University of California GPA Ranges: Implications for Admission
- Danielle Mulligan
- Nov 10
- 2 min read
The University of California (UC) system is renowned for academic rigor and highly competitive admissions. The attached chart, using Common Data Set data, illustrates the weighted high school GPA distribution among enrolled freshmen at UC campuses. This breakdown offers valuable insight for prospective applicants.
Campus-by-Campus GPA Distribution
Top UC campuses like Berkeley, UCLA, and Santa Barbara enroll a large majority of students with GPAs in the 4.0 and 3.75–3.99 range. At these campuses, students with GPAs below 3.5 comprise only a small fraction of admits. Mid-selectivity UCs—including Irvine, San Diego, and Davis—show a more balanced split, but still strongly favor higher GPA ranges. Riverside, Santa Cruz, and Merced demonstrate the widest variety of admitted GPAs, with substantial numbers of students in the 3.0–3.74 range and even a visible cohort below 3.0.
What This Means for Applicants
For Berkeley and UCLA, the GPA bar is extremely high: roughly 80–90% of freshmen entered with a GPA of at least 3.75.
For UC Merced, UC Riverside, and UC Santa Cruz, the admitted pool is more academically diverse, making these campuses more accessible for students with GPAs in the 3.0–3.5 range.
More UC Admissions Insights
According to UCOP’s freshman admissions summary for Fall 2024:
The overall admit rate for California residents was about 65%, but topline campuses (Berkeley, UCLA) admitted less than 12% of applicants (source: UCOP 2024 Admissions Summary).
UC campuses remain test-free: SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admissions decisions.
Holistic review is standard: beyond academics, campuses assess leadership, extracurricular involvement, perseverance, and personal background.
Application Volume and Diversity
UC received over 206,000 freshman applications systemwide in Fall 2024, setting new records for total applicants.
The system continues to increase diversity. For fall 2023, nearly 38% of admits were first-generation college students. 34% of California resident admits identified as underrepresented minorities.
Takeaways for Students & Families
The GPA range chart is a strong predictor of competitiveness:
Aim for a weighted GPA above 4.0 for Berkeley/UCLA/UCSB; above 3.7 for most other UCs.
Applicants with GPAs below 3.5 should target Riverside, Santa Cruz, and Merced for greater chances of admission.
Every UC campus employs a holistic review, so personal characteristics and achievements can help offset lower GPAs.
Staying informed about campus-specific trends, and understanding your academic profile in context, is essential for making a strong application strategy to the University of California.
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