From UC Davis to UC San Diego: Get to Know the UCs

The scope and quality of the University of California system is impressive. With nine undergraduate campuses spread over 500 miles, the UCs annually educate more than 235,000 undergrads and generate $82 billion in economic activity. While Berkeley and UCLA appear on most “best universities” lists, the other campuses in the system have their own strengths (and quirks). And, with one application, you are eligible for admission to all of them! Here’s a snapshot of each campus, moving from north to south.

UC Davis

Year Founded: 1908
Mascot/Nickname: Aggies
Location: Davis, CA, “California’s college town,” 16 miles west of Sacramento
Undergraduate Enrollment: 31,657
Overall Acceptance Rate: 41.9%
In-State Acceptance Rate: 36.4%
Out-of-State Acceptance Rate: 60.6%
International Acceptance Rate: 49.8%
Most Popular Major: Psychology
Fun Facts:
- Top-ranked agriculture and forestry programs (including winemaking!).
- Parking available for 27,000 bikes (very bike-friendly town).
- A major emphasis on sustainability in the curriculum and on campus.

UC Berkeley

Year Founded: 1868
Mascot/Nickname: Golden Bears
Location: Berkeley, CA, 14 miles across the Bay from San Francisco and adjacent to Oakland
Undergraduate Enrollment: 30,778
Overall Acceptance Rate: 11.6%
In-State Acceptance Rate: 15.1%
Out-of-State Acceptance Rate: 7.8%
International Acceptance Rate: 5.2%
Most Popular Major: Cellular Biology
Fun Facts:
- The flagship campus, meaning it was the first in the system (commonly called “Cal”).
- Known for both innovation and liberal values: ranks #1 in the world for start-ups founded by its alums, and for the most Peace Corps volunteers.
- Strong intellectual and activist vibe.

UC Merced

Year Founded: 2005
Mascot/Nickname: Bobcats
Location: Merced, CA, in the San Joaquin Valley, an inland agricultural area within a 2-hour drive of Sacramento and San Francisco
Undergraduate Enrollment: 8,344
Overall Acceptance Rate: 88.3%
In-State Acceptance Rate: 97%
Out-of-State Acceptance Rate: 80.9%
International Acceptance Rate: 69.1%
Most Popular Major: Biology
Fun Facts:
- The first American research university founded in the 21^st century.
- The only American university where every building on campus is environmentally certified.
- The only campus to have a research station in Yosemite National Park.

UC Santa Cruz

Year Founded: 1965
Mascot/Nickname: (competitive for coolest mascot) Banana Slugs
Location: Santa Cruz, CA, 33 miles southwest of San Jose
Undergraduate Enrollment: 17,084
Overall Acceptance Rate: 62.7%
In-State Acceptance Rate: 60.4%
Out-of-State Acceptance Rate: 81.3%
International Acceptance Rate: 61.1%
Most Popular Major: Computer Science
Fun Facts:
- Set among redwood trees, three miles from the Pacific Ocean, and within striking distance of Silicon Valley.
- 10 residential colleges, where you can access activities, advising and leadership.
- A leader in game design and known for strong engineering programs.

UC Santa Barbara

Year Founded: 1891
Mascot/Nickname: Gauchos
Location: Santa Barbara, CA, 95 miles up the coast from Los Angeles
Undergraduate Enrollment: 23,196
Overall Acceptance Rate: 27.9%
In-State Acceptance Rate: 28.1%
Out-of-State Acceptance Rate: 32.7%
International Acceptance Rate: 21.9%
Most Popular Major: Sociology
Fun Facts:
- The College of Creative Studies, a small (385 students) community within the university for innovative, interdisciplinary pursuits.
- Isla Vista (“I.V.”) is a popular beachside community adjacent to UCSB’s main campus. Approximately half of the IV residents are UCSB students.
- Home to the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS).

UC Riverside

Year Founded: 1907
Mascot/Nickname: Highlanders
Location: Riverside, CA, 55 miles inland from Los Angeles
Overall Undergraduate Enrollment: 22,071
Acceptance Rate: 65%
In-State Acceptance Rate: 70.3%
Out-of-State Acceptance Rate: 87.1%
International Acceptance Rate: 81.4%
Most Popular Major: Business
Fun Facts:
- #1 for social mobility, according to U.S. News & World Report, 4 years in a row.
- Originally a citrus research station in the heart of CA’s citrus industry.
- Newest major: Robotics Engineering.

UC Los Angeles (UCLA)

Year Founded: 1919
Mascot/Nickname: Bruins
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Undergraduate Enrollment: 32,423
Overall Acceptance Rate: 8.8%
In-State Acceptance Rate: 9.5%
Out-of-State Acceptance Rate: 8.6%
International Acceptance Rate: 6.1%
Most Popular Major: Economics
Fun Facts:
- Seven major performance venues, two museums, and three campus gardens on campus.
- Receives more applications than any other U.S. university.
- High-powered and energetic campus vibe.

UC Irvine

Year Founded: 1965
Mascot/Nickname: Anteaters
Location: Irvine, CA, 42 miles south of Los Angeles in Orange County
Undergraduate Enrollment: 28,661
Overall Acceptance Rate: 25.7%
In-State Acceptance Rate: 20.4%
Out-of-State Acceptance Rate: 47.4%
International Acceptance Rate: 32.5%
Most Popular Major: Biology
Fun Facts:
- The UCI Machine Learning Repository has facilitated approximately 26,000 scientific articles.
- Irvine commonly ranks as the safest city in America.
- 88 languages and 79 countries represented in the student body.

UC San Diego

Year Founded: 1960
Mascot/Nickname: Tritons
Location: La Jolla, CA, 14 miles north of San Diego
Undergraduate Enrollment: 33,096
Overall Acceptance Rate: 24.7%
In-State Acceptance Rate: 24.5%
Out-of-State Acceptance Rate: 31.8%
International Acceptance Rate: 17.8%
Most Popular Major: Biology
Fun Facts:
- Home to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
- Surf Team has won six national championships.
- The world’s first cognitive science department was established here in 1986.

*Nine UC campuses offer undergraduate and graduate education, while one (UC San Francisco) is graduate/professional only.

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Dr. Tina Brooks

Senior Private Counselor at Top Tier Admissions

Tina joins Top Tier Admissions after five years serving as Associate Dean of Admissions at Pomona College. Her career in higher education has included extensive experience as both a faculty member and admissions professional. Tina worked as Assistant Director of Admission and Transfer Coordinator at Scripps College before joining Pomona College, where she oversaw all communications and directed transfer admissions, in addition to her role evaluating first-year applicants in the admissions office. As a professional writer and editor, she has published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Fodor’s guide to Los Angeles, and many college alumni magazines. Having served as a mentor for Scholar Match, a scholarship evaluator for the Davidson Institute for Talent Development, and an interviewer for the Gates Scholarship and the Posse Foundation, Tina loves working directly with students on their writing, academic and outcomes goals. She holds a B.A. in English with Honors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Ph.D. in English from the University of California, Berkeley.

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