UCLA 2025 Admission Statistics

UCLA Admission Guide — Class of 2030

TL;DR

• Applicants (Fall 2024): ~145,900
• Admits: ~12,800 (≈ 9% admit rate)
• Enrolled Bruins: ~6,300
• Middle 50% Weighted GPA: 4.27 – 4.68
• Testing: 100 % test‑free (SAT/ACT not considered)
• Cost of Attendance (CA resident): ≈ $40 K; Non‑resident surcharge: + $34 K

1. Why UCLA Still Reigns Supreme

Los Angeles’ flagship UC couples a top‑10 global research brand with Pacific‑Rim opportunity, Division I sports, and year‑round sunshine. Unsurprisingly, it tops the nation in freshman applications—every cycle since 2015.

2. Reading the 2024 Cycle Tea Leaves

Learning from last year’s numbers helps you gauge odds for the 2025‑26 round:

• Record demand. First‑year applications jumped past 145 K, keeping UCLA the most‑applied‑to campus in the country.
• Selectivity tightened. Offers slipped below 9 % overall—closer to 5 % for some STEM majors and out‑of‑state applicants.
• Yield strength. Roughly one in two admits say yes, producing an enrolling class of about 6.3 K students.
• Academic profile. The “middle 50 %” of Bruins entered with a weighted GPA between 4.27 and 4.68 (unweighted 3.92‑4.00).
• Holistic, test‑free review. UCLA removed SAT/ACT from consideration through at least 2029; rigor, grades, and context carry the day.

What it means for you: Applicants must pair near‑perfect academics with authentic impact—and craft essays that highlight UC’s 13 review factors.

3. What the Committee Really Values

UCLA is explicit:

• Maximized rigor across A‑G coursework, including AP/IB/dual‑enrollment when available.
• Sustained, high‑impact involvement—leadership, research, artistic, entrepreneurial, or service‑oriented.
• Contextual excellence. Reviewers benchmark you against what was possible at your school and in your life circumstances.
• Compelling insight & reflection in the Personal Insight Questions (PIQs). Treat them as four mini‑interviews, not prose contests.

4. Academic Landscape

• Top Majors: Biology, Economics, Psychology, Computer Science, Political Science.
• Colleges: Letters & Science (by far the largest), Engineering & Applied Science (direct admit), Arts & Architecture, Theater/Film & Television, Music, Nursing.
• Honors & Programs: Freshman Cluster seminars, College Honors, Undergraduate Research Scholars Program, capstone requirements in nearly every major.
• Study Abroad: 200+ programs in 40 countries—often same cost as a quarter in Westwood.

5. Campus Life in Westwood

• Housing guarantee: Three years for freshmen, with the new Olympic & Centennial halls adding 1,800 beds.
• Division I Athletics: 120+ NCAA titles; student‑section “Den” passes sell out fast.
• Research at scale: 5,000+ undergrads work with faculty each year; easy entry through SRP 99 and CARE fellowships.
• Signature traditions: The “Midnight Yell,” Spring Sing, and beating the Trojans across town.

6. Paying for UCLA

• Estimated annual tuition & fees (California resident): ~$15.9 K
• Non‑Resident Supplemental Tuition (NRST): +$32.6 K
• Campus housing & food: ~$18.5 K
• Total cost of attendance:
  • California resident: ~$40 K
  • Non‑resident: ~$72 K

• Blue & Gold Plan: Covers system‑wide tuition for Californians with family income ≤ $80 K.
• Middle‑Class Scholarship: Sliding‑scale aid up to $217 K family income.
• Regents & Alumni Scholarships: ~$2‑8 K per year plus priority enrollment.

7. Five Proven Ways to Stand Out

1. Capstone‑level coursework in 3‑4 core areas senior year.
2. Link a passion to measurable community impact (e.g., founding a tutoring nonprofit).
3. Publish or present research through UC’s STAR, SURE, or local symposiums.
4. Craft PIQs that reveal growth—use “challenge → action → insight” storytelling.
5. Demonstrate fit via the Additional Comments box—connect programs, labs, clubs to your goals.

8. Key Deadlines (2025‑26 Cycle)

• Aug  1: UC application opens.
• Oct  1: FAFSA / California Dream Act opens.
• Oct  1 – Nov  30: Self‑report courses & grades.
• Nov  30 (11:59 PM PST): Application submission deadline—no extensions.
• Dec  31: Last date to update fall grades.
• Late  March  2026: Decisions released.
• May  1: Statement of Intent to Register (SIR).
• July  1: Final transcript deadline.

9. FAQs

Q: Should I submit SAT/ACT anyway?
A: No. UCLA won’t view them—even if sent.

Q: Does applying undeclared help?
A: Slightly in the College of Letters & Science, but majors like Business Econ still draw steep competition.

Q: Can non‑residents gain residency later?
A: Extremely rare; plan on four years of Non‑Resident Supplemental Tuition.

Q: Are interviews offered?
A: Only for alumni scholarship finalists, by invitation.

10. Final Takeaways

UCLA’s combination of world‑class academics, vibrant campus life, and West Coast opportunity drives record demand. For the Class of 2030, success hinges on stellar grades in top‑tier courses, a narrative of meaningful impact, and PIQs that illuminate who you are beyond numbers. Start early, reflect deeply, and polish every piece of the UC application—then picture yourself crossing Bruin Walk next fall. Go Bruins!