What are the 9 campuses of the University of California?

The nine undergraduate campuses of the University of California (UC) system are UC Berkeley, UCLA (Los Angeles), UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside, and UC Merced, each offering unique academic environments, research, and campus cultures, alongside the graduate-only UC San Francisco (UCSF).

What are the 9 UC campuses?

The nine undergraduate University of California (UC) campuses are Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles (UCLA), Merced, Riverside, San Diego (UCSD), Santa Barbara (UCSB), and Santa Cruz (UCSC), all offering bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees, with UC San Francisco being the graduate-only health sciences campus. These campuses form the core of the UC system, known for strong public research and diverse academic environments.
 

How many campuses are there in the University of California?

There are 10 University of California (UC) campuses, with nine offering undergraduate and graduate programs (Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz) and UC San Francisco being a graduate-level health sciences campus only. All are part of the public UC system, providing educational and research opportunities across California. 

What is the hardest UC campus to get into?

The hardest University of California (UC) to get into is consistently UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles), often followed closely by UC Berkeley, both known for their extremely low acceptance rates (around 9-11% for UCLA and 11-13% for Berkeley in recent years) and high GPA/test score requirements. These two are generally considered the most selective, with acceptance rates for specific competitive programs like Nursing or Film at UCLA even lower, while other UCs like UC Merced and UC Riverside are significantly easier to get into. 

What are the six UC campuses?

Admission, to most – but not all – majors can be guaranteed to six UC campuses: UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Santa Cruz.

The University of California System | All 10 Campuses

What is the most prestigious UC?

Forbes currently has the UC Berkeley ranking at #2 on the list of top colleges in America, and US News ranks it as the #1 public university in the nation. Real students at the school say that academics, diversity, and student life are especially great at UC Berkeley.

What is the 9 UC rule?

The Statewide Index identifies California-resident students in the top 9 percent of California high school graduates and offers these students a guaranteed space at a UC campus, if space is available.

Which UC is known as the party school?

UC Santa Barbara was ranked the No. 1 party school in the U.S. for 2026, holding onto its top spot from last year, per Niche's new report.

What is the safest UC campus?

Which UC campus is the safest? UC Riverside, Santa Barbara, and San Diego are generally considered to be the safest UC campuses.

What is the easiest university to get into in California?

Easiest colleges to get into in California

• Ashford University acceptance rate.
• California State University Bakersfield acceptance rate.
• Sonoma State University acceptance rate.
• Marymount California University acceptance rate.
• Mills College acceptance rate.
• California State University Stanislaus acceptance rate.

What is the #1 University in California?

There isn't one single "number 1" university in California, as rankings vary, but Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) consistently rank at the very top, often trading places as the best private and public universities, respectively, with Caltech (California Institute of Technology) also being a leading private institution and UCLA a top public university. Stanford and Caltech lead for private options, while UC Berkeley and UCLA are top public choices, with Berkeley often noted as the #1 public university. 

What is the smallest UC?

You'll also find significant differences in student body size between the different UC campuses. UC Merced is the smallest, with about 8,000 undergraduate students.

Is UCLA or UCB more prestigious?

Both UCLA and UC Berkeley are highly prestigious, but Berkeley often edges out UCLA in global research rankings, while UCLA frequently leads in U.S. national rankings for undergraduate experience and social mobility, creating a dynamic rivalry where prestige depends on the specific metric and field. Berkeley is often seen as having stronger research heft and engineering/STEM programs, while UCLA is praised for its vibrant student life and strong undergraduate focus, though both are considered top-tier public universities. 

What is the oldest University in California?

University of the Pacific is California's oldest university, founded July 10, 1851—less than a year after California received statehood. Established by pioneering Methodist ministers, it remains the only Methodist-related university in California.

What is the newest UC campus?

The youngest campus, UC Merced opened in fall 2005 to serve the San Joaquin Valley. UC Santa Cruz, founded in 1965.

What is the hardest UC to get into?

The hardest University of California (UC) to get into is consistently UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles), often followed closely by UC Berkeley, both known for their extremely low acceptance rates (around 9-11% for UCLA and 11-13% for Berkeley in recent years) and high GPA/test score requirements. These two are generally considered the most selective, with acceptance rates for specific competitive programs like Nursing or Film at UCLA even lower, while other UCs like UC Merced and UC Riverside are significantly easier to get into. 

What is the cheapest UC campus?

The cheapest UC school is generally considered to be UC Merced, often cited for its lowest net price and lower living costs compared to other campuses, though specific costs vary and financial aid is key for affordability at any UC. While base tuition is similar across UCs, Merced's lower cost of living (housing, food) in its region makes it the most budget-friendly overall for many students, especially in-state. 

What is the #1 party College in America?

According to recent rankings, the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) is frequently named the #1 party school in the U.S. for 2025-2026 by sources like Niche, recognized for its lively beach culture and social scene, followed by schools like Florida State University (FSU) and Tulane University. Rankings vary by publication, but UCSB consistently ranks high due to its active campus life, bars, Greek life, and overall party culture, notes Niche. 

Why is UCLA not number 1 anymore?

UCLA's slip from the #1 public university spot (held for eight years) to #2 behind UC Berkeley in recent U.S. News rankings is attributed to factors like cuts in federal research funding due to campus controversies (antisemitism, affirmative action) and shifts in ranking methodologies, though some argue the rankings don't fully capture UCLA's value, while others note UC Berkeley's strong programs and Silicon Valley ties. 

What is the #1 ranked school in California?

There's no single "number 1 school" as rankings vary by source and focus (public/private, high school/elementary/university), but top contenders often include California Academy of Mathematics & Science (CAMS) and Whitney High School for public high schools, while institutions like UCLA, UC Berkeley, and Stanford lead university rankings, with specific elementary schools like Duveneck also praised.
 

What is the lowest GPA a UC will accept?

For University of California (UC) first-year admission, the minimum GPA is 3.0 for California residents and 3.4 for non-residents, based on your college-preparatory "A-G" courses, with no grade lower than a C; however, competitive GPAs are often higher, especially for popular majors. Transfer students generally need at least a 2.4 GPA for residents (2.8 for non-residents) in transferable courses, though specific campuses and majors (like UC Davis) often require higher. 

Which 60 colleges are being investigated?

U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights Sends Letters to 60 Universities Under Investigation for Antisemitic Discrimination and Harassment

• American University.
• Arizona State University.
• Boston University.
• Brown University.
• California State University, Sacramento.
• Chapman University.
• Columbia University.

Is it better to go to a UC or CAL state?

Although on average, the UC schools outrank Cal State schools in CollegeVine's rankings, many of the CSU system schools place highly overall. Notable CSU institutions include Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, which is positioned at number 132 on our list, ahead of four of the UC institutions.