Why have California’s public universities gotten so hard to get into?

Carly Altman | Head Editor

May 2, 2025

The University of California (UC) system has become one of the most well regarded public university systems in the country. With nine undergraduate campuses spanning across the expanse of California, these public universities offer top-tier academics, optimal locations, and one-of-a-kind opportunities in higher level education. The UC system holds many of the most applied to schools in the country, with several campuses seeing over 100,000 applicants annually. As such, these universities have seen a plummet in acceptance rates, making admission highly competitive for global students. This begs the question, why have California’s public universities gotten so hard to get into?

Academics

The academic opportunities offered through the UC system are unparalleled by many other public and private universities alike. UC Los Angeles (UCLA) and UC Berkeley (UCB) consistently rank as the top public universities in the country, as well as in the top 20 of all national universities, public and private. Additionally, several other UC campuses rank amongst the top 50 national universities. With high-level opportunities for research and education, the UC system attracts thousands of talented applicants from all over the globe. 

Location

With beautiful landscapes, incredible weather, and endless possibilities, California is one of the most desirable places to live in the world. “California is an amazing place to live and study,” explained senior Hannah Ellinger. “With a one-of-a-kind blend of city and nature, there is nothing like it.” Campuses such as UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) and UC San Diego (UCSD) are situated right along the coast, offering students a unique opportunity to explore the natural beauty of California’s beaches. In contrast, UCLA, UCB, and UC Irvine (UCI) are located in unique metropolitan regions, providing students with a mecca of innovation, diversity, and opportunity. 

Cost

Over the past few decades, there has been an unprecedented increase in the cost of higher education. With private university costs becoming unreasonable for a vast majority of families, many students focus on applying to public universities in order to avoid debt and expensive student loans. “The UC system provides incredible opportunities at a cost that is affordable,” explained senior Madelyn Mitchell. “It’s simply hard to beat.” Offering quality education and unparalleled low costs for in-state students, many students living in California opt to apply to their state universities. 

Ease of application

To apply to any of the UC system’s nine campuses, there is only one application. Rather than having to apply separately to each campus, UC provides one application that will be sent to all of the campuses you select. Hence, many students choose to apply to several of the UC campuses in order to maximize their chances of admission, especially with the substantial decrease in acceptance rates. The ease of application encourages students to apply to multiple campuses and ultimately increases the number of applicants at each university. 

With hundreds of thousands of applicants every year, the UC campuses have become some of the most sought after universities in the nation. This increase in popularity is correlated with an increase in competition, urging students to excel in order to gain admission.