UCLA Acceptance Rate for Freshmen: Stats, Rankings, Decisions & More

Welcome on-board with us today as we discuss the UCLA acceptance rate for Freshmen. One of the most important things that prospective students think about while applying to this esteemed university is the UCLA acceptance rate for Freshmen. Due to its huge applicant volume and reputation as one of the best public colleges in the country, UCLA has a very demanding admissions procedure.

Gaining insight into the level of competitiveness and the academic requirements for admission can be achieved by knowing UCLA Acceptance rate for freshmen. This post will examine the various facets of UCLA Acceptance rate for freshmen, including the variables that affect it and the steps applicants can take to increase their chances of being accepted.

Table of Contents

UCLA: Admissions, Cost, and Additional Information

Founded in 1919, UCLA is a public university. The University of California at Los Angeles. It is, in reality, the second-oldest of the ten campuses that make up the University of California network spread out around the state. Beyond offering its esteemed students a first-rate education, UCLA also makes a concerted effort to address societal concerns affecting the modern world.

On lists of the greatest universities, UCLA is usually found close to the top. It’s regarded as one of the most prominent colleges in the nation, in fact. UCLA, for example, is the nation’s second-best public university according to the Times Higher Education. Additionally, it was placed 20th on the list of the best national universities for 2021 by U.S. News and World Report. Nevertheless, U.S.

News also names UCLA as the nation’s best public university and the fifth-best choice for veterans’ education.More than 125 majors in fields as diverse as the sciences, engineering, the humanities and arts, architecture, cinema, and nursing are available to UCLA students. In addition, internships, study abroad options, experiential learning opportunities, and summer travel complete a well-rounded UCLA education.

Rate of Acceptance

More people applied to UCLA than any other university in the country for the Fall 2020 class—roughly 135,000 people. UCLA has to uphold strict admissions requirements since so many individuals apply. Therefore, UCLA’s freshman admittance rate is 14%, greater than that of several Ivy League schools but lower than that of many other public colleges. Additionally, roughly 24% of students who transfer to UCLA do so from other institutions or universities.

In addition, as UCLA expands, admissions are becoming more competitive. Only 61,500 students applied in 2021, despite the fact that the UCLA Acceptance rate for freshmen was 25% at the time. While the number of candidates steadily rises annually, the UCLA Acceptance rate for freshmen decreased during the second decade of the 2000s. The School of Music has the greatest admission rate (23%), while the UCLA School of Nursing has the lowest (1%). Thus, in order to gain the most insight into the likelihood of being accepted into a given UCLA program, candidates should research the UCLA Acceptance rate for freshmen for individual courses of study.

Conditions & Advice for Entrance

Due to the tough admissions process, UCLA heavily weighs an applicant’s average GPA when determining admissions selections. Actually, there are other considerations that UCLA does not take into account, such as recommendation letters or a student’s standing in their high school graduating class. After all, the school needs an effective system to decide which applicants to accept because it receives so many.

UCLA does, however, take high school GPAs very seriously when selecting newcomers. In particular, classes taken in grades 10 and 11 are used by UCLA to compute both “weighted” and “unweighted” GPAs. Competitive students often have unweighted GPAs of between 3.92 and 4.00, and weighted GPAs, which include an additional point for honors courses, between 4.34 and 4.68. It is noteworthy that applicants to UCLA are not required to include their SAT or ACT results with their application.

Committees responsible for admissions also consider a student’s experiences outside of the classroom. Achievements in the arts and athletics, as well as leadership and volunteer work, are highly regarded and may play a significant role in scholarship decisions. It is anticipated of students that they will be able to support UCLA’s culture of rigorous and vibrant intellectual thought.

Famous Former Students

Being a big, prestigious university with a rich history, UCLA boasts a plethora of accomplished graduates in practically every field. Not surprisingly, celebrities like Grammy-winner Sara Bareilles, Emmy-winning actress Carol Burnett, and actor and activist George Takei all attended UCLA due to its great location in Los Angeles close to the center of the entertainment industry. Not to add, well-known directors like Francis Ford Coppola have elevated UCLA’s film studies departments to renown.

Even yet, UCLA boasts a large number of well-known former students from other fields. In the fields of medicine, chemistry, economic sciences, and peace studies, for instance, seven former students have won Nobel laureates. Randy W. Schekman, the most recent graduate to receive the Noble Prize, split the honor with two other scientists for their work on cell physiology.

Similarly, a number of fellows of the MacArthur Foundation started their education at UCLA. UCLA anthropology graduate Jason De León is the most recent alumni to receive this prestigious, no-strings-attached fellowship to study the effects of immigration laws on individuals traveling over the border between the United States and Mexico. Playwright and UCLA alum Lee Breuer was awarded a fellowship to further American avant-garde theater in a sector quite unrelated to his studies.

Teachers

UCLA has more professors than students compared to some smaller universities, with 4,300 academic members. Moreover, the faculty of UCLA include internationally recognized scholars who are spearheading advancements in the humanities, arts, and sciences.

Professors Jared Diamond, Saul Friedländer, and Daniel Walker Howe, for example, have won Pulitzer Prizes in multiple departments.

Kelly Lytle Hernández investigates American society and the ways in which ideologies have changed to shape current practices such as immigration detention and incarceration. As an additional example of the UCLA faculty’s commitment to contemporary issues impacting society, her work is the first noteworthy academic investigation of the history of the U.S. Border Patrol.

Innovative research is also being produced by UCLA’s scientific faculty; examples include the work that contributed to J. Fraser Stoddart’s 2016 Nobel Prize in chemistry and earned Andrea Ghez a 2020 Nobel Prize in physics.

Comparable Institutions and Ranking

A lot of people think about UCLA as a “Public Ivy.” In other words, it is a public university that competes with prestigious private Ivy League colleges, offering students the academic experiences of these private institutions at a cost comparable to public schools. With this distinction, UCLA joins universities such as the University of Virginia, the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

On the other hand, compared to UCLA, the University of Michigan has a substantially higher out-of-state tuition and a higher admission rate (23%). Comparably, only roughly 24% of applicants are accepted to the University of Virginia, despite having a smaller student enrollment than UCLA. Moreover, the UCLA Acceptance rate for freshmen for early decision applicants at UNC are higher than those at UCLA, at 28% and 23%, respectively, despite the university having cheaper in-state tuition.

Therefore, UCLA is more difficult to get into yet offers a wonderful bargain when compared to some of the top public universities in the country. However, although these other elite universities do need students to submit their SAT or ACT results, UCLA does not require entering freshmen to take these tests.

Scholarships

Even though UCLA offers some of the best educations available, the institute can nevertheless make a big financial contribution to students’ tuition. Because of their grants, scholarships, and other forms of financial aid, over 45% of UCLA students actually attend classes for free.

UCLA offers a number of merit-based prizes, such as the Regents Scholarship, to students who demonstrate exceptional academic and personal performance. The Alumni Scholarships are given to deserving students who also exhibit leadership potential, and the beneficiaries are chosen by UCLA alumni.

Through the Achievement Scholarships program, need-based funding is also offered. There are other programs specifically designed to draw underprivileged students—for example, pupils from Los Angeles County high schools, where few kids usually go on to college. Comparably, exceptional community college transfer students at UCLA are given the Chancellor’s Blue and Gold Scholarships.

Furthermore, UCLA is an even more cheap alternative for out-of-state students because tuition is the same for both citizens and non-residents of California. During the academic year, low-interest loans and work-study opportunities are also offered.

Does UCLA Fit Your Needs?

Students from a variety of backgrounds come to UCLA because it is a multicultural campus. With 33% of Asian students, 21% Hispanic students, and 9% of international students, the incoming class for autumn 2020 was especially diverse. Furthermore, indicating UCLA’s dedication to a diverse student body, roughly 33% of undergrads there are the first in their families to attend college.

UCLA aspires to establish an atmosphere in which every student can flourish and develop into future leaders who will influence the course of history. Ultimately, the average UCLA student is motivated and aspires to improve society. In other words, UCLA seeks students who will put in a lot of effort to come up with fresh approaches to solving current issues and who recognize how to better our society.

What is the UCLA Acceptance rate for freshmen right now?

Due in large part to its high academic criteria and the volume of applications it receives each year, UCLA has one of the lowest freshman acceptance rates in the country. Approximately 8.6% of students were accepted to UCLA for the Fall 2023 admissions cycle. That suggests that just 8 or 9 pupils were admitted out of 100 applicants. UCLA admittance rates are competitive, which emphasizes the value of extracurricular activities, academic achievement, and a solid application.

What elements go into the UCLA Acceptance rate for freshmen?

There are a number of reasons behind UCLA’s poor freshman admittance rate. UCLA’s reputation for academic brilliance, research opportunities, and Los Angeles location make it a highly sought-after university above all else. The university receives a lot of applications every year, which makes the admissions process quite competitive.

Aside from academic achievement, the admissions committee also takes into account extracurricular activities, leadership experiences, and personal statements as part of UCLA’s objective to retain a diverse and well-rounded student body. The UCLA Acceptance rate for freshmen is caused by a combination of strong demand and stringent selection standards.

What steps may prospective students take to improve their chances of getting into UCLA?

Students should concentrate on a few important areas to increase their chances of admission. UCLA searches for applicants with good grades and demanding coursework, thus academic performance is first and foremost important. Enrolling in honors or advanced placement (AP) programs might show that a student is prepared for work at the college level.

Furthermore, applicants can make a lasting impression on the admissions committee by participating in extracurricular activities, taking on leadership responsibilities, and performing community service. It’s also critical to write a strong personal statement that captures one’s interests, experiences, and aspirations for the future. Finally, although UCLA Acceptance rate for freshmen is still low, applying early and studying hard for standardized tests (if applicable) can raise the chances of acceptance.

Does the UCLA Acceptance rate for freshmen differ based on major?

Indeed, the UCLA Acceptance rate for freshmen varies based on their major. Compared to other majors, UCLA Acceptance rate for freshmen, like the School of Engineering, the School of Theater, Film, and Television, and the School of Nursing, are lower and their acceptance rates are more competitive. This is because there are only a few spots available in these extremely specialized programs.

It is advisable for applicants to ascertain the exact acceptance rates of the majors they plan to pursue and make sure their application is customized to emphasize their experiences and areas of strength in that field. Students can plan their application process more effectively if they are aware of how the UCLA freshman acceptance rate varies by major.

What part do scores on standardized tests play in freshmen admissions to UCLA?

Even though UCLA has a test-optional policy, applicants may still use their standardized test results to help them get admitted. An application may benefit from high SAT or ACT scores, especially if the applicant has an impressive academic record. As long as their application shows excellence in other areas, like grades, extracurricular activities, and personal accomplishments, students without standardized test scores are not at a disadvantage because of the test-optional policy.

A comprehensive review process affects the UCLA Acceptance rate for freshmen, with good test scores being just one of many variables taken into account.

Recommended

In comparison to other UC schools, what is UCLA Acceptance rate for freshmen?

UCLA has one of the lowest freshmen admittance rates of any University of California (UC) institution. Comparable acceptance rates are only found at comparably selective universities like UC Berkeley. Some UC institutions are marginally less competitive than others because of their greater acceptance rates, like UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, and UC San Diego. All UC campuses, however, are renowned for their demanding academic curricula and high standards. Since UCLA is one of the best public institutions in the nation, its selective admissions procedure is a reflection of this, therefore prospective students should carefully analyze the UCLA Acceptance rate for freshmen.