The University of California admitted 102,031 California first-year students for fall 2026, a record, from more than 205,000 applicants. The in-state admit rate rose to 78%. Offers to out-of-state students rose 5.7% and to international students 7.5%, according to the San Francisco Chronicle as reported by EdSource. At UCLA, Californians made up 57% of first-year admits, down from 63%, and the overall admit rate was about 10.8%, per the Daily Bruin. Berkeley admitted 14% fewer Californians than in 2023.
What this means for your student
UC made more room for out-of-state applicants this year, UCLA especially. UC uses its own application and short-answer questions rather than the Common App, so treat it as its own project, not an add-on.
Related reading
Sources: University of California (July 29, 2026); Daily Bruin; EdSource.