UCLA Waitlist Acceptance Rate: Stats and Tips

Getting off the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) waitlist is quite difficult, with the latest waitlist acceptance rate standing at just 13.2%. This rate makes UCLA’s waitlist one of the most competitive among the University of California campuses. The school is prestigious and looks for students who have a drive for learning with an excellent academic record.

In this blog, we’ll learn about UCLA’s waitlist acceptance rate statistics, help you decide whether it’s worth holding out hope, and talk about what steps to take next, so that it’s easy for you to plan effectively.

• What Is UCLA’s Waitlist Acceptance Rate?
• Is It Worth Staying on UCLA’s Waitlist?
• What to Do If You’re Waitlisted by UCLA
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Key Takeaways

What Is UCLA’s Waitlist Acceptance Rate?

Of the 15,023 students on UCLA’s waitlist for the Class of 2028, 9,198 were accepted, but only 1,211 were ultimately offered admission. This amounts to a waitlist acceptance rate of about 13.2%. Let’s examine the data from UCLA’s Common Data Set to understand the historical trends in waitlist acceptance better:

Looking at UCLA’s waitlist acceptance rate and recent data from the Class of 2024 to 2028 shows just how competitive it is to get in from the waitlist. On average, only about 1 in 10 students who remain on the list are admitted—a rate of roughly 9.6%.

While this means it’s difficult, it’s not impossible. Each year, UCLA offers waitlist spots to a large pool of applicants—around 16,200 on average. Of those, approximately 960 are admitted annually. The acceptance rate, however, varies widely from year to year.

For the Class of 2024, nearly 1 in 5 waitlisted students got in (19.2%), marking the highest rate in recent years. By contrast, the Class of 2025 was the toughest, with only about 2 in 100 students admitted from the waitlist (2.2%).

Being on UCLA’s waitlist is certainly an achievement, but it’s not a guarantee of admission. Since the number of students admitted from the waitlist can fluctuate so much, it’s wise to have a backup plan and commit to another school you’d be happy to attend, just in case.

Is It Worth Staying on UCLA’s Waitlist?

It can be a little daunting to be waitlisted by UCLA because you are not fully rejected, but also not accepted. Here’s what you can do.

If you want to stay on the waitlist, you must say “yes” by officially accepting your spot. Only the students who do this will be considered for admission later. Next, if we take a look at UCLA’s waitlist acceptance rate, it is very low, which is around 13.2% in the most recent cycle. That means out of every 100 students who accept their offer, only about 13 get in.

But if UCLA is your dream school, staying on the waitlist keeps that door open. Every year, a few waitlisted students are accepted, especially if they match what UCLA is looking for to round out their incoming class.

Still, you’ll need to accept an offer from another college by May 1 (enrollment deposit date) and pay a deposit to hold your spot, just in case UCLA doesn’t come through.

That can feel stressful, and UCLA might not give you a final answer until June or even July. To figure out what feels right for you, it’s always best to speak with a counselor, teacher, or an expert college admissions consultant.

What to Do If You’re Waitlisted by UCLA

When you’re placed on UCLA’s waitlist, it means the admissions committee sees a lot of potential in your application, but because of space limits, they cannot offer you admission right away. Being on the waitlist is both an opportunity and a challenge.

You need to understand not only the UCLA acceptance rate but also the waitlist requirements, and follow the recommended steps below carefully. These can help you deal with this period of uncertainty.

1. Understand the nature of the waitlist.

UCLA’s waitlist is strictly by invitation only. So, as an applicant, you do not request to be waitlisted. Instead, UCLA selects them after the initial admissions decisions. If you are offered a waitlist spot, you will receive a notification that you must accept (opt-in) by a given deadline, which is usually April 15, through the UCLA “My Application Status” portal.

Important to note: You must accept your spot on the waitlist to remain under consideration. If you say no, your name will be removed and you will lose your chance to get in from the waitlist. This opt-in step confirms that, as an applicant, you are genuinely interested, which allows UCLA to manage its waitlist pool fairly.

Moreover, getting admitted from the waitlist depends on how many admitted students decide to enroll (UCLA’s yield rate). UCLA has a goal for a specific class size, so the number of openings for waitlisted students keeps changing every year. For example, the Class of 2028 saw about 13.2% acceptance off the waitlist, while the Class of 2025 had a mere 2.2%.

Lastly, UCLA does not rank its waitlist candidates, and admission offers are made based on space availability and institutional priorities. So, even if you’re a strong student, things you can’t control affect waitlist decisions, and your chances are not guaranteed.

2. Always keep other options secured.

As waitlist admission is not guaranteed, UCLA strongly encourages you to accept an offer from another college by the national May 1 decision deadline, so that you at least secure a spot elsewhere. This is important to avoid ending up without any college placement if UCLA does not admit you from the waitlist.

Here’s what to keep in mind: you are allowed to remain on waitlists for multiple UC campuses, but you should make sure to have at least one confirmed college by May 1. Ultimately, this approach gives you hope along with practical security.

3. Do not submit any additional materials.

As per the UCLA waitlist requirements and policies, no additional documents like new recommendation letters or test scores are accepted. UCLA only permits waitlisted students to make updates to their status or give brief new information on the My Application Status website in the designated form. So, you must ensure the following:

• Use the limited update space wisely and report any new achievements (for example, improved grades, awards).
• Do not share or submit any unsolicited materials with the admissions office because these will not be reviewed.

4. Write a strong letter of continued interest (LOCI).

Although UCLA does not officially require a letter of continued interest, a smartly crafted letter of continued interest can be valuable. Many admissions experts agree that it helps to communicate your commitment and updates on your accomplishments. Thus, your LOCI must:

• Reaffirm that UCLA is your top choice.
• Highlight any recent academic, extracurricular, or personal achievements you were involved in.
• Maintain a respectful, concise, and positive tone.

Here is a template you can use.

Dear UCLA Admissions Committee,

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to express my continued and unwavering interest in the University of California, Los Angeles. UCLA remains my top choice, and if offered admission, I would be thrilled to enroll.

Since submitting my application, I have continued to challenge myself academically and expand my extracurricular contributions. Most recently, I [briefly describe a recent academic achievement, e.g., “earned first place in my state’s science fair for my project on renewable energy storage”]. Additionally, I [mention a relevant extracurricular update, e.g., “took on the role of president of my school’s debate team, leading us to a regional championship”].

These experiences have deepened my skills in [name relevant qualities: leadership, collaboration, problem-solving] and strengthened my passion for [relevant academic field or interest]. I believe these accomplishments reflect the curiosity, dedication, and community engagement that align closely with UCLA’s values.

Thank you for your time and continued consideration of my application. I am genuinely excited about the possibility of joining the UCLA community and contributing to its vibrant academic and extracurricular life.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Submit your LOCI through UCLA’s My Application Status portal by the stated deadline (which is usually around mid-April). UCLA does not officially require or have a separate dedicated submission method for LOCIs, so if you want to send one, you can include it as part of the limited “update” section on the waitlist opt-in form, where you can provide new academic information or accomplishments.

5. Maintain a strong academic performance.

Continue to excel in your current coursework because UCLA expects waitlisted applicants to maintain or improve their academic record through the rest of the school year. Thus, you should:

• Remember to submit our updated grades or transcripts if requested.
• You must avoid any kind of academic or disciplinary issues that could harm your record.

This shows your commitment and how ready you are, which admissions officials consider if vacancies come up.

6. Monitor any communication from UCLA.

UCLA notifies waitlisted students of any admission offers as early as May but can continue as late as July or August. The UCLA waitlist decision date is not fixed and depends entirely on when spots open up in the admitted class. So, make a note of the following key points:

• Check your UCLA application portal and email regularly for any updates.
• Be proactive and respond to any requests or offers.
• Understand that if you do not receive any admission notification by late summer, it means you were not admitted from the waitlist.

7. Review financial aid.

If you are admitted from the waitlist, UCLA gives you the same financial aid package consideration as it gives to the regular admits. To make sure you qualify for aid:

• Submit the FAFSA or California Dream Act application by the deadlines in the admission cycle. (The deadline is April 2)
• Mention UCLA’s school code in your financial aid forms, whether or not you are admitted yet, so that the aid can be processed on time.

8. Know the policies on appeals and deferrals.

The waitlist is a final opportunity; those denied admission are generally not eligible to appeal for reconsideration. Deferral requests for waitlist admits are rarely approved and are only allowed in exceptional cases (e.g., medical, military, religious). If you wish to attend UCLA later, you can go ahead and apply as a transfer student after completing college coursework elsewhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is UCLA’s waitlist acceptance rate for the Class of 2028?

UCLA’s waitlist acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was 13.2%. Of the 15,023 students offered a place on the waitlist, 9,198 accepted the offer, and 1,211 were ultimately admitted. The low admission rate is largely due to UCLA’s high yield rate and the limited number of available spaces.

2. Should I stay on UCLA’s waitlist?

If UCLA is your dream school, you can stay on the waitlist. But given the low acceptance odds (13.2% for the most recent cohort), you must accept an offer from another college by May 1. A backup is necessary to make sure that your spot is at least guaranteed.

3. How do I send my LOCI for UCLA?

You should submit your letter of continued interest for UCLA through the My Application Status portal during the waitlist opt-in process, usually by mid-April. Include your LOCI in the designated “update” section and mention any new achievements or grades. UCLA does not accept any extra materials and only updates via this form are considered.

4. How many students usually get off  UCLA’s waitlist?

UCLA offers waitlist spots to about 16,200 students yearly, and admissions keep varying every year. In 2024, 1,211 students (13.2%) were admitted, and in 2023, 1,400 (11.9%) got in. Acceptance rates fluctuate widely from just over 2% in 2021 to nearly 19% in 2020. Getting off the waitlist isn’t guaranteed, so having a backup plan is essential.

Takeaways

• UCLA’s waitlist acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 is just 13.2%.
• The UCLA waitlist acceptance rate is low because a higher percentage of admitted students are enrolling immediately.
• You can only join UCLA’s waitlist if invited, and you must opt in through the portal by the deadline, which is usually April 15.
• UCLA doesn’t allow extra materials from waitlisted students. So, you are not supposed to share any new recommendation letters or test scores.
• You can give updates like improved grades or awards using the limited space in the waitlist form. Even if UCLA doesn’t officially ask for one, submitting a letter of continued interest (LOCI) can help you.
• You should accept an offer from another college by May 1, in case UCLA doesn’t admit you later. UCLA may notify waitlisted students as late as June or July, so be prepared for a long wait.
• It is best to talk to an admissions consultant if you are not sure about the next step. Whether you’re feeling uncertain or just want to refine your next steps, having someone experienced to guide you can make the process a lot smoother.