UCLA Acceptance Rate: Class of 2030 Admissions Statistics

The University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) admitted 13,659 students out of 145,086 applicants for the Class of 2029, resulting in a 9.41% acceptance rate, slightly up from 8.97% for the Class of 2028.

Unlike many private universities, UCLA does not offer Early Action (EA) or Early Decision (ED). As part of the University of California (UC) system, all freshman applicants apply through a single Regular Decision (RD) cycle.

In this blog, we’ll walk through UCLA’s latest available overall, waitlist, and transfer acceptance rates and see how they’ve evolved over time.

• UCLA Acceptance Rates
• Why UCLA Doesn’t Offer Early Admissions
• UCLA Transfer Acceptance Rate
• UCLA Waitlist Acceptance Rate
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

UCLA Acceptance Rates

UCLA’s overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 was 9.41%, marginally up from 8.97% for the Class of 2028. The increase comes as admission totals rose slightly while application numbers remained at record highs.

Over the past decade, UCLA’s acceptance rate has steadily tightened as application numbers surged. Here’s the full trend:

Note: All data has been compiled from UCLA’s Common Data Set.

Applications to UCLA increased from 102,242 for the Class of 2021 to 145,086 for the Class of 2029. The surge likely accelerated after the UC system eliminated standardized testing in 2020, resulting in about 30,000 more applicants for the Class of 2025 than the year before. During the same period, the number of admitted students has remained relatively consistent, generally ranging between about 12,700 and 15,000 offers per year.

Because UCLA’s freshman class size remains relatively stable within the UC system, rising application volumes have driven acceptance rates downward, falling from 16.10% for the Class of 2021 to 9.41% for the Class of 2029. Recent fluctuations largely reflect changes in applicant totals rather than major shifts in admission capacity.

Why UCLA Doesn’t Offer Early Admissions

UCLA does not offer Early Action or Early Decision. As part of the University of California system, all freshman applicants apply through a single admissions cycle using the UC application, with decisions typically released in March.

This policy applies to all UC campuses, which follow the same centralized admissions timeline. Applications are submitted between November 1 and November 30, reviewed during the winter, and released at the same time for all applicants. Because of this system, early admission statistics are not available for UCLA.

The UC system has largely avoided early programs to promote fairness and equal access. Early admissions can sometimes advantage students with greater access to college counseling or application resources. Using a single timeline ensures that all applicants are evaluated under the same conditions.

Another reason is scale. UCLA receives well over 100,000 applications each year, making it one of the most applied-to universities in the country. Managing additional EA or ED rounds would add significant complexity to an already massive admissions process.

UCLA Transfer Acceptance Rate

The most recent available UCLA transfer data comes from Fall 2025, when the university had a 23.40% transfer acceptance rate. Here’s the breakdown:

Note: Fall 2025 transfer data is from UCLA’s Common Data Set for 2025-2026, the same reporting year that includes Class of 2029 first-year admissions data.

UCLA’s transfer admissions process is significantly more accessible than its first-year admissions. The 23.40% transfer acceptance rate is notably higher than UCLA’s 9.41% overall freshman acceptance rate for the Class of 2029, reflecting the UC system’s strong transfer pathway, particularly from California community colleges.

UCLA Waitlist Acceptance Rate

The most recent available UCLA waitlist data comes from the Class of 2029, when the university admitted 11.12% of students who confirmed their waitlist spots. Here’s the breakdown:

Note: Waitlist data is sourced from UCLA’s Common Data Set for the corresponding admissions cycle.

The 11.12% waitlist acceptance rate is slightly higher compared with UCLA’s 9.41% overall acceptance rate for the Class of 2029. Because UCLA receives far more applications than it can accommodate, the waitlist helps the university calibrate its incoming class if fewer admitted students enroll than expected. Even so, admission from the waitlist remains relatively limited and can vary significantly from year to year.

If you’re placed on UCLA’s waitlist, our in-depth UCLA waitlist guide walks through what to expect and how to approach the process strategically.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is UCLA’s current acceptance rate?

The most recent confirmed acceptance rate is 9.41% for the Class of 2029. UCLA received 145,086 applications and admitted 13,659 students.

2. Does UCLA have Early Action or Early Decision?

No. UCLA does not offer Early Action or Early Decision. As part of the University of California system, all applicants apply through a single Regular Decision cycle.

3. Is it easier to transfer to UCLA?

Transfer admission in the most recent available cycle is less selective than freshman admission. For the Class of 2029, UCLA admitted 6,665 transfer students out of 28,487 applicants, resulting in a 23.40% transfer acceptance rate, compared with the 9.41% overall freshman acceptance rate for the same year.

4. What are my chances of getting off UCLA’s waitlist?

For the Class of 2029, UCLA admitted 1,514 students from 13,612 confirmed waitlist spots, resulting in an 11.12% waitlist acceptance rate. This is slightly higher than the 9.41% overall acceptance rate, though waitlist outcomes can vary each year, depending on UCLA’s enrollment needs.

5. Why is UCLA’s acceptance rate so low?

UCLA’s low acceptance rate is largely driven by surging application numbers. Applications rose from 102,242 for the Class of 2021 to 145,086 for the Class of 2029, while the number of admitted students has remained relatively stable, generally ranging from about 12,700 to 16,400 per year, making admission increasingly competitive.

Takeaways

• UCLA’s acceptance rate has become more selective over time, falling from 16.10% for the Class of 2021 to 9.41% for the Class of 2029 as applications surged.
• UCLA does not offer Early Action or Early Decision, so all applicants are evaluated through a single Regular Decision cycle.
• Transfer admission is less selective than freshman admission for the Class of 2029, with a 23.40% transfer acceptance rate, compared with the 9.41% overall freshman acceptance rate.
• UCLA admitted 11.12% of students from the waitlist for the Class of 2029, slightly higher than the 9.41% overall acceptance rate, though outcomes vary year to year.
• With more than 145,000 applicants annually, working with a college admissions expert can help refine your application strategy, strengthen your profile, and present a more competitive candidacy.