How to Get Into UCLA: Admissions Data and Strategies
October 31, 2025
The historical trajectory of UCLA admissions can best be understood through a once-per-decade peek at the university’s shifting acceptance rates. In 1980, nearly three-quarters of those who applied were accepted, by 1990, this had dropped to the low-40s. However, by 2000, it had fallen to the high 20s, by 2010, the low-20s and now, in 2025, the acceptance rate is below 10%.
Want some even more intimidating stats? In a recent year, among those applicants with a 4.39 or better GPA, just 36% were admitted. Similarly, those that took 22 or more honors/AP classes in high school found success just 27% of the time. Now that UCLA boasts a similar acceptance rate to the likes of Georgetown and Carnegie Mellon and is even more selective than Berkeley, this begs the question, “What is the secret to getting in?”
While there are rarely 鈥渟ecrets鈥� in the world of college admissions, an examination of the available data, demographic info, and recent trends can illuminate the process at a given institution. Toward that aim, this article will provide an overview of聽the following topics:
- UCLA鈥檚 Class of 2029 acceptance rate (plus how to predict your chances with our free admissions calculator)
- SAT/ACT policy at UCLA and GPAs of admitted applicants
- Admissions trends
- The demographics of current UCLA undergraduates
- UCLA鈥檚 yield rate
- How UCLA鈥檚 admissions officers evaluate candidates
- Tips for applying to UCLA
- How to approach the UC Personal Insight essays
- How to assess whether applying to UCLA is even worth the $80 application fee (for you)
UCLA – Admissions Calculator
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Many students applying to UCLA may also find the following “how to get into” blogs to be of interest:
Let鈥檚 begin with an examination of the most recent admissions data.
UCLA: Acceptance Rate 鈥� Class of 2029
For the incoming Class of 2029, UCLA received 145,070 applications. Of these Bruin hopefuls, 13,660 were accepted. This gives UCLA an admit rate of just over 9%. For context, let鈥檚 see how this acceptance rate compares to previous admission cycles:
| Applicants | Admits | Acceptance Rate | |
| Class of 2028 | 146,276 | 13,114 | 9.4% |
| Class of 2027 | 145,910 | 12,737 | 8.7% |
| Class of 2026 | 149,815 | 12,844 | 8.6% |
UCLA Admissions 鈥� SAT/ACT Policy, and GPA
Among the admitted Class of 2029, the mid-50% weighted GPA range was 4.36-4.68. For the enrolled Class of 2028, the average unweighted GPA was 3.93.
In general, despite enjoying a higher acceptance rate, in-state applicants have lower measurables than their out-of-state counterparts.聽 In one recent cycle (when test scores were part of the application process), California residents possessed a mid-50% unweighted GPA of 4.30-4.60, SAT scores of 1250-1500, and ACT composites of 26-34. Out-of-state admits had a GPA range of 4.35-4.80, SATs between 1390 and 1530, and ACTs of 31-34. Admitted students generally took 17 to 25 honors/advanced courses in high school.
As a test-blind institution, UCLA does not consider standardized test scores.
Admissions Trends & Notes
- The most significant note is that all University of California schools remain test-blind.
- In the fall of 2024, 32.1% of new students at UCLA were the first in their family to attend college.
- Furthermore, approximately 30% of the Class of 2028 are from underrepresented backgrounds.
- Around one third of UCLA’s first-year student received Pell grants in 2024.
- African-American and Latinx enrollment has held steady in the past four years.
Who Actually Gets Into UCLA?
Most UCLA students hailed from the Golden State and paid in-state tuition. The total geographic breakdown is as follows:
- California residents: 79%
- Domestic nonresident:: 13%
- International nonresident: 7%
Examining the country of origin for international students, China leads the way, followed by South Korea, India, Canada, and Japan.
Looking at ethnic identity, the breakdown of the Class of 2028 was as follows:
- Asian American: 33.7%
- Hispanic: 24.7%
- African American: 6.9%
- International: 8%
- White: 22.2%
The breakdown by gender of the entire Bruin student body shows far more women than men:
- Male: 40%
- Female: 58.5%
One recent freshman class included students from the following types of high schools
- Los Angeles County Public: 21%
- Other CA Public: 40%
- Los Angeles County Private: 3%
- Other CA Private: 6%
- Outside California (Public/Private): 30%
UCLA鈥檚 Yield Rate
For the Class of 2028, UCLA鈥檚 yield rate鈥攖he percentage of accepted students who elect to enroll, divided by the total number of students who are admitted was 50%. To compare this school to other elite public institutions, UT-Austin has a 46% yield, UNC-Chapel Hill sports a similar 44%, and UGA comes in at 41%.
How UCLA Rates Applicants
There are only three factors that UCLA ranks as being 鈥渧ery important鈥� to their admissions process: rigor of secondary school record, GPA, and application essays. Factors rated as 鈥渋mportant鈥� are: talent/ability, character/personal qualities, extracurricular activities, volunteer experience, and work experience. 鈥淐onsidered鈥� factors are: first-generation status, geographical residence, and state residency.
UCLA, along with all other University of California campuses, dropped all use of standardized testing聽starting with the Class of 2025 (those applying in the 2020-21 admissions cycle). This makes the traditionally holistic review process at UCLA even more pronounced.
In the admissions office鈥檚 own words: 鈥淪election is based on a comprehensive review of all information鈥攂oth academic and personal鈥攑resented in the application. All applications are read twice, in their entirety, by professionally trained readers. After independently reading and analyzing a file, the reader determines a comprehensive score that is the basis upon which the student is ultimately admitted or denied.鈥�
Possessing one of the premier athletic programs in the country, it most definitely helps if you are recruited as an athlete to join one of UCLA鈥檚 25 Division I sports teams. A great number of incoming students are designated as 鈥渞ecruited athletes鈥� each year, including (according to most recent numbers available), 85% of the football team. Recruited athletes possessed GPAs far below the average for the pool of general admits.
Tips for Applying to UCLA
If you plan on joining the 145,000+ Bruin hopefuls for the next admissions cycle, you should know the following:
While a holistic process, UCLA does not offer interviews.
UCLA does not consider 鈥�demonstrated interest鈥� in the admissions process.
Make sure to dedicate sufficient time and effort to the supplemental essays required by UCLA. In the 2025-26 cycle, there were eight total prompts, and applicants must respond to four. Each response is limited to maximum of 350 words.
UC Essays
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.聽
3) What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?聽
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?聽
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?
The best approach here is to select the four prompts that are the best fit for you and elicit the most compelling and personal responses. For detailed advice, visit our blog entitled How to Master the UC Personal Insight Prompts.
Should I Apply to UCLA?
In conclusion, getting into UCLA has never been more of a challenging endeavor, as it now requires near-perfect (or perfect) grades in 20+ honors/AP/IB courses. Even in-state applicants need to have pristine academic transcripts and other compelling attributes. UCLA is an exceptional, world-class institution with a great number of renowned academic programs. Of course, you have to be aware that, ultimately, close to 90% of applicants will be turned away. As such, all students need to make sure that they formulate an appropriate college list, containing a complement of 鈥渢arget鈥� and 鈥渟afety鈥� schools. You鈥檒l definitely want to do this in collaboration with an admissions professional who is aware of the latest trends and strategies associated with your prospective colleges.
Ready to start working on your applications? Consider checking out the following:
