UC Admits More In-State Students, but Top Campuses Remain Competitive

[Summary]

• UC admitted 149,368 first-year students for Fall 2025, including 100,947 California residents — a 7% increase from 2024.

• Growth in California resident admissions was concentrated at:

  • UC Merced: +72% (17,481 more students)

  • UC Riverside: +46% (nearly 17,000 more students)

  • Smaller gains at UC Davis and UC Santa Cruz

• Declines in in-state admissions at:

  • UC Berkeley: –8%

  • UCLA: –2.4%

  • Modest drops at UC Irvine, UC San Diego, and UC Santa Barbara

• Enrollment yield varies greatly:

  • UCLA: ~50% of admitted students enroll

  • UC Merced: ~7% enrollment rate

• Systemwide increases across all racial groups:

  • More Black, Latino, Asian, and white Californians admitted

• Transfer admissions from California community colleges:

  • 27,845 students, up 6%

  • UC Berkeley admitted more transfer students

• Out-of-state and international admissions increased:

  • Out-of-state (domestic): +2,150 students (+9%)

  • International: +3,263 students (+17%)

  • UC attributed international increase to uncertainty around their enrollment likelihood

• Admission rates:

  • Californians: 77% (up 7%)

  • All students: 73% (up 7%)

• Political and financial context:

  • UC is under pressure from state lawmakers to admit more California residents

  • UC has agreed to enroll more Californians in exchange for annual budget increases

  • This year's state funding increase was deferred to future years

• Concerns for international student enrollment:

  • Visa uncertainty under the Trump administration is deterring students

  • Over 1,500 visas were previously canceled, then reinstated

  • ICE is developing new visa termination policies

    
    

    

Disclaimer: This article provides a summary of a news originally published by Michael Burke and Daniel J. Willis on July 28, 2025, via EdSource. All rights to the original content are retained by the respective authors and publisher. This summary is intended solely for informational and educational purposes and should not be viewed as a substitute for professional legal advice or a full reading of the original article. The summarizer does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information presented. For the full and original article, please visit: https://edsource.org/2025/university-of-california-admissions-increase/737476