The University of California received a record 735,689 undergraduate applications for fall admission, an increase of nearly 57,000 compared to the previous year, according to figures released Monday.
It’s the 12th straight year the system received a record number of applications. The nine campuses in the 10-campus system that admit undergraduates received 597,591 applications for freshman admission and 138,098 applications from transfer students.
These figures include students who applied to more than one campus. Students typically send applications to two or more universities. Applications were submitted by a total of 206,339 students, also a record high. About one-third of all applicants were out-of-state or international students. UC officials estimate that the system could enroll about 45,000 new freshman and about 20,000 transfer students this fall.
UC, often regarded as the nation’s most prestigious public university system, is planning to increase overall undergraduate enrollment of in-state students by 10,000 over the next three years as part of an effort to improve access to the growing number of college-ready students.
“The increase in applications from Californians will help us reach our goal of adding more undergraduate residents this year and 10,000 over three years,” UC President Janet Napolitano said.
This year, the number of freshman applications from California residents increased by 2.3 percent, from 102,994 last year. But the number of out-of-state freshman applicants increased by 10.2 percent, while the number of international freshmen applicants jumped by 11.3 percent.
Over the past decade, both the UC and the California State University systems have struggled to keep pace with growing demand. CSU reported in December its 23 campuses received a record 831,073 applications for fall admission, an increase of 40,000 compared to the previous year. State budget cuts have hampered each system’s ability to keep up with K-12 schools’ stronger focus on preparing a wider range of students for college and careers, and the overall student population growth in California.
Each year, these systems turn away tens of thousands of qualified applicants. Applicants now need higher GPAs, SAT or ACT scores than they did just 10 years ago in order to win admission as public universities become more selective.
An improved state economy is providing some relief to public higher education as lawmakers continue to gradually increase state funding to allow UC and CSU to hire more faculty and increase services.
UCLA received the most applications for the fall, 119,326, followed by UC San Diego with 102,692 applications and UC Berkeley with 101,655 applications. All nine campuses saw an increase in applicants compared to the previous year.
“We are pleased to yet again attract a talented and diverse applicant pool,” UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep Kholsa said. “Our growing number of applicants every year is testament to UC San Diego’s stellar reputation for having outstanding academic programs, experiential learning opportunities and faculty of the highest caliber.”
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