UC Breaks Records with 100,947 California Freshmen Admitted for 2025

The University of California (UC) has made history by admitting a record 100,947 first-year California students for the fall 2025 semester, marking a 7.4% increase from last year's 93,990. This milestone reflects the UC system's growing appeal, even as it navigates financial pressures from federal research funding cuts and proposed state budget reductions.

The UC system admitted a total of 180,382 students, including transfer and first-time college students, an 8% jump from 2024. Notably, 42% of accepted California freshmen are first-generation college students, with UC Berkeley reporting 32% and UC Santa Cruz 30% in this category. "We continue to experience significant growth, a clear indication that Californians recognize the value of a UC degree," said UC President Michael Drake, who will step down at the end of July to return to research and teaching.

Despite challenges from the Trump administration's policies on diversity, equity, and inclusion, UC admissions data shows increased representation across all racial groups, including Black, Latino, Native American, Pacific Islander, white, and "unknown." The system also admitted 22,230 international students, though enrollment rates for non-California and international students remain lower, with only 25% of accepted international freshmen enrolling system-wide.

UC Berkeley, with a competitive 13% acceptance rate, admitted over 20,000 students, an 8% increase from last year's 18,431. Its international first-year admissions nearly doubled to 1,463 from 735, a target set before the 2024 presidential election, according to university spokesperson Aileen Zerrudo. UC Santa Cruz, with a 73% acceptance rate, admitted 57,100 students, up by 2,000, though its international admissions slightly dipped to 4,836 from 5,249.

The system-wide admission rate for California first-year students rose to 77% from 70% in 2024, with significant growth at UC Merced and UC Riverside. This surge underscores UC's commitment to accessibility and diversity, even amid external pressures. As Drake noted, "Our latest admissions numbers demonstrate that families across our state recognize that UC degrees prepare students for a lifetime of meaningful contributions in their communities and far beyond."