UCLA Engineering Ranking: Stats + Admission Tips

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is the #1 public school in the country. But you might be curious how its programs hold up to that reputation. If you’re an aspiring engineer, you might be wondering: what is UCLA Engineering’s ranking?

In this article, we’ll talk about how UCLA’s Henry Samueli School of Engineering is ranked by different organizations, why it’s ranked high, and tips on applying and boosting your chances of getting accepted into the school.

• What Is UCLA Engineering’s Ranking?
• What Does UCLA Engineering Offer?
• UCLA Engineering Acceptance Rate
• How to Apply to UCLA Engineering
• How to Boost Your UCLA Engineering Application
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Is UCLA Engineering’s Ranking?

UCLA Engineering is ranked high among engineering schools and programs both nationally and internationally. Here’s a quick overview of its rankings so far in 2025:

UCLA Engineering is good, which is proven by its high rankings in various aspects by ranking organizations. Let’s take a deeper look at a few factors that make the college so excellent:

World-class faculty

The Samueli School of Engineering has over 200 full-time faculty members, many of whom are leaders and innovators within their respective fields. Many have also received prestigious awards thanks to their research contributions.

For example, Associate Professor Jun Chen from the Department of Bioengineering has authored over 200 journal articles, many of which are concerned with soft matter innovation for novel bioelectronics and personalized healthcare. He has received many awards and recognitions—including the MRS Outstanding Early-Career Investigator Award, Hisako Terasaki Young Innovator Award, and BMES CMBE Rising Star Award in 2025 alone.

Another prominent faculty member is Associate Professor Raghu Meka from the Department of Computer Science, who received the 2025 W. Wallace McDowell Award, which is considered the “Nobel Prize of IT.” This award was to acknowledge his research in complexity theory, pseudorandomness, and learning theory.

Facilities and resources

A big part of why UCLA Engineering ranks high is also because of its contributions to research. This is made possible thanks to research centers and institutes that actively promote interdisciplinary collaborations and provide the space and resources needed to support different research initiatives.

Some examples are:

• Center for Domain Specific Computing. This center receives funding from the National Science Foundation and focuses on creating high-performance, energy-efficient computing solutions for different applications like healthcare.
• UCLA Center for Heterogeneous Integration and Performance Scaling. This center reevaluates integrated circuit and system design methodologies to keep up with the evolving landscape of the electronics industry.
• Institute for Carbon Management. This is an interdisciplinary research center that works to discover and develop engineering solutions to help in decarbonizing heavy industry.
• Smart Grid Energy Research Center. This center develops and applies wireless communication and sense-and-control technologies to help build the smart electric grid of the future. This includes the optimization of renewable energy integration and the adoption of electric vehicles.
• UCLA Samueli Makerspace. This is a dedicated and collaborative environment where you can engage in hands-on engineering design, prototyping, and fabrication projects, encouraging innovation and practical skills development.

What Does UCLA Engineering Offer?

In general, UCLA Engineering offers a range of academic programs and resources that will give you the knowledge and skills you need for a successful career in engineering. You’ll get both a broad understanding of fundamental engineering principles and in-depth knowledge within your chosen specialization.

UCLA Engineering is made up of seven academic departments. These are:

• Bioengineering
• Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
• Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Computer Science
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Materials Science and Engineering
• Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

The school also uses innovative teaching methodologies to improve your learning experience. This includes a strong emphasis on active learning strategies, where you’ll be actively involved in the learning process through engaging discussions, collaborative problem-solving activities, and team-based projects.

UCLA Engineering Acceptance Rate

UCLA doesn’t release acceptance rates per college, but it does per major.  The UCLA Engineering acceptance rate per major for Fall 2024 is as follows:

You might have noticed that there doesn’t seem to be a direct correlation between the number of applicants and the acceptance rate. That may be because the number of students they accept depends on the slots available.

How to Apply to UCLA Engineering

All undergraduate students have the same admissions process to enter UCLA. Here’s a quick overview of how to apply to the university:

1. Complete the University of California (UC) application. UC campuses don’t use the Common App or Coalition. Instead, regardless of the campus you’re applying to, all undergraduate applicants must complete the online UC application.
2. Answer the personal insight questions. These are a very important part of your application since they’re a chance for you to show your personality, relevant experiences, and academic and career aspirations. You can also mention why UCLA engineering is the best place for your goals.
3. Arrange for the submission of official transcripts from all high schools you have attended. Ask your previous and current counselors or other high school officials to submit your transcripts to UCLA.
4. Pay the application fee. Domestic applicants need to pay $80, while international, non-immigrant students should pay $95.
5. Ensure everything is submitted by the deadline. Ensure that all materials (even the transcripts you asked your school to submit) are with UCLA by the deadline (typically December 1).

Admissions review process

It would be helpful if you also knew how UCLA admissions officers review your application. In general, the officers who evaluate your application have many monitoring procedures like extensive reader training and comprehensive reading of files. This makes the process more humanistic than trying to quantify your achievements and putting them into a numerical formula.

That being said, here are factors that admissions officers look at in your application:

• Achievement in college preparatory work in high school. This includes how many and how rigorous your courses are. You can get some plus points for doing well in honors, college level, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate Higher Level courses (if they’re available at your school).
• Personal qualities. How would you describe your leadership skills, character, motivation, initiative, creativity, independence, maturity, and your concern for others and the community?
• Possible contributions to the intellectual and cultural vitality of UCLA. Based on what admissions officers see in your application, they can try to predict how meaningful and unique your contributions could be to the UCLA community.
• Academic enrichment programs. These programs aren’t necessarily limited to UCLA summer sessions. What’s more important is the rigor of the program, your progress in the program, and the time and depth of your participation. For example, Northwestern University’s Pre-College Online Program for Engineering is a great program for engineering aspirants.
• Other achievements. If you have notable accomplishments, they’ll be considered in this criterion. If you’re trying to get into computer science, participating and hopefully winning in computer science competitions like CyberPatriot will earn you plus points.
• Opportunities. You’ll be evaluated based on the opportunities available to you. Did you have a strong high school curriculum? Did your high school offer honors, AP, and IBHL courses? If you didn’t, what other opportunities did you take advantage of?
• Challenges. Did your family’s financial instability affect your chances of trying for certain summer programs? Did you have to take a leave of absence for a whole year due to an illness? Admissions officers will consider any contextual factors that directly affect your academic performance.

How to Boost Your UCLA Engineering Application

UCLA has a highly competitive admissions process. In fact, the institution only had a 9% acceptance rate for the Class of 2028.

So, if you want to be admitted into the institution, you’ll have to stand out among other applicants. Here are several ways you can boost your college application:

1. Do relevant coursework.

Choose challenging and relevant coursework throughout your high school years. Prioritize advanced mathematics and sciences courses, including AP Calculus AB, AP Physics classes, and AP Chemistry. AP Computer Science Principles and AP Computer Science A could be also useful if you’re interested in computer engineering or related fields.

Doing well in these subjects can make admissions officers think that you’re ready for the technical demands of an engineering education.

2. Show genuine interest in engineering.

Samueli School of Engineering may not have a separate admissions process from the rest of UCLA, but showing genuine interest in engineering in your application can help you stand out from other engineering applicants who aren’t as obvious about their aspirations.

Use your personal insight essays to describe specific projects you’ve been a part of, experiences that have sparked your curiosity in the field, or personal inspirations that inspired you to pursue engineering. Giving concrete examples of your engagement with engineering principles can leave a lasting impression on the admissions committee.

You should also specifically address why you are drawn to studying engineering at UCLA. Research specific faculty members, research areas, or unique programs within UCLA Engineering that align with your interests and mention them in your essays to also show a genuine and well-informed interest in the school.

In your essays, explain how your goals and aspirations resonate with the specific opportunities offered at UCLA Engineering.

3. Maintain academic excellence.

UCLA’s GPA requirements are 3.0 for California residents and 3.4 for non-residents. However, the weighted GPA of admitted students for Fall 2024 ranges from 4.42 to 4.76. Because of that, you should also ideally aim for a GPA within that range to still be a competitive applicant.

Aim for the highest possible GPA, particularly in mathematics and science courses directly relevant to engineering. Consistent high performance in challenging courses like calculus, physics, chemistry, and computer science shows an aptitude and preparedness for the rigorous curriculum at UCLA Engineering.

4. Participate in research.

UCLA is a research institution, so participating in research opportunities (even at the high school level) can enhance your application. If you’ve been involved in research projects, internships in engineering-related fields, or independent studies with an engineering focus, be sure to detail your specific role, contributions, and the key learnings you gained from these experiences.

Showing a proactive interest in exploring engineering knowledge shows initiative and intellectual curiosity.

5. Engage in related extracurricular activities.

Your involvement in extracurricular activities related to engineering demonstrates your commitment to the field beyond the classroom. Participation in activities that apply engineering principles showcases your hands-on experience and passion.

Maybe you won the MATE ROV Competition. Or participated in UT Austin’s Engineer Your World. Taking on leadership roles within these organizations can also further highlight your initiative, teamwork skills, and dedication.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is UCLA good for engineering?

Yes, UCLA is good for engineering, consistently ranking among the best engineering schools both locally and internationally. It offers rigorous programs that will build your knowledge of basic and specialized engineering principles, and many resources you can use for hands-on experience.

2. What is UCLA engineering’s national ranking?

UCLA undergraduate engineering ranks number 16, while the graduate programs rank number 13.

3. What is UCLA engineering’s global ranking?

Internationally, UCLA engineering is ranked #16 by Times Higher Education and #22 by QS World University Rankings.

4. What is UCLA engineering known for?

UCLA is known as the birthplace of the Internet. It’s also known for other groundbreaking research that made it a pioneer in other studies—such as reverse osmosis, artificial intelligence, and human prosthetics.

Takeaways

The UCLA Samueli School of Engineering ranks high both nationally and internationally, supporting the university’s commitment to excellence.

• For 2025, UCLA’s undergraduate engineering was ranked #16 by U.S. News & World Report, #22 by QS World University Rankings, and #16 by Times Higher Education.
• UCLA Engineering has seven academic departments. This gives you a good foundation in the basics of engineering principles while giving you specialized knowledge in a given field.
• UCLA Engineering doesn’t have a separate application process. Although all UCLA applicants will undergo the same admissions process, you can still show your interest in the engineering program through your application.
• Is UCLA’s Samueli School of Engineering your goal? Work with senior consultants to improve your college application and show admissions officers that you’re applying for the best option for your goals.