Understanding UC’s Changing Admissions: Opportunities & Challenges for Students
The University of California (UC) system has witnessed some important shifts in its application trends. Surprisingly, UC Merced and UC Riverside have experienced unprecedented increases in freshman applications. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the application surge of UC Merced and UC Riverside has surprised and surpassed the overall UC system’s growth rate of 16% since 2019. Let us analyze the reason for this tremendous uptick in applications, considering UC Merced is pretty much a newcomer, i.e., in 2005 when it welcomed its 1st batch. The campus originated in 1988, according to a decision by the UC Board of Regents to begin planning for a new university in the San Joaquin Valley to meet long-term enrollment demand.
UC Merced’s Application Surge
The SF Chronicle reports that UC Merced witnessed an unprecedented 45% increase in freshman applications for the upcoming class of the fall of 2025, translating to approximately 16,000 additional applicants. The surge was an outcome of the strategic initiative undertaken by the admissions office, as in mid-December, Merced extended an invitation to students who had applied to other UCs and not to Merced by waiving the standard $80 application fee. This move resulted in about 18,000 additional applications. Additionally, the university’s recent achievements, such as earning the prestigious R1 research status and being ranked fifth among public universities by the Wall Street Journal, have also contributed to its growing appeal. UC Merced achieves R1 classification, bringing all UC campuses to the highest tier among research universities | University of California
UC Riverside’s Growth
Similarly, UC Riverside experienced a 22% increase in freshman applications, surpassing UC Santa Cruz in total applications received. This growth is partly due to the introduction of the UCR Choice Program, which extended application deadlines for students who had applied to other UCs but not Riverside. Additionally, the launch of a new business analytics major attracted over 5,000 applications in its inaugural year.
Despite these gains, UC Merced and UC Riverside still receive fewer applications compared to campuses like UCLA, UC San Diego, and UC Berkeley.
Overall University of California Trends
Overall, the UC system saw a slight decline of 0.5% in total applications for the fall 2025 term, with 249,824 students applying, which had 250,959 applicants in 2024.
First-year applications decreased by 1%, while transfer applications increased by 1.9%, driven mainly by a rise from California Community College students.
UCLA and UC Berkeley continue to remain the hardest UCs to get into, having acceptance rates of 8.8% and 11 % respectively. They continue to receive the lion’s share of freshman applications annually. Berkeley is considered a public Ivy- a term used to describe public universities that offer an educational experience comparable to that of the Ivy League. In 2023, UC San Diego received 156,906 freshman and transfer applications for the upcoming fall term, marking a 4% increase in applications over the previous year. The college is yet to release its current year numbers.
Some Challenges Faced by International Students for the UCs
While UC campuses are still popular among international students, these disadvantages make admissions much more competitive for them.
- As the UC system is a public university system funded by California taxpayers, it has a mandate to prioritize in-state students.
- Unlike California residents, who receive significant state-funded financial aid (such as Cal Grants and UC Blue & Gold Opportunity Plan), international students do not qualify for financial aid from the state or federal government.
- Since nonresident applicants are competing for fewer available seats, their admissions standards are typically higher than those for California residents. “California applicants must earn at least a 3.0 GPA and nonresidents must earn a minimum 3.4 GPA.” GPA requirement | UC Admissions
- The UC system has specific subject requirements (A-G courses) that California students typically fulfill in high school. These subject requirements are not met by many international students as they come from different countries with different education systems, making it harder to meet these exact course requirements.
Despite some disadvantages making admissions much more competitive for international and non-resident students, a lot of high achieving students win spots in the coveted institutions.
With proper planning and strategic alignment of coursework and extracurriculars, students can demonstrate their fit to the university.
