UC admits 15 percent more California freshmen for fall 2016 and increases diversity
July 11, 2016 •
On Wednesday, July 6, UC released data showing significant gains in the number of California freshman and transfer students admitted to UC campuses for fall 2016, including those from historically underrepresented groups. The admissions data in part reflects UC’s initiative to enroll 5,000 more in-state students in 2016-17.
The university offered admission to 105,671 students out of a freshman applicant pool of 166,565, and 23,879 California community college transfer students from 33,199 applicants. The numbers represent a 15.1 percent jump in the number of California resident freshmen offered a spot at one of UC’s nine undergraduate campuses compared to fall 2015, a gain of 9,344 students.
Admission of students transferring from community colleges increased by 14.1 percent. The one-year increase in 2016-17 California resident transfers will be the largest in UC history.
“We are happy to welcome to the university so many more Californians, a diverse, high-achieving group of both freshman and transfer students,” said President Napolitano. “We have worked with the Legislature to ensure funding to support this boost in admission for California students, and hope to sustain this increased access in the future. Our commitment to serve California by delivering a world-class education to our next generation of leaders, innovators and scholars is unwavering.”
The newly released numbers — updated from April — include preliminary data on transfer students and students admitted from waitlists and through the referral pool. The data tables, which include campus-specific information, can be accessed here.
The racial and ethnic makeup of the newly admitted freshman and transfer classes reflects UC’s continued progress in broadening the diversity of its undergraduate student body.
The share of California resident freshmen from historically underrepresented groups grew to 37.8 percent of the total, compared with 34.6 percent a year ago. Admitted Chicano/Latino students rose 2.7 percent to 32.3 percent of admitted California freshmen. The number of African American freshman students admitted jumped by 30.6 percent, from 2,653 in 2015 to 3,464 for fall 2016. That represents 4.9 percent of the total, up from 4.3 percent last year.
The proportion of African American, Chicano/Latino, and American Indian students transferring from community colleges also increased, from 32.2 percent to 34.7 percent of the admitted pool. The proportion of African American students grew to 5.5 percent from 4.6 percent in fall 2015. Chicano/Latino students increased to 28.3 percent from 26.8 percent last year.
The admission data also demonstrate UC’s role as a driver of social mobility in California and the nation — 42.7 percent of admitted California freshmen are the first in their families to attend college. Systemwide, 37.3 percent of admitted students come from low-income families, which in 2016 means those with annual earnings of $47,200 or less.
The number of nonresident freshman students admitted to the university increased by 4,003 students for fall 2016, a 13.1 percent increase over fall 2015. The UC Berkeley, UCLA and UC San Diego campuses adjusted their nonresident admission numbers in order to keep their fall 2016 nonresident enrollment at the same level as last year.
