West LA Times

UCLA has experienced a significant increase in applications for fall 2024 admission, with a total of 173,400 applicants vying for a spot at the prestigious university. Among these applicants, 146,250 were first-year applicants, while 27,150 were transfer applicants, marking a 2% rise compared to the previous year.

Gary Clark, UCLA’s associate vice chancellor for enrollment management, expressed excitement over the surge in transfer applications, stating, “We are very excited to see such a robust increase in applications from transfer students. It’s encouraging that transfer applications have rebounded following the decreases we experienced due to enrollment declines at community colleges during the COVID-19 pandemic."

The increase in applications was mainly fueled by a 13% jump in transfer applicants, totaling 3,200 more applications than the previous year. Notably, approximately 38% of the transfer applicant total came from underrepresented backgrounds, reflecting a slightly increased share compared to before.

Regarding first-year applicants, there was a slight uptick in applications from California residents, with an increase of 1,540 or 1.7%. UCLA continues to attract a diverse pool of applicants, with a strong representation from historically underrepresented groups. Among California applicants, 7% were African Americans, 36% were Chicano/Latino, and 1% were American Indian students, collectively making up 43% of first-year California applicants from underrepresented backgrounds.

The university maintains its standing as the most applied-to four-year university in the nation, showcasing its desirability among prospective students. For more detailed statistics on the University of California's applications, interested parties can refer to the press release by the University of California.

Tables with systemwide application statistics, including data for UCLA and all other UC undergraduate campuses, are also available from the University of California Office of the President, providing a comprehensive overview of the application landscape within the UC system.