Samueli Academy: UC admissions

Santa Ana · Orange CountyPublic high school

This page shows how students from Samueli Academy did when they applied to the University of California. It is not the admission rate for getting into Samueli Academy itself.

In fall 2025, 48 students from Samueli Academy applied to the University of California and 41 (85%) were admitted to at least one campus. The most popular choice was UC Irvine with 39 applicants. The hardest campus to get into was UC Los Angeles (4 of 33 admitted, 12%), and the easiest was UC Merced (94%). Admitted students had an average UC GPA (weighted, capped) of 3.96.

What stands out

Its rate of admission to at least one UC campus (85%) was 9 points above the Orange County average (76%). Compared with all applicants, its students did better at UC Irvine and UC San Diego and worse at UC Santa Barbara.

Fall 2025 results by campus

CampusAppliedAdmittedAdmit rateAll applicants’ rateEnrolledAvg GPA appliedAvg GPA admitted
Any UC campus484185%—193.913.96
UC Berkeley18317%11%—3.95—
UC Davis161169%44%—3.974.12
UC Irvine391538%29%83.924.14
UC Los Angeles33412%9%—4.01—
UC Merced181794%94%—3.923.96
UC Riverside272489%87%33.863.96
UC San Diego351646%28%—3.924.20
UC Santa Barbara21629%38%—3.854.24
UC Santa Cruz181372%72%—3.894.07

“All applicants’ rate” is the campus admit rate across all freshman applicants that year, including out-of-state and international.

Five-year trend

Campus20212022202320242025
Any UC campus56% (24/43)49% (25/51)49% (17/35)85% (46/54)85% (41/48)
UC Berkeley— (—/15)15% (3/20)— (—/17)12% (3/25)17% (3/18)
UC Davis— (—/6)42% (5/12)44% (4/9)38% (5/13)69% (11/16)
UC Irvine— (—/35)— (—/43)19% (6/32)27% (13/49)38% (15/39)
UC Los Angeles— (—/26)— (—/31)17% (4/23)14% (5/35)12% (4/33)
UC Merced71% (5/7)80% (8/10)—91% (10/11)94% (17/18)
UC Riverside32% (6/19)32% (9/28)60% (6/10)71% (17/24)89% (24/27)
UC San Diego43% (10/23)15% (4/26)17% (3/18)60% (21/35)46% (16/35)
UC Santa Barbara20% (3/15)18% (3/17)33% (6/18)26% (5/19)29% (6/21)
UC Santa Cruz60% (9/15)31% (5/16)50% (5/10)82% (14/17)72% (13/18)

Admit rate, with admitted / applied in parentheses.

Where would your GPA land?

Enter your GPA to compare yourself with students from Samueli Academy who were admitted to each campus.

Other Orange County high schools

All Orange County schools →

Source: University of California Office of the President, UC Information Center, Admissions by source school. Freshman counts are fall terms; transfer counts are the academic year starting that fall. Average GPAs are UC’s weighted, capped high school GPA (transfer GPA for colleges). “—” means UC suppressed a small count. This site is independent and not affiliated with the University of California. Admit rates describe past applicants, not any individual student’s chances.