If you aspire to become a Triton at UC San Diego as a freshman, a near-perfect cumulative high school GPA of around 4.0 is typically expected. However, for those who may not have achieved perfection in high school, there exists a viable pathway to join the Triton community. Remarkably, over 12,000 transfer applicants are granted this opportunity each year, and the UC San Diego acceptance rate for transfers might be higher than anticipated. This blog will provide insights into the UCSD transfer acceptance rate along with crucial details such as the UCSD transfer deadline, application requirements, the transfer decision date, and more.
What is the UCSD transfer acceptance rate?
Here we present the most recent UCSD transfer acceptance rate and historical data.
For the fall entry of 2023, UCSD received 19,964 transfer applications and admitted 12,464 students, resulting in a UCSD transfer acceptance rate of 62.4%.
When seeking a comprehensive understanding of the transfer difficulty for a particular school, it’s crucial to examine historical data. Many institutions experience significant variations in transfer acceptance rates over different years. However, UC San Diego consistently maintains a steady range, typically falling within 49% to 57%.
Following are the historical transfer rates of UCSD:
| Year | Acceptance Rate |
| 2022 | 57.2% |
| 2021 | 54.7% |
| 2020 | 55.9% |
| 2019 | 56.2% |
| 2018 | 49.5% |
| 2017 | 54.3% |
What is the UCSD transfer acceptance by major?
Given UCSD’s size, it’s crucial to delve into acceptance rates by major. Here are the transfer acceptance rates for some of the most sought-after majors at the University of California San Diego:
| Major | Acceptance Rate |
| Biology | 59% |
| Psychology | 68% |
| Economics | 60% |
| Communication Arts | 73% |
| Mechanical Engineering | 9% |
| Computer Science | 14% |
As stated by the university, their most competitive majors encompass Business Economics, along with all majors within the schools of Biological Sciences, Data Science, Engineering, and Public Health.
What are the UCSD transfer requirements?
All applicants to UC San Diego must submit the following items as part of their application:
- A University of California Application
- Personal insight questions
- Supplemental materials (for certain majors, e.g., Visual Arts, Music, or Theatre & Dance, which may require a portfolio or audition video)
- Official transcripts and letters of recommendation are not part of the UCSD transfer requirements and are not accepted during the admissions process. However, by January 31, all applicants must complete a Transfer Academic Update (TAU) providing fall grades and planned spring coursework. Final, official transcripts will be required if accepted.
In addition to meeting these requirements, applicants should have achieved/earned the following:
- Minimum 60 UC-transferable semester credits (90 UC-transferable quarter units), with admission granted at the junior level.
- Overall minimum GPA of 3.0 in all transferable college-level coursework.
- Completion of minimum Major Preparation Courses, which vary by major.
- Fulfillment of Transfer General Education Requirements, including the 7-course pattern.
- Attendance at a California community college, as over 90% of accepted transfer students come from CA community colleges.
What is the UCSD Transfer GPA?
According to the university, the mid-50% GPA range for enrolled transfers falls between 3.48 and 3.91. In our experience, students with a GPA of 3.7 or above can present a compelling case for admission.
Is UCSD hard to get into as a transfer?
To gain entry in the fall of 2023, UCSD received 19,964 applications and admitted 12,464 students, resulting in a transfer acceptance rate of 62.4%. When assessing the overall difficulty of transferring into a particular school, it’s crucial to consider historical data alongside current figures.
Does UCSD accept international transfer students?
International students seeking to transfer must attain grades of B or higher in the mandatory UC-transferable English composition courses. Additionally, they need to submit a TOEFL score of 83 or higher (internet-based test) or an IELTS examination with a band score of 7 or better in the academic module.
What is the UCSD transfer decision date?
The UCSD transfer decision date is released on a rolling basis, typically falling between March and April.
What is the UCSD transfer deadline?
The deadline for UCSD transfer applications is November 30 for all academic programs. The application window opens on August 1, allowing you to initiate the process and submit all required materials. Additionally, keep in mind that the FAFSA deadline is March 2 for financial aid considerations.
Conclusion
The goal of the admissions staff, as articulated by the university, is to identify and admit students fully prepared to excel in the challenging academic environment. They seek individuals with strong academic achievements, exceptional personal talent, and a diverse range of abilities and backgrounds representative of California. Furthermore, if you are accepted as a transfer student to UC San Diego, you’ll join a significant portion of the undergraduate student body, as approximately 33% are transfer students.