Our admission guidelines are designed to ensure you are well-prepared to succeed at UC. If you're interested in entering the University of California as a freshman, you'll have to satisfy these requirements:

1. Complete 15 A-G courses (11 of them by end of junior year) 

You need to complete a minimum of 15 college-preparatory courses (A-G courses) with a letter grade of C or better. For courses completed during Winter 2020 through summer 2021, UC will also accept a grade of CR (credit) and P (pass). You must complete at least 11 of these courses prior to the beginning of your last year of high school.

The 15 courses are:

a. History

2 years

b. English

4 years

c. Mathematics

3 years

d. Science

2 years

e. Language other than English
*or equivalent to the 2nd level of high school instruction

2 years*

f. Visual and performing arts

1 year

g. College-preparatory elective
(chosen from the subjects listed above or another course approved by the university)

1 year

2. Earn a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better (3.4 if you're a nonresident) in these courses with no grade lower than a C.

Learn how to calculate the UC freshman GPA »

California students

If you're a state resident graduating from a California high school who has met the minimum requirements and aren't admitted to any UC campus to which you apply, you'll be offered a spot at another campus if space is available, provided:

  • You rank in the top 9 percent of California high school students, according to our updated Statewide Index, or

  • You rank in the top 9 percent of your graduating class at a participating high school. We refer to this as "Eligible in the Local Context" (ELC).

Who is a freshman/first-year applicant?

You're a freshman or first-year applicant if you're currently in high school, OR you’ve graduated from high school, but haven’t yet enrolled in a regular session (fall, winter, spring) at a college or university.