The University of California (UC) and the California State University (CSU) system schools are some of the most coveted universities to attend in all of California. College-bound California students are lucky to have the ability to attend world-class universities at in-state prices. However, these schools can be incredibly competitive, making it difficult for students in their home states to access education in their backyards. If you’re a student searching for a UC or CSU school in the coming years, this might lead you to the question: What are the easiest and hardest UC and CSU schools to get into?
In this article, we’ll give you a ranking of all of the University of California schools and some of the hardest and easiest CSU schools. We’ll also provide other pertinent information to help you decide which school is the best fit for you. A word of caution: no list can tell you which college or university is the best for you. As the University of California writes, “Use it as a general guide to selectivity and not as a predictor of your chance for admission.” The same holds true for the CSU campuses listed.
So, while the data is reflective of a statistical overview of each school, do note that there are always people who are rejected every year who fit the statistical overview and students who are accepted every year who we might otherwise think of as outliers. If you’re looking for help deciding what college is best for you, you might consider reaching out to one of our college advisors.
With that being said, let’s start with the easiest UC schools to get into.
Easiest UC Schools to Get Into
Below is a list of the four easiest UC schools to get into. All of these schools have acceptance rates above 40%, and three of them now accept more than 70% of applicants following systemwide acceptance increases for the Fall 2025 cycle. At the same time, just because these schools have a high acceptance rate doesn’t mean they don’t provide a great educational experience.
1) Merced
Applicants: ~56,200
Admits: ~54,900
Overall Acceptance Rate: 97.7%
Median GPA (middle 25%-75% of applicants): 3.44-4.06
At UC Merced, one out of four students major in engineering. Another 20% major in psychology. Biology and biomedical sciences claim another 17% of the student body, with social sciences and business rounding out the top five. Perhaps unsurprisingly, UC Merced’s high acceptance rate means it’s one of the top-ranked schools in the country for advancing social mobility. Fall 2025 applications surged with a 76% increase from California residents, and the campus admitted roughly 70% more in-state students than the year before.
2) Riverside
Applicants: ~62,600
Admits: ~54,700
Overall Acceptance Rate: 87.4%
Median GPA (middle 25%-75% of applicants): 3.66-4.15
About 40% of students at UC Riverside major in either social sciences or biological and biomedical sciences. Another 14% or so major in business with psychology and engineering claiming 10% and 7% respectively. Like UC Merced, UC Riverside is a bastion of social mobility, and the acceptance rate climbed from 77% in 2024 to 87% in 2025, driven by a 46% increase in admits for California residents.
3) Santa Cruz
Applicants: ~66,200
Admits: ~48,300
Overall Acceptance Rate: 72.9%
Median GPA (middle 25%-75% of applicants): 3.88-4.23
Given its picturesque campus, it’s understandable why UC Santa Cruz draws so many applicants. When they’re not gazing at redwoods, around 11% of banana slugs study computer science, 10% major in psychology, and 6% pursue a business degree. The Santa Cruz acceptance rate rose from 65% in 2024 to nearly 73% in 2025.
4) Davis
Applicants: ~103,200
Admits: ~46,000
Overall Acceptance Rate: 44.6%
Median GPA (middle 25%-75% of applicants): 4.03-4.27
With a 44.6% acceptance rate, UC Davis is either the most selective of the “easiest UC schools” or the least selective of the “hardest UC schools.” What’s beyond doubt is the quality of a UC Davis education. Ranked first in the nation for biological/agricultural engineering, it’s also ranked #1 in the nation for veterinary medicine. UC Davis also ranks high on diversity, inclusiveness, and internationalization. Of note, non-residents have a particular advantage here: out-of-state applicants saw a 63% admit rate in Fall 2025.
Hardest UC Schools to Get Into
Now that we’ve presented the easiest UCs to get into, it’s time for the other end of the spectrum: the hardest UCs to get into. Each of the following five schools receives well over 100,000 applicants per year, and none of them accept more than 40%.
1) UCLA
Applicants: ~145,900
Admits: ~13,700
Overall Acceptance Rate: 9.4%
Median GPA (middle 25%-75% of applicants): 4.20-4.30
It should come as no surprise that UCLA tops the list. Situated in the bustling metropolis of Los Angeles, UCLA is known for its rigorous admissions standards. The 9.4% Fall 2025 overall rate masks even more brutal numbers at the major level. At the same time, you might be surprised to note that the most selective major for the fall 2024 class was nursing, with an acceptance rate of only 0.9 percent. That’s lower than film and television, which had a 1.1% acceptance rate; design and media arts, which had a 3.2% acceptance rate; and computer science, which had a 4.1% acceptance rate.
Interested in applying to UCLA? Check out our handy guide: How to Get Into UCLA.
2) Berkeley
Applicants: ~126,800
Admits: ~14,500
Overall Acceptance Rate: 11.4%
Median GPA (middle 25%-75% of applicants): 4.15-4.29
Ranked the #2 best public school in the nation, UC Berkeley combines rigorous academics with a picturesque campus and a one-of-a-kind student vibe. Nearly 10% of the more than 100,000 applicants to UC Berkeley apply to study computer science, but with only a 4% acceptance rate, your chances aren’t great. Public health, engineering, architecture, and social sciences are a bit easier to get into, but all have acceptance rates under 10%. The Fall 2025 cycle saw out-of-state acceptances increase nearly 43% and international acceptances nearly double.
Thinking about UC Berkeley? Here are some tips: How to Get Into UC Berkeley.
3) San Diego
Applicants: ~135,800
Admits: ~38,600
Overall Acceptance Rate: 28.4%
Median GPA (middle 25%-75% of applicants): 4.10-4.28
All UCSD students are organized into one of the residential colleges on campus, based on preference and ranking. If you choose a “Selective Major” but are out-ranked by other students and the cap on the major is met, you will be sorted into your second or third choice major. UCSD recommends choosing a “Non-Selective” major as your backup option.
UCSD’s selective majors include:
- Data Science
- Public Health
- Bioengineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Computer Science and Engineering
- Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
4) Irvine
Applicants: ~123,400
Admits: ~35,400
Overall Acceptance Rate: 28.7%
Median GPA (middle 25%-75% of applicants): 4.04-4.27
If you’ve got your sights set on a UC school but aren’t sure about your ability to get in, consider UC Irvine. High-performing community college students are automatically accepted into UC Irvine through the state’s Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program if they meet the eligibility requirements. The most popular majors are social sciences, psychology, engineering, and business.
If you’re interested in UC Irvine, check out How to Get Into UC Irvine for info and tips.
5) Santa Barbara
Applicants: ~109,600
Admits: ~42,000
Overall Acceptance Rate: 38.3%
Median GPA (middle 25%-75% of applicants): 4.13-4.29
UC Santa Barbara is an outstanding school, ranked as one of the top public universities in the nation. The most popular majors are social sciences, biological and biomedical sciences, mathematics and statistics, psychology, and communications. The acceptance rate jumped from 33% in 2024 to 38% in 2025, driven largely by significant increases in non-resident admits: out-of-state rose from 38.5% to 54.8%, and international rose from 30.4% to 48.1%.
Applying to UC Santa Barbara? Check out this link for useful guidance: How to Get Into UC Santa Barbara.
Hardest CSU to Get Into
Generally speaking, California State University schools tend to be easier to get into than the University of California schools. So if you’re looking for the easiest UCs to get into, you might consider applying to one or two CSU schools as well.
For one thing, there are many more CSU campuses than there are UC campuses. That means that there are more options for you to consider when thinking about your odds of acceptance. Perhaps unsurprisingly, only three California State schools have acceptance rates below 50%; most accept upwards of 80%. Adding some of these “easier” campuses to your list of colleges could help you feel more secure in your chances of attending a college in California.
1) Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Applicants: 81,899
Admits: 22,531
Overall Acceptance Rate: 27.5%
Yield Rate: ~24%
As the most selective CSU school, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo offers a world-class education. Given this, it’s not surprising that it had an admit rate of just over 27% for the Fall 2025 cycle, with applications topping 80,000 for the first time. The major acceptance rates are even more competitive: psychology accepted only about 2% of applicants, biological sciences about 3%, and aerospace engineering about 3.5%. If you’re unsure about your competitiveness, consider applying to a less selective major. (Interestingly, San Luis Obispo disbanded its home economics major in 1993; nonetheless, hundreds of students still apply each year as home economics majors.)
Interested in Cal Poly? Get the lay of the land with our handy application guide: How to Get Into Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
2) San Diego State
Applicants: 94,935
Admits: 35,297
Overall Acceptance Rate: 37.2%
Yield Rate: ~20%
San Diego State is typically thought of as a tougher CSU school to get into, and with good reason. In the Fall 2025 cycle, the admission rate was just over 37%. It falls just behind San Luis Obispo in selectivity. Worth noting: out-of-state admission has historically been substantially easier at SDSU than for California residents, with non-resident admit rates exceeding 80% in recent years. The health professions major is the toughest to get into, with biological science, psychology, and architecture and environmental design a bit farther behind (though still very popular).
If you’re thinking about San Diego State, check out this guide: How to Get Into San Diego State.
3) Cal State Long Beach
Applicants: ~120,000
Admits: ~55,800
Overall Acceptance Rate: ~46.5%
Yield Rate: ~24%
Though Cal State Long Beach has admitted over 50,000 students for the past few years, its yield rate has been trending downward, resulting in a stable enrollment of about 13,000 students per year. Recent application cycles have seen over 18,000 students apply as business majors, of which roughly 41% are accepted. Other popular majors include psychology, computer and information sciences, and the ever-popular “undeclared.”
Easiest CSU Schools to Get Into
As mentioned above, many of the CSU schools have acceptance rates near 90%. While some might bemoan a lack of selectivity, one should praise the CSU system for its accessibility and commitment to education for all. To be fair, some of the easiest UCs to get into now have acceptance rates on par with, or even higher than, the more selective CSUs.
1) Cal State Monterey Bay
Applicants: ~21,300
Admits: ~20,200
Overall Acceptance Rate: ~95%
Yield Rate: ~16%
While some might turn up their noses at Monterey Bay’s acceptance rate, you can’t ignore the fact that it’s ranked #1 for social mobility among regional universities in the West. Unsurprisingly, about 50% of its student population are first-generation students. Popular majors include business, psychology, and interdisciplinary studies.
2) Sacramento State
Applicants: ~44,500
Admits: ~40,500
Overall Acceptance Rate: ~91%
Yield Rate: ~25%
As the sixth largest of the 23 California State schools, Sacramento State has something for everybody. Not only is it an R2 research institution, but it’s also the 2nd most diverse campus in the West. Majors with higher-than-average yield rates include mathematics, communications, and education.
3) Cal Poly Humboldt
Applicants: ~22,800
Admits: ~20,700
Overall Acceptance Rate: ~91%
Yield Rate: ~11%
Though Cal Poly Humboldt has a high admission rate, its low yield rate means an average enrollment of about 2,000 first-years. If you want to go to a Cal Poly but are unsure about your level of competitiveness, add Humboldt to your list. Popular majors include biological sciences, engineering, and psychology.
4) Stanislaus State
Applicants: ~10,400
Admits: ~9,400
Overall Acceptance Rate: ~90%
Yield Rate: ~34%
Located just south of Modesto, CA, “Stan State” ranks high for social mobility and affordability. It’s also important to note Stanislaus’ relatively high yield rate, which indicates that the students accepted to Stan State end up enrolling at Stan State. (By contrast, San Luis Obispo’s yield rate hovers around 24%.)
5) Sonoma State
Applicants: ~16,400
Admits: ~14,600
Overall Acceptance Rate: ~89%
Yield Rate: ~14%
A smaller school, Sonoma State enrolls about 2,000 students per year. That being said, Sonoma State positions itself as a school dedicated to social mobility, diversity, sustainability, and affordability. The majors with the highest yield rates include the health professions, interdisciplinary studies, and psychology.
Other CSU Schools
There are still more CSU schools to check out. Here are the rest of the campuses and their respective acceptance rates. One of these schools might be the perfect fit for your specific admissions profile.
- CSU Bakersfield (~84%)
- CSU Channel Islands (~88%)
- CSU Chico (~87%)
- CSU Dominguez Hills (~89%)
- CSU East Bay (~79%)
- CSU Fullerton (~84%)
- CSU Los Angeles (~85%)
- Cal Maritime (~82%)
- CSUN (Cal State Northridge) (~81%)
- Cal State San Bernardino (~87%)
- San Francisco State (~84%)
- San José State (~76%)
- CSU San Marcos (~80%)
Final Thoughts
If you’re interested in getting your undergraduate degree in California, knowing the easiest UC to get into can be helpful. With UC systemwide acceptance rates rising in the most recent cycle to 73% overall (driven by both California resident prioritization and expanded non-resident admits), the landscape for in-state students has shifted favorably at several campuses. At the same time, don’t be afraid to cast a wide net as you apply. Be bold!
