Across the UC system, 11,101 transfer applications went to Economics majors and 48% were admitted, from 15% at UC Berkeley to 86% at UC Riverside.
What to know
- UC does not report freshman results for economics on its own; it is part of a broader major area. The figures below are for transfer applicants.
- Economics is one of the most applied-to transfer majors at UC, and admit rates vary widely from campus to campus.
- Strong grades in calculus and introductory micro and macroeconomics matter most for transfer applicants.
Transfer admit rates by campus and major (fall 2025)
| Campus | Major | Applied | Admitted | Admit rate | 2024 rate | Admitted GPA (middle 50%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley | Economics | 1,772 | 268 | 15% | 20% | 3.84–4.00 |
| UC Davis | Economics | 1,738 | 1,162 | 67% | 67% | 3.55–3.91 |
| UC Irvine | Economics | 992 | 327 | 33% | 39% | 3.80–4.00 |
| UC Irvine | Quantitative Economics | 82 | 31 | 38% | 42% | 3.78–3.99 |
| UCLA | Pre-Economics | 1,519 | 246 | 16% | 18% | 3.91–4.00 |
| UCLA | Pre-Mathematics/Economics | 149 | 52 | 35% | 32% | 3.91–4.00 |
| UC Merced | Economics | 272 | 192 | 71% | 72% | 3.27–3.79 |
| UC Riverside | Economics | 504 | 437 | 87% | 80% | 3.27–3.85 |
| UC Riverside | Economics/Administrative Studies | 75 | 63 | 84% | 62% | 3.29–3.83 |
| UC Santa Barbara | Economics | 2,160 | 1,383 | 64% | 64% | 3.52–3.91 |
| UC Santa Cruz | Economics | 534 | 415 | 78% | 74% | 3.26–3.81 |
| UC Santa Cruz | Economics – Mathematics | 40 | 25 | 63% | — | 3.11–3.86 |
| UC San Diego | Economics | 989 | 561 | 57% | 58% | 3.62–3.95 |
| UC San Diego | Bachelor of Science in Economics | 138 | 57 | 41% | — | 3.48–3.94 |
| UC San Diego | Mathematics/Economics | 137 | 74 | 54% | — | 3.67–4.00 |
Transfer GPA is the UC-transferable GPA of the middle half of admitted students. Majors with very few applicants may not appear.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UCLA Economics acceptance rate?
In fall 2025, for transfer applicants, 18% were admitted to its Economics majors (298 of 1,668).
What is the UC Berkeley Economics acceptance rate?
In fall 2025, for transfer applicants, 15% were admitted to its Economics majors (268 of 1,772).
What is the UC San Diego Economics acceptance rate?
In fall 2025, for transfer applicants, 55% were admitted to its Economics majors (692 of 1,264).
Which UC is easiest to get into for Economics?
For transfers, UC Riverside (86%) and UC Santa Cruz (77%) were the most accessible.
Other popular majors
Check your chances at each campus with your GPA and intended major →
Source: University of California Office of the President, UC Information Center: Freshman admissions by discipline and Transfers by major. UC reports freshman results by broad discipline (the major area students applied to, such as Engineering), not by individual major; transfer results are by individual major. GPA ranges are the 25th–75th percentile of admitted students (freshman: weighted, capped UC GPA; transfer: UC-transferable GPA). Counts include all applicants (California, out-of-state and international). Small counts are suppressed by UC. This site is independent and not affiliated with the University of California. Admit rates describe past applicants, not any individual student’s chances.