The University of California (UC) has released its 2025 Fall admissions data, revealing that its nine campuses admitted a total of 149,368 students, including California residents, out-of-state students, and international students. Compared to Fall 2024, this represents an increase of 12,370 students, or about 9%, with the overall acceptance rate rising from 66% to 73%.

Six campuses — UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Davis, UC Irvine, and UC Santa Barbara — each received over 100,000 applications, with UCLA once again topping the list as the most applied-to campus.

International Enrollment Surges

Among the admitted students, 100,947 are California residents, 26,191 are out-of-state domestic students, and 22,230 are international students. International admissions increased by 3,263 compared to last year, a remarkable 17% rise, showing UC’s growing openness to global applicants.

Acceptance Rates and Competitiveness Across Campuses

Based on the latest data, UC campuses vary widely in selectivity:

  • UC Berkeley: 9.42%

  • UCLA: 11.4%

  • UC San Diego: 28.41%

  • UC Irvine: 28.71%

  • UC Santa Barbara: 38.28%

  • UC Davis: 44.64%

  • UC Santa Cruz: 72.9%

  • UC Riverside: 87.45%

  • UC Merced: 97.68%

UC Berkeley and UCLA remain the most competitive, with acceptance rates hovering around 10%, comparable to elite global institutions. On the other end, UC Merced and UC Riverside admit 85–97% of applicants, offering broader access. Middle-tier campuses such as UCSD, UCI, UCSB, and UCD strike a balance between academic excellence and admission opportunities.

More Opportunities for California Residents

Under the UC 2030 Strategic Plan, the system aims to add 200,000 undergraduate and graduate seats by 2030 — the equivalent of building an entirely new UC campus. While the expansion primarily benefits in-state students, the increased capacity also indirectly improves chances for international and out-of-state applicants.

For California residents, especially those transferring from community colleges, this expansion could significantly ease competition in the coming years.

Application Advice

With UC’s expansion plans underway, now is an optimal time to apply. Whether aiming for the highly competitive UCLA and UC Berkeley or seeking more accessible campuses, prospective students should prepare early, strengthen their academic profiles, and take advantage of the favorable admissions climate.