UCLA is a school with a single-digit acceptance rate for freshman applicants. However, unlike at other elite universities like Stanford or Harvard, transferring into UCLA is a proposition with fairly reasonable odds. In fact, UCLA admits 5,000-6,000 applicants every year. In further good news, acceptance rates for transfers at UCLA are actually higher than for first-years. The following blog will reveal the UCLA transfer acceptance rates as well other crucial items like the UCLA transfer deadline, the UCLA transfer requirements, and much more.

UCLA Transfer Acceptance Rate

Below we present the most current available UCLA transfer acceptance rate as well as historical data.

In the fall of 2022, there were 5,961 students admitted out of a pool of 24,930 applicants. This means that the UCLA transfer acceptance rate in 2022 was 23.9%.

In the fall of 2021, there were 5,622 transfer applicants and 28,645 individuals were accepted. This means that the UCLA transfer acceptance rate was 19.6%. If we break this down by gender the acceptance rates are as follows:

  • Male applicants: 17%
  • Female applicants: 22%

When trying to get the complete picture on how difficult it is to transfer into UCLA, it is important to also look at historical data. While many schools have wild fluctuations in acceptance rates from cycle to cycle, you can see that UCLA’s have remained stable in recent years.

Historical UCLA transfer rates are as follows:

Year UCLA Transfer Acceptance Rate
2020 24%
2019 23%
2018 24%
2017 26%

 

UCLA Transfer Deadline

For every academic program, the UCLA transfer deadline is November 30. .

The application window opens on August 1, so you can begin completing all materials at that time.

The FAFSA deadline is March 2.

You will also have to submit supplemental applications for many programs within the following schools:

  • School of the Arts and Architecture
  • Herb Alpert School of Music
  • School of Nursing
  • School of Theater, Film and Television

You can find all UCLA supplement deadlines at this link.

UCLA Transfer Requirements

All students must submit to the following items as part of their UCLA application:

In addition to completing the aforementioned items, you’ll need to have achieved/earned the following:

  • Junior-level standing (60 semester or 90 quarter transferable units completed) by the end of the spring term before you transfer.
  • GPA of 3.2 or higher earned in transferable courses (the average GPA is over 3.5)
  • Two transferable courses in English composition or critical thinking and writing.
  • One transferable math course that has a prerequisite of intermediate algebra or higher.
  • Four transferable college courses in at least two of the following subject areas: arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, physical and biological sciences.

We recommend thoroughly reviewing the UC Transfer Admission Guide.

UCLA also has articulation agreements with CA community colleges. Those can all be viewed here.

UCLA Transfer Acceptance by College

UCLA College/School Acceptance Rate
The College 29%
Samueli School of Engineering 11%
School of Theater, Film, & Television 3%
School of the Arts & Architecture 8%
School of Music 14%
School of Nursing 5%

For a more detailed look, you can view acceptance rates by major at all UC campuses.

UCLA Average Transfer GPA

Students admitted as transfers to UCLA in 2022 had a mid-50% GPA range of 3.74-4.00. The median GPA for a successful transfer applicant was 3.90.

Colleges that Send the Most Transfer Students to UCLA:

The colleges that saw the greatest number of 2021 applicants to UCLA were:

  1. Santa Monica College (1,742) – 31% accepted
  2. Pasadena City College (1,011) – 36% accepted
  3. De Anza College (946) – 23% accepted
  4. Diablo Valley College (777) – 28% accepted
  5. Irvine County College (737) – 30% accepted

UCLA Transfer Application Essays

Required UCLA Essay

  1. Please describe how you have prepared for your intended major, including your readiness to succeed in your upper-division courses once you enroll at the university.

Choose 3 of the following 7 questions (in addition to the mandatory prompt above):

  1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.
  2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
  3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
  4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
  5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
  6. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
  7. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

When Do UCLA Transfer Decisions Come Out?

UCLA transfer decisions come out in late April.

Final Thoughts – UCLA Transfer Acceptance Rate

UCLA plucks 93% of their transfer students from California community colleges. An additional 4% come from current University of California students. Only 2% come from non CSU/UC or CA community colleges. A sizable 34% of entering transfers are from underrepresented backgrounds and 43% are first-generation students.

If you are looking for information on how to apply to UCLA as a first year student, you may find the following blogs to be of interest:

Those searching for application info on other institutions may wish to visit our Dataverse pages:

 

Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).