Transferring to UC San Diego: requirements, credits and deadlines
Transfer acceptance rate: 52.8%
Transfer acceptance rate
Source: Official school data report, section D, 2025-2026
For fall 2025, UC San Diego admitted 12,440 of 23,577 transfer applicants (52.8%).
Checked November 9, 2026. Takes a lot of transfers
- Credits to apply
- At least 60 semester unitsSource, 2026-2027
- Lowest grade that transfers
- CSource, 2026-2027
Transfer requirements
UC San Diego requires a minimum number of college credits.
Minimum credits before you applyRequired
You need at least 60 UC-transferable semester units (90 quarter units) by the end of spring term before fall admission.
Source, 2026-2027
The page lists a 7-course pattern. It is 2 English composition courses, 1 mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning course, and 4 courses from at least 2 of arts and humanities, physical and biological sciences, and social and behavioral sciences. Each course must be 3 semester or 4 to 5 quarter units. Finish them by the end of spring term before fall admission. Students from other UC campuses do not need the pattern.
Source: UC San Diego transfer application requirements, undated page
Cal-GETC certification satisfies lower-division general education for Muir, Marshall, Warren, Roosevelt, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth College. Revelle requires IGETC students to complete 3 math and 4 natural science courses before transfer or while enrolled. IGETC is honored for community college students who started before fall 2025.
Source: UC San Diego transfer application requirements, undated page
A portfolio or audition is optional for Arts majors in Music, Theatre and Dance, and Visual Arts.
Source: UC San Diego transfer application requirements, undated page
What GPA do you need?
UC San Diego reports 26,300 transfer applications for fall 2026. It reports a middle 50 range of 3.61 to 3.95 GPA for fall 2026.
Source: UC San Diego transfer admissions, fall 2026 figures
Our read: Those numbers cover everyone. Data Science, Engineering and Public Health limit enrollment and screen on major preparation, so your odds there depend on your courses as much as your GPA.
The minimum GPA is 2.4 for California residents and 2.8 for nonresidents. The page says admitted students often exceed that.
Source: UC San Diego transfer application requirements, undated page
Major preparation is required for 15 majors, including Data Science, Engineering, Economics, Mathematics, Physics and Public Health. UC San Diego screens applicants on the number of courses completed, the grades earned and the cumulative GPA.
Source: UC San Diego transfer application requirements, undated page
Will your credits transfer?
Each course needs a C or better.
Lowest grade that transfers
C or better
Each course needs a C or better, or a Pass grade if Pass counts as a C.
Source, 2026-2027
Each course needs a C or better, or a Pass if your school treats Pass as equal to a C (2.00).
Source: UC San Diego transfer application requirements, undated page
The page says to check ASSIST.org for articulation agreements with California community colleges. Up to 8 semester units of ESL and 4 semester units of PE can count toward the 60-unit total, with limits.
Source: UC San Diego transfer application requirements, undated page
Our read: If you are not at a California community college, ASSIST will not show your courses. Compare your syllabi to the major prep list and keep them.
Transfer deadlines
Our read: We could not read UC San Diego's own filing period or decision dates. Confirm them on the official timeline before you plan.
What UC San Diego looks for
UC San Diego enrolls transfers at the junior level only. Senior standing needs at least 70 lower-division and 20 upper-division semester units.
Source: UC San Diego transfer application requirements, undated page
Our read: Meeting the minimum does not mean you will be admitted.
You need at least 60 UC-transferable semester units (90 quarter units) by the end of spring term before fall admission. Lower-division credit is capped at 70 semester units, and AP, IB and A-level units do not count toward that cap.
Source: UC San Diego transfer application requirements, undated page
Data Science, Engineering and Public Health are selective majors with limited enrollment. You must finish the lower-division preparation before you transfer. The page strongly recommends listing a non-selective alternate major, which you may be admitted to if space is available.
Source: UC San Diego transfer application requirements, undated page
Our read: Pick the alternate major with care. It is the one you may end up in, so choose one you could live with.
You can rank your top four undergraduate colleges on the UC application. The page says students can pursue any major regardless of college.
Source: UC San Diego transfer application requirements, undated page
UC San Diego transfer acceptance rate
UC San Diego's transfer acceptance rate for fall 2025 was 52.8%. 3,591 transfer students enrolled. The first-year rate the same year was 28.6%.
Source: Official school data report, section D, 2025-2026
The Common Data Set is the official data report colleges publish each year.
Transfer and first-year applicants are different groups. Use the first-year rate as context only.
A high rate does not open every major. Some programs set their own courses and grades.
Check my chancesTransfer essays and supplements
The application asks for Personal Insight Questions. The page says to answer one required question and three of seven optional questions, each up to 350 words. We did not open the prompt text.
Source: UC San Diego transfer application requirements, undated page
Our read: Selective majors are screened on courses, grades and GPA. An essay will not fix missing prep, so use the questions to show what your coursework and work experience say about you.
Our read: Do not spend a question explaining why you want to leave your current school. UC San Diego's page does not ask for it.
Most of your odds here are grades and courses. If you are writing an essay anyway, get a free review first.
Review my essay freeAI models process your essay. See how we handle it.
Questions students ask
Can I transfer in as a sophomore or senior?
UC San Diego admits transfers at the junior level only.
Source: UC San Diego transfer admissions, fall 2026 figures; UC San Diego transfer application requirements, undated page
Is there a pathway from community college?
UniversityLink is a pathway from a small group of partner California community colleges. You need to attend one of them. We did not open its page.
Source: UC San Diego transfer admissions, fall 2026 figures
Do I have to pick a college?
You can rank your top four undergraduate colleges. You can pursue any major regardless of college.
Source: UC San Diego transfer application requirements, undated page
Do AP scores count?
AP scores of 3, 4 or 5 earn 2, 4 or 8 units. AP units do not count toward the 70-unit lower-division cap.
Source: UC San Diego transfer application requirements, undated page
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Sources
- Official school data report, 2025-2026
- UC San Diego transfer admissions, fall 2026 figures
- UC San Diego transfer application requirements, undated page
Numbers come from official reports, read by our tools and checked. Notes were drafted with AI tools from the official pages linked beside them. A person has not reviewed this guide yet. Admission decisions belong to each college, and no one can promise one.