California Universities: Student Population Across Campuses

how many students attend all university of california campuses

The University of California (UC) is a prestigious educational institution with a strong commitment to expanding access to higher education in the state. UC's ten campuses, including Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Riverside, and San Diego, offer a diverse range of academic disciplines. UC has witnessed a record-breaking enrollment, with a combined student body of nearly 300,000 graduate and undergraduate students as of fall 2024. This number includes a significant increase in California undergraduates, with a corresponding decline in out-of-state students, reflecting UC's dedication to serving its state's students.

Characteristics Values
Total number of students enrolled across all campuses 299,407 (as of 2021)
Number of undergraduate students 233,272 (as of Fall 2023)
Number of graduate students 63,219 (as of Fall 2024)
Number of students enrolled in UC Extension 700,000 (as of 2022-2023)
Number of unique students enrolled in UC Extension 500,000 (as of 2022-2023)
Number of California undergraduates 194,571 (as of Fall 2023)
Number of California undergraduates (including transfers) 198,718 (as of Fall 2024)
Number of students enrolled in Fall 2020 226,000

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Total student enrolment across all campuses

The University of California (UC) system has ten campuses offering both undergraduate and graduate courses. Nine campuses offer undergraduate courses, while one campus, UC San Francisco, offers only graduate and professional courses in the medical and health sciences. The UC system enrolled over 226,000 undergraduates in fall 2020, with over 172,000 students applying as freshmen and 43,000 as transfers. The number of enrollees rose by 2% in fall 2020.

UC's latest enrollment data shows that the university enrolled its largest student body in history in fall 2023, with 295,573 students enrolled across its campuses, including both graduate and undergraduate students. The number of undergraduates rose to a record-breaking 233,272 students, with California undergraduates making up the largest group, accounting for 194,571 students or 83.4%. Out-of-state undergraduate enrollment dipped to 16.5%, the lowest level since fall 2017.

UC's enrollment trends show that the university is expanding access to higher education in the state. The fall 2024 enrollment data shows that UC enrolled just shy of 300,000 graduate and undergraduate students across its ten campuses, the biggest and most diverse student body in its history. UC undergraduate enrollment rose by 1.2% to 236,070, while graduate student enrollment grew by 1.6% to 63,219 students. The growth reflects UC's robust support for advanced education and research.

UC Extension, a continuing education program for working adults and professionals, has enrolled over 700,000 students, with approximately 100,000 students attending during 2022-2023.

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Undergraduate vs graduate student numbers

The University of California (UC) system has a total of 299,407 students enrolled across its ten campuses. Nine of these campuses enrol both undergraduate and graduate students, while one campus, UC San Francisco, enrols only graduate and professional students in the medical and health sciences.

UC's undergraduate admissions and enrolment procedures are designed to ensure that a UC education is accessible to all Californians who meet its admissions standards. The university received over 215,000 applications for admission in fall 2020, with about 172,000 students applying as freshmen and 43,000 as transfers. The university enrolled over 226,000 undergraduates in fall 2020, including an increase of over 1,500 California residents. This continues a five-year trend of increasing undergraduate enrolment for California residents, with increases of 1,500 in fall 2020, 2,500 in fall 2019, 3,000 in fall 2018, and 2,500 in fall 2017.

UC's Eligibility in the Local Context (ELC) policy aims to increase the geographic diversity of freshman entrants, with 36% of freshmen enrolling from within a 50-mile radius of their campus. Additionally, local enrolment rates for transfers are higher than for freshmen, with 49% enrolling within 50 miles of their homes. UC also has a Transfer Pathways program, which offers a roadmap for prospective transfers to prepare for their majors and graduate in a timely fashion from any UC campus. In fall 2020, 50% of California Community College (CCC) admits and 51% of CCC enrollees indicated Pathway-based preparation.

UC's graduate programs include professional degrees that often lead to clinical practice, such as MD and DDS, as well as self-supporting programs that receive no state support and are funded entirely by program revenues. These self-supporting programs serve nontraditional populations, including full-time employees, mid-career professionals, and international students with specialized goals. UC also offers graduate programs in health science residency, where individuals complete the residency portion of their health science professional degrees.

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California resident students

The University of California (UC) is committed to expanding access and opportunity for students from all backgrounds in the state. UC's undergraduate admissions and enrollment are based on a comprehensive review of qualifications, with the goal of increasing the number of California degree holders.

For California residents, UC offers a range of resources for high school and community college students considering transferring to one of its nine undergraduate campuses. The Transfer Pathways program, for instance, provides a clear roadmap for prospective transfers, helping them prepare for their majors and graduate on time. In fall 2020, half of all California Community College (CCC) admits and enrollees indicated Pathway-based preparation. Additionally, UC's agreement with the CCCs guarantees admission to students who complete one of the Transfer Pathways and achieve the required GPA.

UC has witnessed a consistent increase in the undergraduate enrollment of California residents over the years. In fall 2020, UC's total undergraduate enrollment of California residents had increased by more than 18,000 over the previous five years. This trend continued, with 1,500 more California residents enrolled in fall 2020 compared to the previous year, and a further increase of 2,500 in fall 2019.

The record-breaking enrollment trend continued in fall 2023, with UC enrolling its largest class in history, including a significant increase in California undergraduates. Out of a total of 295,573 students enrolled, California undergraduates made up the largest group, with 194,571 students, or 83.4%. This included 42,058 first-year students, a 5% increase from the previous year.

UC's commitment to accessibility and diversity is further reflected in its enrollment for fall 2024. The university enrolled nearly 300,000 graduate and undergraduate students across its 10 campuses, with California undergraduate enrollment reaching a new record of 198,718 students, a 2% increase from the previous year. This increase in California students is a result of UC's partnership with the state to boost in-state enrollment and expand access to higher education for underrepresented groups.

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Non-resident domestic and international students

The University of California (UC) system consists of ten campuses, with a combined student population of nearly 300,000 students. UC campuses attract students from across the United States and the world.

Non-resident domestic students at UC campuses are those who come from outside California but within the United States. These students must meet higher admissions criteria and pay non-resident supplemental tuition in addition to in-state charges. The minimum high school GPA for non-resident domestic freshmen is 3.4, compared to 3.0 for California freshmen. Similarly, the minimum college GPA for non-resident transfer students is 2.8, while it is 2.4 for California residents.

International students at UC campuses are non-resident students who come from outside the United States. They must also meet higher admissions criteria and pay non-resident supplemental tuition on top of in-state charges. International students are required to take an English language test if their secondary school lessons were not taught in English. Additionally, they need a passport from their home country and a visa from the US government. UC's undergraduate students come from over 100 countries worldwide.

UC campuses have a system-wide local attendance rate of 36%. However, local enrollment rates for transfer students are higher than for freshmen, with 49% enrolling at a UC campus within 50 miles of their homes. The University of California aims to ensure that its education remains accessible to all Californians who meet its admissions standards. In recent years, UC's total undergraduate enrollment of California residents has increased significantly, with a notable rise in transfer applicants and admits.

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Transfer students

The University of California (UC) welcomes more transfer students than any other institution of its caliber. In fact, almost one-third of entering students each year are transfers, with around 75% of them receiving grants and scholarships, and over half having their tuition and fees fully covered. UC transfer students come from a variety of backgrounds, including high schoolers, veterans, parents, and seasoned learners.

UC has a “multiple filing" system, where students can apply to as many or as few UC campuses as they want on one application, paying a fee for each campus. This has significantly increased the number of applications to the Berkeley and Los Angeles campuses, as students can choose a campus to attend after receiving acceptance letters. The minimum college GPA for non-resident transfer students is 2.8, compared to 2.4 for California residents. Local enrollment rates for transfers are higher than for freshmen, with 49% enrolling at a UC campus within 50 miles of their homes.

UC has an agreement with California Community Colleges (CCCs) to guarantee a place within the UC system to students who complete one of the Transfer Pathways and achieve the requisite GPA. In fall 2020, the third year of the Transfer Pathways, 50% of CCC admits and 51% of CCC enrollees indicated Pathway-based preparation. Many of these students also participated in other preparatory programs such as Transfer Admissions Guaranteed (TAG) and Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC).

UC offers a comprehensive review process for transfer applications, considering not just grades and coursework, but also how students have taken advantage of opportunities to excel at school, in extracurricular activities, and in their communities.

Frequently asked questions

As of Fall 2024, the University of California enrolled nearly 300,000 students across its 10 campuses, the largest in its history.

There were 236,070 undergraduate students enrolled in Fall 2024, a record-breaking number.

There were 63,219 graduate students enrolled in Fall 2024, a 1.6% increase from the previous year.

Yes, the UC San Francisco campus enrols only graduate and professional students in medical and health sciences.

The UC Extension program has enrolled over 700,000 students, with approximately 100,000 students attending in 2022-2023.

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