptance rate.

To that end, this article will provide an overview of the school’s acceptance rate, GPA, and how to apply.

About UCLA

Los Angeles is home to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), a public land-grant research university. 

UCLA’s academic roots can be traced back to 1881 when it was known as the southern branch of the California State Normal School (now San José State University). 

This school merged with UCLA in 1919 as the Southern Branch of the University of California, making it the second-oldest of the 10-campus University of California system (after UC Berkeley).

UCLA has 337 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a variety of disciplines, with approximately 31,600 undergraduate and 14,300 graduate and professional students enrolled. 

UCLA received 168,000 undergraduate applications for Fall 2021, including transfers, making it the most applied-to university in the country.

The university is divided into 12 professional schools and the College of Letters and Science.

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What is UCLA Acceptance Rate? 

UCLA admissions history is best understood through a once-per-decade look at the university’s shifting acceptance rates. 

In 1980, nearly three-quarters of all applicants were accepted; by 1990, this figure had dropped to the low 40s. 

However, by 2000, it had dropped to the high 20s, by 2010, to the low 20s, and now, in 2024, it is at 11%.

Want some even scarier statistics? Only 36% of those with a GPA of 4.39 or higher were admitted. 

Only 27% of those who took 22 or more honors/AP classes in high school were successful. Now that UCLA has an acceptance rate comparable to Georgetown and Carnegie Mellon, and is even more selective than Berkeley, the question becomes, “What is the secret to getting in!?”

While there are rarely “secrets” in college admissions, an examination of available data, demographic information, and recent trends can shed light on the process at a specific institution.

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What is UCLA Transfer Acceptance Rate? 

I understand that changing colleges can be confusing, time-consuming, and overwhelming. You are not by yourself. Every year, more than 700,000 students transfer colleges.

Transfer students make up 34.0% of the total student body at UCLA, so you won’t be alone.

In 2024, UCLA received 23951 transfer applicants.

5770 students were admitted to the school. As a result, UCLA’s transfer acceptance rate is 24.09%.

This demonstrates how difficult it is to transfer to UCLA.

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Is UCLA hard to get into? 

According to Forbes, UCLA is a highly selective school with an 11% acceptance rate. 

Over 139,000 students applied to UCLA for the Class of 2025. UCLA admissions accepted approximately 31,000 of those applicants.

According to the U.S. News Best Colleges 2022 edition, UCLA is ranked #20 in National Universities.

If you’re wondering how to get into UCLA, you should know that admission is extremely competitive. 

Any student would consider UCLA to be a “reach.” Becoming a UCLA Bruin will require much more than just meeting the UCLA GPA or SAT requirements.

However, start preparing well before the UCLA application deadline to improve your chances of admission.

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Does UCLA Require Test Scores?

UCLA does not use SAT or ACT scores for admission or scholarship consideration.

You can, however, take the SAT or ACT exam and submit your results to the university if you wish. 

They may also be used as minimum eligibility requirements by the university or for course placement after you have enrolled.

So, if you intend to take the SAT exams and submit your results, you must ensure that your scores are impressive. 

Keep in mind the following breakdown of the average SAT score for UCLA:

The 25th percentile for the SAT score (all sections combined) is 1290, and the 75th percentile is 1510, for a total score of 1405 out of 1600.

A score of 1290 may indicate that you are below average, whereas a score of 1510 indicates that you are above average.

The better the score, the higher the score. However, applicants should be aware that UCLA does not provide the above score levels but can be used as a guideline based on admission data from previous years at UCLA.

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What are the Admission Requirements for UCLA?

To know what areas to focus on for admission to UCLA, you must be aware of the UCLA requirements listed below and carefully evaluate each while applying:

Academic Requirements

The academic requirements for freshmen and transfer students differ. You must have completed secondary school if you are applying for an undergraduate degree as a freshman (someone who has never enrolled in a college or university). 

You can apply as a transfer student with a bachelor’s or an equivalent degree. 

Applicants should know they cannot apply as a freshman if they have previously attended a college or university.

Education System Requirements

They differ depending on the applicant’s country and educational system. If you are an Indian student, you must have completed the X and XII CBSE or state board examinations. 

You will also be required to report your subjects and grades on the application.

Language Requirements

English language proficiency is a prerequisite for admission to UCLA. If you completed your secondary school education entirely in English, you do not need to fulfill this requirement because your proficiency is already demonstrated. 

If not, you must demonstrate English language proficiency through tests such as IELTS and TOEFL. UCLA seeks competitive IELTS scores of 7 or higher and TOEFL scores of 100 or higher.

Financial Requirements

Another important aspect of admission to UCLA is that international students must demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to cover their tuition and living expenses for the entire academic year. 

Furthermore, UCLA required international students to have adequate medical insurance for their enrollment.

Transcripts & Official Academic Records

Your GPA or UCLA SAT Scores may reflect your academic excellence, but they do not accurately represent your academic progress. 

As a result, your transcripts are required for admission to UCLA. However, you are only required to submit them once you have been admitted.

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What are the Transfer Requirements for UCLA

For consideration, UCLA requires several completed documents. The following table summarizes the most important information:

• High School Transcript- Required
• College Transcript- Required
• Essay or Personal Statement- Required Interview- Not Required
• Standardized Test Scores- Not Required
• Statement of Good Standing from Prior Institution- Not Required

In addition to the prerequisites listed above, UCLA requires a certain number of credits to be completed before applying to be a transfer student.

UCLA requires at least 90 credits.

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UCLA GPA Requirements?

While there are no SAT or ACT score requirements at UCLA, the university has extremely competitive GPA requirements (Grade Point Average). 

One of the most important requirements for admission to UCLA undergraduate programs is your high school GPA.

According to UCLA freshman admission data for 2021, the average high school GPA requirement is 3.9. 

Given that the highest GPA you can achieve is 4, it is considered quite competitive. 

However, a GPA of less than 3.9 does not rule out admission to UCLA, as the decision is made through a thorough review process. You can effectively compete against other applicants with a strong overall profile. 

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How Can You Apply to UCLA?

To make a successful application, begin by completing the UCLA application form. You can follow the steps outlined below:

• Go to UCLA’s official website and sign up for an account using your email address.

• Choose the term (when you will begin at UC) and application level (freshman/transfer).

• Complete all of the required fields. These sections will be most frequently encountered: about you, your courses and majors, academic history, test scores, activities and awards, and scholarships.

• Respond to the personal insight questions. This is an important section because it allows you to discuss topics that you cannot discuss elsewhere in the application. You must answer four of the eight questions given to you.

• Examine all of the information before submitting the application.

• Make payment for the application fees. International students, including Indian applicants, must pay an application fee of $80. (INR 6118)

• You can print the application and the application fee receipt. Keep a record of your application ID and summary for future reference.

• When UC notifies you that you have been admitted, send the official transcripts and exam scores to your campus, in this case, UCLA, before the deadlines.

• Applicants should also be aware that letters of recommendation are not required for UCLA applications. However, if the campus requires it as part of the application review process, you will be notified via email.

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What are the Alternatives to UCLA?

Below are the alternatives to UCLA that you should know:

Harvard University

Harvard University is committed to excellence in teaching, learning, and research, as well as the development of global leaders.

UCSD

The University of California, San Diego is a world-class public research university located in beautiful La Jolla, California.

USC

The University of Southern California, located in Los Angeles, is a leading private research university.

Stanford University

One of the world’s foremost research and educational institutions. accelerating solutions, preserving life on Earth, and preparing students for active citizenship

UC Santa Barbara

Located on the California coast, is a leading center for teaching and research.

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FAQs

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Conclusion

To summarize, getting into UCLA has never been more difficult, as it now requires near-perfect (or perfect) grades in 20+ honors/AP/IB courses. 

Even in-state applicants must have excellent academic records and other distinguishing characteristics. 

UCLA is an exceptional, world-class institution with numerous prestigious academic programs. Of course, you must be aware that nearly 90% of applicants will be turned down. 

As a result, all students must ensure that they create an appropriate college list that includes both “target” and “safety” schools. 

You should definitely work with an admissions professional who is up to date on the latest trends and strategies associated with your prospective colleges.

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References

• collegetransitions.com– How to Get Into UCLA: Admissions Data and Strategies
• wikipedia.org– University of California, Los Angeles
• worldstudyportal.com– UCLA Acceptance Rate 2023 | All Admission Requirements
• campusreel.org– UCLA Transfers: 2022 Requirements, Dates, GPAs & More
• collegeadvisor.com– How to Get Into University of California- Los Angeles (UCLA) Guide
• leapscholar.com– UCLA SAT Scores: Check Out The Exam Requirements in 2022