In fall 2025, 192 freshmen applied to UC Santa Cruz in Public Admin and 124 were admitted, an admit rate of 65%, compared with 72% for the campus as a whole. The middle half of admitted students had a UC GPA between 3.83 and 4.16. Of those admitted, 6 enrolled (5%).
What stands out
It was the most selective major area at UC Santa Cruz. The admit rate rose from 52% in 2021 to 65% in 2025, while applications went from 203 to 192. Among UC campuses, UC Berkeley was the hardest in Public Admin (14%).
Five-year trend
| Fall | Applied | Admitted | Admit rate | Admitted GPA (middle 50%) | Enrolled | Enrolled GPA (middle 50%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 192 | 124 | 65% | 3.83–4.16 | 6 | 4.00–4.11 |
| 2024 | 215 | 114 | 53% | 3.72–4.16 | 10 | 3.70–4.09 |
| 2023 | 190 | 106 | 56% | 3.75–4.16 | 8 | 3.74–3.96 |
| 2022 | 204 | 95 | 47% | 3.85–4.20 | 13 | 3.68–4.17 |
| 2021 | 203 | 105 | 52% | 3.78–4.14 | 10 | 3.66–4.06 |
Public Admin at every UC (fall 2025)
| Campus | Applied | Admitted | Admit rate | Admitted GPA (middle 50%) | Campus overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley | 278 | 39 | 14% | 4.08–4.26 | 11% |
| UCLA | 876 | 127 | 14% | 4.20–4.29 | 9% |
| UC Santa Cruz | 192 | 124 | 65% | 3.83–4.16 | 72% |
| UC Davis | 118 | 90 | 76% | 3.83–4.21 | 44% |
| UC Riverside | 1,639 | 1,527 | 93% | 3.50–4.12 | 87% |
Transfer admit rates: Public Admin majors (fall 2025)
| Major | Applied | Admitted | Admit rate | 2024 rate | Admitted GPA (middle 50%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Studies | 132 | 113 | 86% | 83% | 3.07–3.69 |
Transfer GPA is the UC-transferable GPA from community college. All UC Santa Cruz transfer majors →
Other major areas at UC Santa Cruz
Check your chances 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.