UCLA Acceptance Rate

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), renowned for its academic excellence and vibrant campus life, remains one of the most selective public universities in the United States. For the most recent admission cycle (Class of 2028), UCLA reported an overall acceptance rate of approximately 8.8%, reflecting its highly competitive admissions process. This selectivity is driven by a consistently large applicant pool—often exceeding 145,000 applications annually—and the university’s commitment to maintaining a diverse and high-achieving student body. UCLA publishes transparent admission statistics through its official website and the Common Data Set, providing detailed insights into applicant demographics and acceptance trends.

• Overall Acceptance Rate: 8.8% for the Class of 2028, with around 145,900 applicants and approximately 12,800 admitted students, marking a slight decrease from the previous year’s rate of 9.1%.
• Early Action/Decision Rate: Data unavailable for UCLA as it does not offer Early Action or Early Decision options. Admissions are processed in a single regular decision cycle.
• International Student Rate: Approximately 7.5%, based on historical trends, with a growing number of international applicants (over 20,000 annually) and limited spots due to prioritization of in-state students under UC policies.

Over the past decade, UCLA’s acceptance rate has trended downward, dropping from around 16% in 2015 to under 9% in recent years, reflecting increasing competitiveness as application numbers soar. The absence of early decision or action options means all applicants compete in the same pool, intensifying regular decision selectivity. International student admissions are particularly competitive due to UC system policies favoring California residents. Compared to peer institutions like UC Berkeley (with a similar rate of around 11%) or private elites like Stanford (under 5%), UCLA’s selectivity positions it as a top-tier yet slightly more accessible option within the elite university landscape. For the most accurate and updated data, prospective students are encouraged to visit UCLA’s official admissions page at admission.ucla.edu.