Transferring to UCLA: your chances, deadlines and credits
Transfer acceptance rate: 23.4%
Transfer acceptance rate
Source: Official school data report, section D, 2025-2026
For fall 2025, UCLA admitted 6,665 of 28,487 transfer applicants (23.4%).
Checked November 9, 2026. Selective
- Credits to apply
- At least 60 semester unitsSource, 2026-2027
- Recommendation letters
- Not requiredSource, 2026-2027
UCLA transfer acceptance rate
UCLA's transfer acceptance rate for fall 2025 was 23.4%. 3,933 transfer students enrolled. The first-year rate the same year was 9.4%.
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.
This rate covers everyone who applied. Your major can move it a lot, and the report does not split it by major.
UCLA's own fall 2025 transfer profile counts 28,288 applicants, 6,466 admits and 3,935 enrolled. Its Common Data Set count, in the numbers above, is slightly different. The profile splits by school: The College had 21,089 applicants and 5,790 admits, Samueli Engineering 4,600 and 504, Theater, Film and Television 895 and 29, Arts and Architecture 1,143 and 78, Music 257 and 45, and Nursing 304 and 20.
Source: UCLA transfer profile, fall 2025, Fall 2025
By where applicants came from: California community colleges had 22,583 applicants and 5,940 admits, other UC campuses 2,234 and 330, Cal State campuses 687 and 28, and all other schools 2,784 and 168.
Source: UCLA transfer profile, fall 2025, Fall 2025
Our read: Engineering and the arts schools are a different contest from The College. Where you apply from also matters a lot. If you are not at a California community college or another UC, the profile shows far fewer admits.
Transfer requirements
UCLA requires a minimum number of college credits. It does not require recommendation letters.
Recommendation lettersNot required
UCLA does not require letters of recommendation during admission selection.
Source, 2026-2027Minimum credits before you applyRequired
Applicants need junior-level standing, 60 semester or 90 quarter transferable units, by the end of the spring term before transfer.
Source, 2026-2027
You need 60 semester or 90 quarter transferable units, junior standing, by the end of spring before you transfer. Summer courses right before transfer do not count toward that minimum.
Source: UCLA transfer requirements, undated page
The 7-course pattern is two English composition or critical thinking courses, one math course at intermediate algebra or higher, and four courses from at least two of arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and physical and biological sciences. Applicants from another UC campus who enrolled there as first-years are exempt.
Source: UCLA transfer requirements, undated page
Major prep must be done by the end of spring before you transfer. UCLA tells applicants to complete as many prep courses as possible before transferring.
Source: UCLA transfer requirements, undated page; UCLA major preparation, the College, undated page
List all coursework and every institution, including courses that do not transfer and withdrawals.
Source: UCLA transfer requirements, undated page
Some majors in Arts and Architecture, Music, Nursing and Theater, Film and Television need a supplemental application. IGETC or Cal-GETC is required only for Nursing and Theater, Film and Television, and UCLA does not recommend it for Engineering.
Source: UCLA transfer admission, undated page
Transfer deadlines
- You send or do something
- The school answers
- January
- July
UCLA admits for fall quarter only. The UC application filing period is October 1 to November 30. The Transfer Academic Update has a priority deadline of January 31. UCLA says it cannot review your application without it.
Source: UCLA transfer admission, undated page; UCLA transfer requirements, undated page
Decisions come in late April. The Statement of Intent to Register is due June 1 and final official transcripts are due July 1. UCLA does not send early acceptances.
Source: UCLA transfer admission, undated page
Our read: The pages print dates without a year. Treat them as the fall 2027 cycle's pattern and recheck before you file.
What GPA do you need?
UCLA lists a 3.2 GPA or higher in transferable courses among the criteria it considers, and says the average GPA of admitted transfers is above 3.5. Its profile for fall 2025 shows a median GPA of 3.91, with the middle half of admits from 3.77 to 4.00.
Source: UCLA transfer requirements, undated page; UCLA transfer profile, fall 2025, Fall 2025
Our read: 3.2 is the lowest GPA UCLA lists. It does not get you close in most majors. The middle half of admits sit near the top of the scale.
What UCLA looks for
You apply to a specific major. UCLA does not accept undeclared transfer applicants. UCLA says changing majors after admission may not be an option. Economics, Business Economics and Psychology require direct admission into the major, and you cannot change into them after you are admitted.
Source: UCLA transfer admission, undated page; UCLA major preparation, the College, undated page
UCLA flags these College majors, among others, as highly selective: Biology, Communication, Economics, Business Economics, Psychology, Political Science, Sociology, and Statistics and Data Science. It says the most competitive applicants in business economics, economics and psychology will have finished all major prep by the end of fall before transfer.
Source: UCLA major preparation, the College, undated page; UCLA transfer requirements, undated page
Personal factors UCLA names include employment, campus or community involvement, family responsibilities, military service, and significant improvement in academic performance over time. You answer one required personal insight question and three of seven additional ones.
Source: UCLA transfer requirements, undated page; UCLA transfer admission, undated page
UCLA does not require letters of recommendation or official transcripts for admission selection.
Source: UCLA transfer requirements, undated page
Transfer essays and supplements
You answer one required personal insight question and three of seven additional ones. Our UCLA pages do not print the questions. The UC application does.
Source: UCLA transfer requirements, undated page
For majors with no listed prerequisites, UCLA says applicants should show interest through related courses, the personal insight responses and the Activities section.
Source: UCLA major preparation, the College, undated page
Our read: The essays carry weight when your record does not explain itself. A rough first year followed by a clear rise is something UCLA names. Say it plainly. Do not use the space to criticize your school.
The essay is where you explain why you are leaving and why this school. Get a free review before you send it.
Review my essay freeAI models process your essay. See how we handle it.
Will your credits transfer?
UCLA tells you to check ASSIST and the UC Transfer Admission Planner to confirm what transfers. Extension courses numbered 1 to 199 are transferable.
Source: UCLA transfer requirements, undated page
Economics and Psychology students are classified as pre-majors until the lower-division prep courses are completed at UCLA.
Source: UCLA major preparation, the College, undated page
Our read: UCLA does not tell us on the pages we read how credit is posted after you are admitted. Ask your counselor, and keep records of every course.
If it does not work out
Financial aid applications are due March 2. California residents also file the GPA Verification Form for Cal Grant, and the filing period opens December 1.
Source: UCLA transfer admission, undated page
Our read: If you are at a four-year school outside the UC system, build a list that does not depend on UCLA. The profile shows 168 admits from all other schools combined.
- Emory UniversitySimilar odds
- University of California, BerkeleySimilar odds
- Lehigh UniversitySimilar odds
- University of MichiganTakes more transfers
Questions students ask
Can I start in spring?
No. UCLA admits transfers for fall quarter only.
Source: UCLA transfer requirements, undated page
Can I apply undeclared?
No. You must apply to a specific major.
Source: UCLA transfer admission, undated page
Do I need Cal-GETC or IGETC?
It is required only for Nursing and Theater, Film and Television. It is strongly encouraged for several other schools and not recommended for Engineering.
Source: UCLA transfer admission, undated page
Do I need letters of recommendation?
No. UCLA does not require letters or official transcripts for selection.
Source: UCLA transfer requirements, undated page
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Sources
- Official school data report, 2025-2026
- UCLA transfer admission, undated page
- UCLA transfer requirements, undated page
- UCLA major preparation, the College, undated page
- UCLA transfer profile, fall 2025, Fall 2025
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.