UC Berkeley admitted freshmen posted an average unweighted GPA of 3.90. UCLA reported a 9 percent acceptance rate alongside a 4.36 weighted GPA average among its admits. These benchmarks anchor the admission statistics for every campus in the system.
Key Takeaways
- Average unweighted GPA of UC Berkeley admitted freshmen was 3.90 for fall 2023
- Average weighted GPA of UCLA admitted freshmen was 4.36 for fall 2023
- UC San Diego admitted freshmen middle 50% SAT: 1370-1520 for fall 2023
- UC Berkeley freshman acceptance rate for fall 2023 was 11.6%
- UCLA freshman acceptance rate for fall 2023 was 9.0%
- UC San Diego freshman acceptance rate for fall 2023 was 24.7%
- UC Berkeley received 128,199 freshman applications for fall 2023
- UCLA received 145,098 freshman applications for fall 2023
- UC San Diego received 117,777 freshman applications for fall 2023
- Freshman applications to UC system increased 2.3% for fall 2023 over 2022
- California resident freshman apps to UC up 1.3% for fall 2023
- Out-of-state freshman apps to UC increased 7.5% for fall 2023
- UC Berkeley enrolled 6,951 freshmen in fall 2023
- UCLA enrolled 8,951 freshmen in fall 2023
- UC San Diego enrolled 8,206 freshmen in fall 2023
For fall 2023, UC admits combined selective acceptance rates with strong GPAs and test ranges.
Related reading
01 · Category
Academic Profiles26 stats
01
Average unweighted GPA of UC Berkeley admitted freshmen was 3.90 for fall 2023
02
Average weighted GPA of UCLA admitted freshmen was 4.36 for fall 2023
03
UC San Diego admitted freshmen middle 50% SAT: 1370-1520 for fall 2023
04
UC Santa Barbara admitted freshmen average ACT: 29 for fall 2023
05
UC Irvine admitted freshmen: 99% in top 10% of high school class for fall 2023
06
UC Davis admitted freshmen average GPA: 4.13 weighted for fall 2023
07
UC Santa Cruz admitted freshmen middle 50% SAT: 1230-1450 for fall 2023
08
UC Riverside admitted freshmen: 95% high school GPA above 3.5 for fall 2023
09
UC Merced admitted freshmen average unweighted GPA: 3.73 for fall 2023
10
UC Berkeley freshmen: 95% took 4+ AP/IB courses for fall 2023
11
UCLA freshmen: average 15.5 AP exams taken by admits for fall 2023
12
UC system freshmen: 82% met A-G requirements with C or better for fall 2023
13
UC San Diego transfer admits average GPA: 3.43 for fall 2023
14
UC Berkeley avg unweighted GPA admits 3.87 fall 2022
15
UCLA avg weighted GPA 4.35 fall 2022
16
UCSD SAT middle 50% 1360-1510 fall 2022
17
UCSB avg ACT 28 fall 2022
18
UCI 98% top 10% HS class fall 2022
19
UCD avg weighted GPA 4.10 fall 2022
20
UCSC SAT middle 50% 1220-1440 fall 2022
21
UCR 94% GPA >3.5 fall 2022
22
UCM avg unweighted GPA 3.70 fall 2022
23
UC Berkeley 94% 4+ AP/IB fall 2022
24
UCLA avg 15 AP exams fall 2022
25
UC system 81% A-G C+ fall 2022
26
UCSD transfer avg GPA 3.40 fall 2022
Interpretation
Academic Profiles Interpretation
The UC admissions statistics reveal a system-wide academic arms race where nearly perfect grades, a punishing AP/IB load, and top standardized test scores are now the standard entry fee, quietly raising the bar for what constitutes a "qualified" public university applicant.
02 · Category
Acceptance Rates27 stats
01
UC Berkeley freshman acceptance rate for fall 2023 was 11.6%
02
UCLA freshman acceptance rate for fall 2023 was 9.0%
03
UC San Diego freshman acceptance rate for fall 2023 was 24.7%
04
UC Santa Barbara freshman acceptance rate for fall 2023 was 26.7%
05
UC Irvine freshman acceptance rate for fall 2023 was 20.4%
06
UC Davis freshman acceptance rate for fall 2023 was 37.1%
07
UC Santa Cruz freshman acceptance rate for fall 2023 was 47.1%
08
UC Riverside freshman acceptance rate for fall 2023 was 68.6%
09
UC Merced freshman acceptance rate for fall 2023 was 89.1%
10
UC system-wide freshman acceptance rate for fall 2023 was 28.9%
11
UC Berkeley transfer acceptance rate for fall 2023 was 22.4%
12
UCLA transfer acceptance rate for fall 2023 was 24.1%
13
UC San Diego transfer acceptance rate for fall 2023 was 56.6%
14
UC system-wide transfer acceptance rate for fall 2023 was 59.7%
15
UC Davis transfer acceptance rate for fall 2023 was 55.3%
16
UC Berkeley acceptance rate for fall 2022 was 14.8%
17
UCLA acceptance rate for fall 2022 was 8.8%
18
UC San Diego acceptance rate for fall 2022 was 24.0%
19
UC Santa Barbara acceptance rate for fall 2022 was 29.4%
20
UC Irvine acceptance rate for fall 2022 was 21.0%
21
UC Davis acceptance rate for fall 2022 was 37.0%
22
UC Santa Cruz acceptance rate for fall 2022 was 51.3%
23
UC Riverside acceptance rate for fall 2022 was 65.5%
24
UC Merced acceptance rate for fall 2022 was 85.4%
25
UC system-wide acceptance rate fall 2022 was 31.5%
26
UC Berkeley transfer acceptance fall 2022: 25.4%
27
UCLA transfer acceptance fall 2022: 22.0%
Interpretation
Acceptance Rates Interpretation
While getting into UC Berkeley or UCLA as a freshman is akin to winning a very academic lottery, the path via community college transfer is a far saner, statistically proven strategy to beat the odds.
03 · Category
Applicant Pool26 stats
01
UC Berkeley received 128,199 freshman applications for fall 2023
02
UCLA received 145,098 freshman applications for fall 2023
03
UC San Diego received 117,777 freshman applications for fall 2023
04
UC Santa Barbara received 111,106 freshman applications for fall 2023
05
UC Irvine received 119,703 freshman applications for fall 2023
06
UC Davis received 83,739 freshman applications for fall 2023
07
UC Santa Cruz received 67,706 freshman applications for fall 2023
08
UC Riverside received 49,271 freshman applications for fall 2023
09
UC Merced received 28,450 freshman applications for fall 2023
10
UC system received 194,541 California resident freshman applications for fall 2023
11
UC Berkeley received 25,500 transfer applications for fall 2023
12
UCLA received 29,800 transfer applications for fall 2023
13
Out-of-state applicants to UC system increased by 5.2% for fall 2023
14
International freshman applicants to UC Berkeley numbered 14,200 for fall 2023
15
UC Berkeley received 124,000 freshman apps for fall 2022
16
UCLA received 139,000 freshman apps for fall 2022
17
UC San Diego 112,000 freshman apps fall 2022
18
UC Santa Barbara 106,000 freshman apps fall 2022
19
UC Irvine 114,000 freshman apps fall 2022
20
UC Davis 78,000 freshman apps fall 2022
21
UC Santa Cruz 64,000 freshman apps fall 2022
22
UC Riverside 46,000 freshman apps fall 2022
23
UC Merced 25,000 freshman apps fall 2022
24
UC system CA resident freshman apps: 189,000 for fall 2022
25
UC Berkeley 24,000 transfer apps fall 2022
26
UCLA 28,000 transfer apps fall 2022
Interpretation
Applicant Pool Interpretation
Interpreting these numbers, one might conclude that getting into a UC has become less of an academic achievement and more of a high-stakes demographic lottery, with odds that would make a casino blush.
More related reading
04 · Category
Application Trends10 stats
01
Freshman applications to UC system increased 2.3% for fall 2023 over 2022
02
California resident freshman apps to UC up 1.3% for fall 2023
03
Out-of-state freshman apps to UC increased 7.5% for fall 2023
04
Transfer applications to UC system rose 4.1% for fall 2023
05
CCC transfer apps to UC steady at 70,000+ for fall 2023
06
Test-blind policy continued for all UC freshman apps in 2023 cycle
07
UC PIQs (Personal Insight Questions) required for all apps since 2017, 2023 saw 100% submission rate
08
Early apps or ED not offered; all regular decision for UC 2023
09
UC Merced apps doubled since 2013, up 10% in 2023
10
International apps to UC up 3% for fall 2023
Interpretation
Application Trends Interpretation
Amidst the predictable, steady loyalty of Californians, the surging interest from out-of-state and international students suggests the UC system is increasingly seen not just as a golden state perk, but as a global academic gold rush.
05 · Category
Campus-Specific12 stats
01
UC Berkeley enrolled 6,951 freshmen in fall 2023
02
UCLA enrolled 8,951 freshmen in fall 2023
03
UC San Diego enrolled 8,206 freshmen in fall 2023
04
UC Santa Barbara enrolled 5,800 freshmen in fall 2023
05
UC Irvine enrolled 6,884 freshmen in fall 2023
06
UC Davis enrolled 6,987 freshmen in fall 2023
07
UC Santa Cruz enrolled 4,144 freshmen in fall 2023
08
UC Riverside enrolled 6,269 freshmen in fall 2023
09
UC Merced enrolled 2,020 freshmen in fall 2023
10
UC Berkeley yield rate for freshmen: 47% in fall 2023
11
UCLA transfer enrollment: 3,800 students in fall 2023
12
UC San Diego out-of-state freshmen: 18% in fall 2023
Interpretation
Campus-Specific Interpretation
While UCLA may have welcomed the largest freshman class, Berkeley's 47% yield rate proves the most coveted students often face the toughest choice between the UC giants.
06 · Category
Demographics28 stats
01
UC system freshman applicants identifying as first-generation college students: 42% in fall 2023
02
UC Berkeley freshman class: 47% female in fall 2023
03
UCLA freshman class: 53% Asian American students in fall 2023
04
UC San Diego freshman class: 43% underrepresented minorities in fall 2023
05
UC Santa Barbara freshman class: 28% Hispanic/Latino students in fall 2023
06
UC Irvine freshman class: 41% Asian students in fall 2023
07
UC Davis freshman class: 32% White students in fall 2023
08
UC Santa Cruz freshman class: 5% Black/African American students in fall 2023
09
UC Riverside freshman class: 47% Hispanic/Latino students in fall 2023
10
UC Merced freshman class: 52% underrepresented minorities in fall 2023
11
UC system freshmen: 37% Pell Grant eligible in fall 2023
12
UC Berkeley freshmen: 17% first-generation in fall 2023
13
UCLA transfer students: 58% from California community colleges in fall 2023
14
UC San Diego freshmen: 30% low-income students in fall 2023
15
First-gen UC system freshmen: 41% fall 2022
16
UC Berkeley freshmen 48% female fall 2022
17
UCLA freshmen 52% Asian fall 2022
18
UCSD freshmen 42% URM fall 2022
19
UCSB freshmen 27% Latino fall 2022
20
UCI freshmen 40% Asian fall 2022
21
UCD freshmen 33% White fall 2022
22
UCSC freshmen 6% Black fall 2022
23
UCR freshmen 46% Latino fall 2022
24
UCM freshmen 51% URM fall 2022
25
UC system 36% Pell eligible freshmen fall 2022
26
UC Berkeley 18% first-gen freshmen fall 2022
27
UCLA transfers 59% from CCC fall 2022
28
UCSD 29% low-income freshmen fall 2022
Interpretation
Demographics Interpretation
These figures reveal a UC system striving for broad representation, yet they also lay bare the stubborn, uneven geography of opportunity where a student's background still too often maps to their campus destination.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Emilia Santos. (2026, February 13). Uc Admission Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/uc-admission-statistics
MLA
Emilia Santos. "Uc Admission Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/uc-admission-statistics.
Chicago
Emilia Santos. 2026. "Uc Admission Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/uc-admission-statistics.