For California community college students, transferring is one of the most reliable routes into the University of California. UC’s data for fall 2025 shows that 77% of community college applicants were admitted to at least one campus, up from 73% in 2021. With a strong transfer GPA, even UCLA and Berkeley admit far more transfers, proportionally, than freshmen.
Admit rates by transfer GPA, fall 2025
| Campus | 3.60–4.00 | 3.20–3.59 | 2.80–3.19 | 2.40–2.79 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley | 29% | 14% | 8% | 2% |
| UCLA | 35% | 10% | 2% | — |
| UC Irvine | 57% | 31% | 11% | 1% |
| UC San Diego | 66% | 46% | 31% | 14% |
| UC Davis | 72% | 59% | 32% | 5% |
| UC Santa Barbara | 77% | 59% | 25% | 8% |
| UC Santa Cruz | 79% | 71% | 62% | 48% |
| UC Riverside | 82% | 69% | 59% | 43% |
| UC Merced | 87% | 79% | 66% | 42% |
| Any UC campus | 80% | 71% | 58% | 39% |
What stands out
A 3.6+ opens most doors. Transfers with a 3.60–4.00 GPA were admitted at 29% to Berkeley and 35% to UCLA, compared with freshman admit rates of about 13% and 10%. Every other campus admitted more than half of these applicants.
Below 3.6, the gap between campuses widens. With a 3.20–3.59, UCLA admitted 10% and Berkeley 14%, but Santa Cruz admitted 71% and Merced 79%. Davis and Santa Barbara (both 59%) and UC San Diego (46%) remained realistic.
Several campuses got easier. Between 2021 and 2025, the 3.20–3.59 admit rate rose at Santa Barbara (38% to 59%), UCLA (5% to 10%) and Santa Cruz (61% to 71%). UC San Diego went the other way for top applicants: its 3.60–4.00 admit rate fell from 75% to 66%.
Fewer students are applying. Applications from California community colleges fell from about 40,300 in 2021 to about 36,000 in 2025, which is part of why admit rates rose.
The biggest feeder colleges
| Community college | UC applicants 2025 | Admitted to any UC | UCLA | UC Berkeley | UC San Diego |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Monica College | 2,069 | 78% | 34% | 27% | 66% |
| Pasadena City College | 1,660 | 79% | 30% | 30% | 65% |
| De Anza College | 1,611 | 82% | 22% | 28% | 62% |
| Irvine Valley College | 1,455 | 81% | 31% | 27% | 61% |
| Santa Barbara City College | 1,223 | 81% | 19% | 20% | 55% |
| Diablo Valley College | 1,196 | 83% | 28% | 27% | 68% |
| Mt. San Antonio College | 1,036 | 77% | 34% | 25% | 60% |
| Orange Coast College | 917 | 72% | 23% | 30% | 54% |
At the largest feeder colleges, UCLA and Berkeley admitted between one in five and one in three applicants, and UC San Diego more than half. Every one of these colleges saw at least 72% of its applicants admitted somewhere in the UC.
How to transfer well
- Complete major preparation. Use ASSIST.org to see the exact courses each campus expects for your major. For competitive majors, missing prep can matter more than GPA.
- Use a TAG if you can. Six campuses (Davis, Irvine, Merced, Riverside, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz) offer a Transfer Admission Guarantee. The TAG application is filed September 1–30, the fall before you transfer, so plan for it a year ahead. Berkeley, UCLA and San Diego do not offer TAG.
- Apply on time. The UC transfer application is filed October 1 through November 30, the same window as freshmen.
- Apply to several campuses. Each campus decides separately, and admit rates vary widely at the same GPA.
Look up your college’s five-year numbers on the UC admissions by school page (community colleges are listed at the bottom), or switch the UC chances calculator to transfer mode.
Sources: University of California, UC Information Center, transfer admissions by GPA range and by source school, fall 2021–2025; TAG details from the UC Transfer Admission Guarantee program. ScoreCalc is independent and not affiliated with the University of California.
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