UCLA has not released its acceptance rate for the Class of 2030. As of June 2026, the only public figure is application volume: UCLA received nearly 147,000 first-year applicants for the fall of 2026 — the most of any university in the U.S.
The most recent complete cycle data is for the Class of 2029, when UCLA admitted 13,659 students from a pool of 145,086, for an overall acceptance rate of 9.41%.
Two things set UCLA apart from other selective schools. It has no Early Action or Early Decision (ED), so every first-year student applies in a single November window. And it is test-blind: SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admissions at all. UCLA weighs the rigor of your coursework, your GPA, and your Personal Insight Questions (PIQ) above everything else.
Sources: UCLA Newsroom, UCLA Academic Planning & Budget, and UCLA’s 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
If UCLA is on your list, you want the number: your odds. Here’s the honest version of that answer.
Quick answer: UCLA hasn’t published its Class of 2030 acceptance rate. It received an eye-popping 147,000 applications for the fall 2026 — the most in the country. For the class of 2029, the acceptance rate was 9.41%.
A housekeeping note before comparing the numbers: UCLA publishes its applicant profile, GPA distribution, costs, and what it weighs in review through its Common Data Set.
Here’s the wrinkle: UCLA’s CDS runs a cycle behind the headlines. The 2025-2026 CDS covers students who enrolled in the fall of 2025, which means it describes the Class of 2029 — not 2030.
So the profile data below (GPA, admissions factors, cost, aid) comes from UCLA’s most recent CDS, the enrolled Class of 2029. We label it throughout.
One more thing worth flagging. UCLA is part of the University of California system (along with heavyweights like USC and UC Berkeley), so the rules that govern other selective schools don’t apply here. No early rounds. No test scores. No recommendation letters. We get into what that means below.
UCLA acceptance rates at a glance
| Number | Class of 2030 | Class of 2029 |
| Overall acceptance rate | Not yet published | 9.41% |
| First-year applications | 147,000 | 145,086 |
| Students admitted | Not yet published | 13,659 |
| Early Action/Early Decision | None | None |
| SAT/ACT considered | No (test-blind) | No (test-blind) |
No early rounds, no test scores: how UCLA admissions actually works
If you’re budgeting your application, internalize these two facts first.
As mentioned, UCLA does not offer Early Action or Early Decision. Every first-year applicant uses the single UC application, which opens August 1 and must be submitted between November 1 and November 30.
Everyone lands in the same pool and hears back in the same March window. There’s no early lever to pull, no binding commitment that lifts your odds, no demonstrated-interest game to play.
UCLA is also test-blind. The entire UC system stopped using SAT and ACT scores for admissions in 2021, and the policy has stuck. If you submit scores, UCLA won’t even look at them.
Scores still matter after you enroll for things like course placement and a handful of outside scholarships, so don’t shred them. They just don’t play a role in admissions decisions.
The takeaway is clear: at UCLA, your transcript and your writing carry the weight that test scores carry elsewhere.
For the bigger picture on testing across selective schools, including those moving in the opposite direction from UCLA, check out our article: SAT/ACT now required. Is the era of test-optional admissions over?
UCLA acceptance rate: historical trends
UCLA’s admit rate has compressed over the past decade as applications climbed. The recent uptick (8.57% for the Class of 2026 up to 9.41% for the Class of 2029) is not UCLA softening. Applications dipped slightly from their 2026 peak, while acceptance rates have held fairly steady.
| Entering class | Overall acceptance rate | Applications | Admitted |
| Class of 2030 | Not yet published | 147,000 | Not yet published |
| Class of 2029 | 9.41% | 145,086 | 13,659 |
| Class of 2028 | 8.96% | 146,250 | 13,102 |
| Class of 2027 | 8.73% | 145,910 | 12,737 |
| Class of 2026 | 8.57% | 149,815 | 12,844 |
| Class of 2025 | 10.77% | 139,490 | 15,028 |
| Class of 2024 | 14.33% | 108,877 | 15,602 |
| Class of 2023 | 12.34% | 108,831 | 13,432 |
| Class of 2022 | 14.01% | 111,011 | 15,556 |
| Class of 2021 | 16.05% | 100,252 | 16,090 |
| Class of 2020 | 17.99% | 97,121 | 17,474 |
Take a step back, and the trend is unmistakable. Six years ago, UCLA admitted 1 in 6 applicants. Today, it sits below 1 in 10. UCLA is admitting fewer students than it did in 2020, even as it receives 50,000 more applications. The squeeze is coming from both sides.
UCLA’s “California first” policy
Read this section closely if you live outside of California.
Under UC system enrollment plans, UCLA has been directed to grow its share of California residents, in part by trimming the proportion of out-of-state and international students. For the most recent cycle, the admit rate for California ran far higher than the overall rate.
What this means for you depends on your address. If you’re a California resident, the trend is a tailwind. If you’re applying from out of state or abroad, understand you are competing for a deliberately limited class share.
See also: How to get into UCLA
Who gets in: UCLA’s enrolled Class of 2029
We only have the full profile for UCLA’s enrolled students for the Class of 2029. So that’s what we’ll go with to determine how you stack up.
GPA
With test scores actually off the table, your transcript holds a lot of weight. UCLA reports a high GPA for enrolled students — and the distribution is steep.
For the enrolled Class of 2029, the average unweighted GPA was 3.96, and the average weighted GPA was 4.51.
| Unweighted GPA | Share of enrolled students |
| 4.00 | 59.0% |
| 3.75–3.99 | 34.4% |
| 3.50–3.74 | 4.5% |
| 3.25–3.49 | 1.4% |
| 3.00–3.24 | 0.4% |
| 2.50–2.99 | 0.2% |
| 2.00–2.49 | 0.1% |
Rub your eyes and read the top of the table again. 59% of enrolled students earned a perfect 4.0, and 93% came in at 3.75 or higher. A near-perfect academic transcript is the norm at UCLA.
Also, while the GPA bar is brutal, don’t assume clearing it gets you in. When most of the pool has a 4.0, what separates admits from maybes is course rigor. How many Honors, AP, IB, and UC-required A-G courses did you take?
Test scores (in case you forgot)
You won’t find an SAT or ACT range for UCLA. It doesn’t report a meaningful profile score because it neither collects nor uses scores.
If a third-party site shows you a UCLA “SAT range,” close the tab. It’s either stale data before 2021 or self-reported noise.
What UCLA weighs most in admissions
This section deserves the closest read. It’s lifted straight from UCLA’s Common Data Set.
| Factor | Importance |
| Rigor of secondary school record | Very important |
| Academic GPA | Very important |
| Application essay (Personal Insight Questions | Very important |
| Extracurricular activity | Important |
| Talent/ability | Important |
| Character/personal qualities | Important |
| Volunteer work | Important |
| Work experience | Important |
| First-generation status | Considered |
| Geographical residence | Considered |
| State residency | Considered |
| Class rank | Not considered |
| Standardized test scores | Not considered |
| Recommendations | Not considered |
| Interview | Not considered |
| Alumni/ae relations | Not considered |
| Religious affiliation | Not considered |
| Level of applicant’s interest | Not considered |
A few things stand out.
Only three factors are weighted as “very important”: course difficulty, GPA, and essays. UCLA’s application essays consist of four “Personal Insight Questions,” each with a 350-word cap. Those 1,400 words are the only time your voice enters the application — use the space wisely.
See one Empowerly student’s journey to UCLA
UCLA’s “not considered” is longer than most schools. Not only does it include test scores, but also recommendations and class rank, which other highly selective schools commonly consider.
Cost of attendance and financial aid at UCLA
UCLA’s cost hinges heavily on one variable: whether you’re a California resident. Nonresident supplemental tuition is the single biggest line item.
Estimated cost of attendance (2025–2026)
| Item | In-state | Out-of-state |
| Tuition and fees | $14,436 | $34,200 |
| Housing and food | $16,991 | $16,991 |
| Books and supplies | $1,434 | $1,434 |
| Transportation | $635 | $635 |
| Personal expenses | $1,848 | $1,848 |
| Total Cost of Attendance | $35,344 | $55,108 |
UCLA’s full student budget runs somewhat higher once UC health insurance (waivable with proof of comparable coverage) and all campus-based fees are added.
Here’s what changes the math for many families:
- Through the UC Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan California residents with a family income below $80,000 have their entire tuition covered.
- California families earning up to $100,000 usually receive enough aid to cover tuition.
- Once you enroll, your tuition is locked in for up to six years.
- UCLA enrolls more Pell Grant recipients than the entire Ivy League combined.
Out-of-state and international families should plan for a higher figure. UC aid for nonresidents is far more limited and doesn’t include the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan.
Use UCLA’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
How to strengthen your UCLA application
| Priority | Why it matters |
| Take the hardest courses your school offers and excel — easy right? | Rigor and GPA are the only “very important” academic factors, and UCLA can’t see test scores to offset a weaker transcript. Remember: 59% of enrolled students had a 4.0 unweighted GPA. |
| Pour your personality into your Personal Insight Questions | The PIQs are UCLA’s “application essay.” It ranked “very important,” and the only time you get to show you’re more than a number. Be specific. Be concrete. And make every word clamp down on the reader’s attention. |
| Pay attention to what UCLA ignores | No test scores. Recommendations unnecessary. UCLA is a bird with unique plumage in the elite college flock. |
Frequently asked questions
What is UCLA’s acceptance rate for the Class of 2030?
UCLA received an eye-popping 147,000 first-year applications for fall 2026. While it hasn’t released its official numbers yet, we know it admitted 9.41% last year. UCLA’s acceptance rate has hovered between 8% and 10% over its past three admissions cycles.
Does UCLA have Early Action or Early Decision?
No. As part of the UC system, UCLA uses a single application window. You apply between November 1 and November 30 and receive your decision in March.
Does UCLA look at SAT or ACT scores?
No. The UC system has been test-blind since fall 2021. Scores are not considered in admissions and cannot help or hurt you. They may still matter for course placement or certain scholarships after you enroll, but play no role in admission decisions.
What GPA do I need for UCLA?
There’s no magic number beyond the UC’s minimum eligibility requirements. For context though, the enrolled Class of 2029 averaged a 3.96 unweighted GPA.
Trying to figure out where you stand among 147,000? Empowerly’s counselors help students build the transcript and the Personal Insight Questions that UCLA actually rewards. Book a consultation to map your strategy.
