University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles and the most-applied-to university in the United States, drawing more than 146,000 first-year applications for a single class. Admission is extraordinarily selective — about 9% of applicants are offered a place — and as a University of California campus, UCLA is test-free: it does not consider SAT or ACT scores at all. Enrolled first-years carry an average high school GPA near 3.93, and the social sciences, life sciences, and psychology are the most popular fields of study. The figures below come directly from UCLA's official Common Data Set.
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UCLA admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admittedEarly Admissions
UCLA does not offer an Early Decision or Early Action plan; all applicants apply through Regular Decision.
Standardized Tests
UCLA is test-free — SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admissions.
SAT / ACT scores are not used
UCLA does not review SAT or ACT scores for admission, even if you submit them. Applicants are evaluated on GPA, coursework, essays, and activities instead.
Admissions Factors
How UCLA weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from UCLA's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Out-of-state students pay $37,602 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Frequently asked questions about UCLA admissions
Is it hard to get into UCLA?＋
Yes — UCLA is extraordinarily selective, admitting about 9% of applicants in the most recent cycle. It is the most-applied-to university in the United States, drawing roughly 146,000 first-year applications for a single class and enrolling around 6,610 first-years, so even outstanding students face long odds.
What GPA do you need to get into UCLA?＋
Enrolled first-years at UCLA carry an average high school GPA of about 3.93 on a 4.0 scale. There is no published cutoff, but the rigor of your high school record and your academic GPA are weighed as the most important admission factors — which matters even more because UCLA does not consider test scores at all.
Does UCLA require the SAT or ACT?＋
No — UCLA is test-blind and does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions at all, even if you submit them. As a University of California campus, it evaluates applications on your GPA, the rigor of your coursework, your essays, and your activities instead.
Is it harder to get into UCLA out of state?＋
Not exactly — the data show a more nuanced picture. For Fall 2025, California residents were admitted at 9.6% (8,589 admitted out of 89,350 who applied), while domestic non-residents (out-of-state U.S. applicants) were actually admitted at a slightly higher rate of 11.2% (3,544 out of 31,573). International applicants faced the steepest odds at 6.3% (1,526 out of 24,137). So out-of-state domestic applicants are not at a disadvantage relative to California residents — but the overall class remains highly selective at around 9%.
Do the essays matter for UCLA admissions?＋
Yes — UCLA rates the application essay as a very important factor, on par with your GPA and the rigor of your coursework. Because UCLA is test-blind and doesn't accept recommendations, your Personal Insight essays are one of the few places to distinguish yourself, so specific, well-revised responses carry real weight.
How much does UCLA cost in-state vs. out-of-state?＋
Annual tuition and required fees run about $15,701 for California residents and $53,303 for out-of-state and international students. Roughly 44% of first-years receive need-based aid, with an average package near $30,522, and UCLA meets about 85% of demonstrated need on average.
What are the most popular majors at UCLA?＋
The social sciences are the most popular area at about 25% of bachelor's degrees, followed by the life and physical sciences at roughly 18% and psychology at 12%. Engineering and mathematics together make up about 15%, with the liberal arts rounding out the rest of the degrees conferred.
What is UCLA's graduation and retention rate?＋
UCLA retains about 97% of first-year students into their second year and graduates roughly 93% within six years. About 96% of undergraduates live on or near campus, reflecting a residential, full-time student body.
Source: University of California, Los Angeles Common Data Set 2024-2025. Figures transcribed 2026-06-06. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with UCLA. Banner photo by Beyond My Ken, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).