University Of California-Los Angeles

UCLA admits approximately 8.7% of applicants, meaning roughly 1 in 11 applicants receives an offer of admission. This places UCLA among the most selective public universities in the United States and significantly more competitive than typical four-year institutions.

The peer median admission rate of 78.1% highlights the stark difference between UCLA's selectivity and most public research universities. Even within the University of California system, UCLA maintains one of the most competitive admission processes.

This level of selectivity means that even students with outstanding academic credentials face uncertainty in the admission process. Many applicants who would excel at UCLA are not admitted simply due to the enormous volume of highly qualified candidates competing for limited spots.

Students should approach UCLA as a reach school regardless of their qualifications and build comprehensive college lists that include institutions with higher acceptance rates but comparable outcomes. The alternatives analysis below identifies schools that deliver similar post-graduation results with more accessible admission processes.

UCLA's published cost of attendance reaches $36,643 annually, including $13,747 in-state tuition, $17,148 for room and board, and $1,574 for books and supplies. Out-of-state students face $44,524 in tuition, raising total costs significantly.

However, the average student pays just $14,013 after financial aid, representing $22,630 in aid savings from the sticker price. This average net price falls slightly below the peer median of $15,590, making UCLA competitively priced among similar public research universities.

The substantial gap between published costs and actual student payments demonstrates UCLA's commitment to affordability through financial aid. California residents benefit from the state's investment in public higher education, while the university's aid programs help reduce costs for students across income levels.

UCLA's net price positioning reflects both state funding support and institutional aid strategies designed to make attendance accessible despite the university's high-quality programs and selective admission standards.

UCLA graduates demonstrate strong earnings growth over time, with median earnings rising from $59,063 six years after enrollment to $72,864 at eight years and $82,511 at ten years. This represents 39.7% growth from the six-year to ten-year mark, indicating sustained career advancement.

These outcomes are based on a ten-year cohort of 6,264 graduates, providing high statistical confidence. Graduates earn $13,353 beyond expectations compared to similar students nationally, ranking at the 89.5th percentile for earnings uplift.

Low-income graduates achieve particularly strong outcomes at $74,300, placing UCLA in the top 5% nationally for this measure. The earnings distribution shows meaningful variation, with the 75th percentile reaching $126,452 while the 25th percentile achieves $55,896, reflecting differences in program choice and career paths.

Approximately 24.2% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating strong preparation for advanced education pathways.

UCLA offers 20 bachelor's degree programs with federal earnings data for analysis. Top performers include Applied Economics, which ranks #31 nationally and #7 in California, graduating 833 students with median earnings of $81,475.

Applied/Public Sociology ranks #6 nationally and #3 in California, producing 787 graduates earning $54,562 with an outstanding value score of 97.9. American Government and Politics ranks #36 nationally and #5 in California, graduating 704 students with median earnings of $58,937.

Psychology, General ranks #11 nationally and #3 in California with 631 graduates earning $52,754. Biology, General ranks #22 nationally and #4 in California, graduating 562 students with median earnings of $55,250.

Behavioral Neuroscience achieves exceptional performance, ranking #3 nationally and #1 in California with a value score of 96.0.