UC Rankings: Your Ultimate Guide to UC Schools

About UC Rankings

Whether you are a California native, someone who is interested in permanently moving to California or experiencing a few years of the student lifestyle there, or perhaps someone who is simply impressed by the calibre of the university education available in the state, the University of California school system presents an attractive array of top-rated undergraduate school programs with competitive admissions criteria.

The University of California (UC) school system was first established in 1869, and is now one of the largest university systems in the US. Encompassing 10 separate campuses, the University of California includes some of the highest ranked universities in the world, as well as in the nation—including UC Berkeley, UCLA and UC San Francisco. 

The UC rankings system focuses on pioneering research and innovation and offers over 800 degree programs across all 10 campuses. The latest data revealed that the UC system enrolls approximately 295,573 students, with 233,272 undergraduates and 62,301 graduate students.

UC Rankings

Important note: Although there are 10 schools in the UC system, this blog will focus on UC rankings for undergraduate programs. UC San Francisco is the only UC school that does not offer undergraduate education and only offers graduate and professional programs, so is not included in this list.

How to Choose the Right UC School

Before we discuss how you can apply and increase your chances of acceptance to UC schools, let’s go over some important considerations you must keep in mind.

One Application 

Let’s start with good news – you can apply to all 9 undergraduate UC schools with just one application!

This unified process significantly decreases the stress often associated with filing multiple applications. 

While you may not get into your top-choice school, easily applying to all available schools will increase your acceptance chances. Remember, even if you do not get into your dream school, all UC institutions provide quality education.

In-state vs Out-of-state

The UC system is one of the largest and most renowned public university systems in the world. As publicly funded educational institutions, UC schools aim to protect the educational needs of their taxpayers, i.e., Californians. This is why in-state applicants tend to be favored. In fact, between 80 and 90% of UC matriculants are California residents.

The UC system offers two paths to ensure high-achieving California residents can attend a UC school:

Statewide Guarantee

If you're in the top 9% of California high school graduates based on UC GPA calculations and aren’t admitted to any UC campus you applied to, you’ll be offered a spot at another UC if space is available.

Local Guarantee (ELC)

If you rank in the top 9% of your graduating class at an ELC-participating California high school, this will be considered in your application. ELC students not admitted to their chosen UCs may also be offered a spot at another UC campus with available space, provided they meet minimum application requirements.

California Residency Requirements

To qualify as a California resident for admission purposes, you must meet one of these criteria:

1. Education: Attended a California high school for at least three years (K-12) and will graduate or have graduated from a California high school.
2. Residency: Lived in California for the past 12 months.
3. Parental Residency: Under 18 and your parent or legal guardian resides in California.
4. UC Employment: Your parent, guardian, spouse, or registered domestic partner works for the University of California or a UC-affiliated national lab.

If none of these apply, don’t worry—out-of-state applicants are welcome at all 9 UC campuses. The admissions process is the same, though tuition and criteria differ.

Academic and Personal Fit

Academic Profile

While UC schools no longer require test scores, your GPA is a crucial factor. Aim for a GPA within the competitive range for each school (refer to the UC rankings table). Although grades aren’t everything, they play a key role in the initial screening process due to the high volume of applications.

Research Schools

Before applying, evaluate each school’s mission, values, campus life, and extracurricular opportunities. Your academic and non-academic fit matters since you’ll spend 4 years there.

Application Strategy

Highlight experiences and skills valued by your target schools in components like Activities & Awards and Personal Insight. Show how your background aligns with their priorities.

Tuition Costs: In-State vs. Out-of-State

Tuition differs significantly based on residency:

California residents benefit from government subsidies, making tuition more affordable, however, out-of-state students pay higher tuition…but face equal costs for other expenses.

On average, California residents should expect to spend around $40,000 annually (with all costs combined), and out-of-state students will likely spend north of $70,000.

Here’s a breakdown of costs based on data from the UC website:

• Tuition & Fees: $14,934 (flat rate under the Tuition Stability Plan for up to six years for incoming students).
• Books and Supplies: $1,400.
• Health Insurance: $3,500 (required, but can be waived with proof of coverage).
• Room and Board: $20,500 (varies by campus and housing type, of course).
• Personal/Transportation Expenses: $4,600 (depending on lifestyle and commuting needs).

Note: Out-of-state students pay an additional Non-resident Supplemental Tuition fee of $34,200.

Keep in mind the following:

UC Application Requirements

There are some slight discrepancies between application requirements for residents and non-residents of California. Let’s review what you need to know to prepare and submit a successful UC application.

Subject Requirements

To start, you need to know what kind of educational background you must have to qualify as a UC applicant. You must complete 15 full year high school courses and earn at least a C (preferably better) in each course, with at least 11 of these courses completed before your last year of high school.

It is also possible to meet this requirement by completing college courses, earning certain scores on subject SATs, or completing Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exams.

Here are the subjects and UC-approved courses you are expected to complete before matriculation:

Important note: If you are a California resident, you can check out if the courses you plan to take or have already taken are approved by UC. But as you can see from our description, none of the subjects have specifically approved courses. This is done on purpose, as giving general guidelines for courses is helpful to both in-state and out-of-state applicants.

GPA Requirement

• California Residents: Minimum 3.0 GPA to apply.
• Non-Residents: Minimum 3.4 GPA to be considered.

How to Calculate Your UC GPA:

Step One: Assign grade points for each A-G course completed between the summer after 9th grade and the summer after 11th grade:

• A = 4 points
• B = 3 points
• C = 2 points
• D = 1 point

Note: Pluses and minuses are not counted.

Step Two: Honors Points:

• California Residents: Add extra points for UC-approved honors-level courses (up to 8 semesters in grades 10 and 11).
• Non-Residents: Add extra points for AP, IB, or college courses only (UC does not recognize out-of-state honors courses).

Step Three: Add all grade points and divide the total by the number of grades earned in the specified courses. This is your UC GPA (no rounding up or down).

Want to learn more about UC rankings? Check out our video:

Exam Requirement

The SAT and ACT are no longer required of applicants to UC schools. In recent years, all 9 schools in the UC system have dropped this requirement, so SAT and ACT scores will not be considered in the applicant selection process. However, if you choose to submit these scores, they may be used to determine your eligibility for the “statewide guarantee” or as a method of completing one or several of the required courses. 

UC Application Process and Tips for How to Get Accepted

To begin your application, you will create an account using your personal email that you check regularly. As with any college application, you will be able to identify the term you are applying for and your applicant level, i.e., freshman, transfer, etc.

Now let’s go over each section of the UC application.

About You

The application begins with a section titled "About you" where you will fill out several pages of information about you and your family. You will likely need the help of your parents or guardians to fill out this information.

Important to note: While you are filling out your application, don’t forget to “Save and continue” at the bottom of each page to save the entered information. Keep in mind that there is a 20-minute inactivity period after which you will be automatically signed out.

Campuses and Majors

You will select which of the UC campuses and majors you’re applying to. If you have not settled on a major, you can choose “Undecided” or “Undeclared.”

Academic History

To fill out this section of the application correctly, you will need your transcripts. Do not enter your course history and grades from memory – you must enter accurate information about all your schools, courses, and grades as they appear on the official transcripts. 

Test Scores

As we already mentioned, neither the SAT or ACT are requirements; however, if you’ve taken these tests, adding the scores will not hurt your chances of admission – it could strengthen it!

Activities and Awards

In this section, you will enter all the extracurricular activities and achievements outside of school you are most proud of. Whether you volunteered at the humane society, gave a persuasive speech at a high school colloquium, or participated in a summer program for high school students, all activities will be entered into one of the following categories:

• Award or honor
• Educational preparation programs (any programs that have enriched your academic experience or have helped you prepare for college)
• Extracurricular activity
• Other coursework (courses that are not part of the UC admission requirements)
• Volunteer/community service
• Work experience

TIP: It is important to remember that quality always trumps quantity. You are allowed to provide up to five entries for each category, so do not simply list every single course you have taken in your high school career or include a volunteer activity you had briefly, or many years ago. If you have a high school resume or CV, it might be helpful to reference this document for the history of your activities and how long they lasted.

As you can see in our UC rankings, all nine of these schools are incredibly competitive. This means that you must be strategic in choosing the activities and experiences that emphasize your strengths and unique characteristics. You will have the space of 350 characters to describe each activity.

One of the core values of all UC schools is diversity. And while diversity can be considered in its most commonly used sense, i.e., ethnicity, race, gender, sexuality, immigration status, etc., it is not limited by these traditional categories. Think of this application section as a chance to demonstrate what kind of experiences and skills you can bring to the incoming class. 

Scholarships and Programs

You are encouraged to select any and all scholarship categories that you are eligible for, as there is no limit on how many scholarships you can select.

You may also indicate whether you are interested in the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), which provides academic support services for students at UC. These services include mentorships, academic programs financial assistance, and counseling to first-generation college students, and students from low-income and educationally disadvantaged backgrounds. To be considered for EOP, you will need to fill out your parents' level of education, family size, and household income later in the application. It might be a good idea to have your family members nearly when you fill out this section, as they can provide the most accurate information about this.

Personal Insight

While UC schools do not require traditional college admissions essays, this section of the application is not unlike them. You will be presented with 8 prompts and choose only 4 of them to respond to. Each response is limited to 350 words. The 8 prompts are:

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 artistic, 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. Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
8. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

College essays are intimidating but believe us that these essays are truly not designed to trip you up. Instead, they are your chance to present yourself in a favorable light. The admissions committees want to learn more about you, including your skills, experiences, accomplishments, and challenges. Be sure to start early, take your time, and ask for feedback to ensure your essay is as strong as it can be!

Review and Submit

You are almost done with your application! Review your application and make sure all the sections are complete.

As you submit your application, you will be asked to confirm your academic information and whether you’d like to share it with scholarship agencies, counsellors, etc. This is where you will also pay your application fees using either a check/mail or credit card. You will pay US$80 to apply to one UC campus (or US$95 for out-of-state applicants). If you apply to more than one campus, you will pay US$80 for each additional campus selected. The application will calculate your application fee automatically. You can also apply for a fee waiver if you did not qualify for one while you were filling out the application.

Once you apply, you will receive a confirmation to your email with your UC application ID number, which is used to access various student portals and the admission decisions!

UC Application Timeline in 2025

July 1: Winter/spring application opens for Merced, Riverside, and Santa Cruz.

August 1: Fall application opens for the following year.

November 1–30: Fall admission application period for all UC campuses (Merced, Riverside, and Santa Cruz extended to December/January).

March 1–31: Fall admission decisions are released.

May 1: Deadline for admitted freshmen to submit Statement of Intent to Register (SIR).

July 1: Official transcripts due for fall admits.

July 15: Official AP/IB test scores due.

For FAFSA and Cal Grant submissions, the filing period starts October 1 and closes March 2 for all applicants.

FAQs

To your success,

Your friends at BeMo

BeMo Academic Consulting

Disclaimer: BeMo does not endorse or affiliate with any universities, colleges, or official test administrators. The content has been developed based on the most recent publicly available data provided from the official university website. However, you should always check the statistics/requirements with the official school website for the most up to date information. You are responsible for your own results.