Data Analysis
Where UCLA Admits Enroll Instead
By Data Team | Published May 5, 2026 | Updated June 5, 2026
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) maintained an overall freshman yield rate near 48% for the 2025 admissions cycle. However, cross-admit data reveals that over 1,100 admitted freshmen and 1,150 admitted transfers chose to enroll at UC Berkeley, the primary alternative destination for UCLA applicants.
This report isolates the Top 25 enrollment destinations for students admitted to UCLA across the 2024 and 2025 cycles, segmenting by freshman and transfer populations. By tracking these enrollment pathways, the analysis identifies which Top 25 National Universities and peer public institutions are successfully drawing academic talent away from UCLA amid a highly selective 9% overall admit rate.
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UC Berkeley Competitiveness: UC Berkeley remains the primary competitor for UCLA admits. In 2025, 1,150 freshmen admitted to UCLA enrolled at UC Berkeley—an increase from 986 in 2024. This confirms historical cross-admit data indicating a strong applicant preference toward Berkeley when dual-admitted.
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Ivy+ and Top 25 Private Appeal: Ivy+ and Top 25 National Universities—notably Stanford, USC, and Columbia—saw increased enrollments from the UCLA admit pool. Stanford enrolled 428 UCLA admits in 2025 (up from 364), while Columbia drew 193 (up from 135), illustrating the intense competition for the top decile of the applicant pool.
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Consistent Transfer Yield: UCLA yields a high percentage of the transfer market. In both 2024 and 2025, UCLA successfully yielded over 60% of its transfer admits. Students choosing other institutions were heavily internalized within the UC system, primarily opting for UC Berkeley (18%) and UC Irvine (4%).
Analyzing Competitor Shifts: Short & Long-Term Trends
The 2024 to 2025 admissions cycles exposed distinct shifts in UCLA’s ability to yield cross-admits. While UCLA securely enrolls nearly half of its freshman admits, the volume of students selecting out-of-state Ivy+ institutions or UC Berkeley increased measurably.
Analyzing these short-term shifts contextualizes the broader national data. We integrated figures from the UCLA Academic Planning and Budget Dashboard and recent cross-admit behavior tracking to evaluate where UCLA admits have enrolled over the last decade.
The 10-Year Macro View (2015-2025)
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Freshman Yield Expansion: Over a 10-year horizon, UCLA's freshman yield has seen steady growth. In 2015, UCLA yielded just 35% of its admitted freshmen, with 22% enrolling at Private Selective institutions and 19% at "Other UCs". By 2025, UCLA successfully stabilized its yield near 48% (peaking at 52% in 2023), while enrollments at other UC campuses shrank to 12%.
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Transfer Yield Consistency: Unlike the more volatile freshman pool, UCLA's transfer yield has remained consistent over the decade, tightly oscillating between 57% and 63%. In 2025, UCLA captured 61% of its transfer admits. The vast majority of the remaining pool (27% in 2025) continues to enroll at other UC campuses, reaffirming the insular nature of the California transfer pipeline.
Immediate YOY Shifts (2024 vs 2025)
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Freshman Yield Contraction: In 2024, UCLA yielded 50% of its admitted freshmen (6,610 enrollments). In 2025, this rate softened to 48% (6,551 enrollments). This contraction correlates directly with an increase in cross-admits enrolling at UC Berkeley (up 16.6%), Stanford (up 17.5%), and Columbia (up 42.9%).
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The USC Cross-Town Rivalry: The University of Southern California (USC) remains a persistent regional competitor, ranking as the #4 destination for non-yielding UCLA admits in both years. USC enrolled 273 UCLA admits in 2024 and expanded its pull to 319 admits in 2025.
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Transfer System Isolation: UCLA is highly insulated against private universities in the transfer market. In 2025, 96% of all non-yielding UCLA transfer admits enrolled at another public California university. USC was the highest-ranking private destination, capturing 123 students (2% of the pool).
Freshman Competitor Destinations
The tables below detail the absolute volume of admitted UCLA freshmen who chose to enroll elsewhere, ranked by total volume. The data exposes UCLA's competition with both regional competitors (UC Berkeley, Stanford, USC) and the broader Ivy+ ecosystem.
2024 Freshman Destinations
Enrollment Institution
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# UCLA Admits | % UCLA Admits |
|---|---|---|
| 1. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-LOS ANGELES (Self) | 6,610 | 50% |
| 2. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-BERKELEY | 986 | 8% |
| 3. STANFORD UNIVERSITY | 364 | 3% |
| 4. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | 273 | 2% |
| 5. HARVARD UNIVERSITY | 197 | 2% |
| 6. UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | 181 | 1% |
| 7. CORNELL UNIVERSITY | 176 | 1% |
| 8. YALE UNIVERSITY | 169 | 1% |
| 9. MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | 150 | 1% |
| 10. BROWN UNIVERSITY | 137 | 1% |
| 11. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | 135 | 1% |
| 12. DUKE UNIVERSITY | 123 | 1% |
| 13. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-SAN DIEGO | 120 | 1% |
| 14. JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY ARTSSCIENCES EN | 113 | 1% |
| 15. CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY | 111 | 1% |
| 16. PRINCETON UNIVERSITY | 110 | 1% |
| 17. GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | 92 | 1% |
| 18. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE | 88 | 1% |
| 19. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-DAVIS | 85 | 1% |
| 20. UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN | 82 | 1% |
| 21. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | 79 | 1% |
| 22. NEW YORK UNIVERSITY | 77 | 1% |
| 23. NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | 77 | 1% |
| 24. GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY | 71 | 1% |
| 25. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-SANTA BARBARA | 64 | 0% |
2025 Freshman Destinations
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Enrollment Institution
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# UCLA Admits | % UCLA Admits |
|---|---|---|
| 1. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-LOS ANGELES (Self) | 6,551 | 48% |
| 2. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-BERKELEY | 1,150 | 8% |
| 3. STANFORD UNIVERSITY | 428 | 3% |
| 4. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | 319 | 2% |
| 5. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | 193 | 1% |
| 6. HARVARD UNIVERSITY | 192 | 1% |
| 7. YALE UNIVERSITY | 183 | 1% |
| 8. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-SAN DIEGO | 180 | 1% |
| 9. UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | 174 | 1% |
| 10. CORNELL UNIVERSITY | 166 | 1% |
| 11. UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN | 163 | 1% |
| 12. PRINCETON UNIVERSITY | 157 | 1% |
| 13. DUKE UNIVERSITY | 148 | 1% |
| 14. JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY ARTSSCIENCES EN | 129 | 1% |
| 15. CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY | 122 | 1% |
| 16. BROWN UNIVERSITY | 119 | 1% |
| 17. GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | 119 | 1% |
| 18. MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | 116 | 1% |
| 19. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-DAVIS | 104 | 1% |
| 20. UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN | 102 | 1% |
| 21. NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY | 93 | 1% |
| 22. GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY | 88 | 1% |
| 23. NEW YORK UNIVERSITY | 77 | 1% |
| 24. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE | 71 | 1% |
| 25. UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON - SEATTLE | 60 | 0% |
Freshman Enrollment Destination Map
National Scale Destinations
California Regional Destinations
Transfer Competitor Destinations
The transfer population exhibits fundamentally different matriculation logic. Utilizing pathways originating predominantly from California Community Colleges, admitted transfer students are highly likely to enroll in their target UC campus. When UCLA transfer admits choose another school, they primarily remain within the UC system.
2024 Transfer Destinations
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Enrollment Institution
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# UCLA Admits | % UCLA Admits |
|---|---|---|
| 1. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-LOS ANGELES (Self) | 3,830 | 62% |
| 2. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-BERKELEY | 929 | 15% |
| 3. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE | 224 | 4% |
| 4. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-SAN DIEGO | 210 | 3% |
| 5. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-DAVIS | 100 | 2% |
| 6. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-SANTA BARBARA | 92 | 1% |
| 7. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | 81 | 1% |
| 8. CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY-SAN LUIS OBISPO | 35 | 1% |
| 9. SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY | 35 | 1% |
| 10. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-RIVERSIDE | 29 | 0% |
| 11. CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY- NORTHRIDGE | 24 | 0% |
| 12. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-SANTA CRUZ | 19 | 0% |
| 13. CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY - LONG BEACH | 18 | 0% |
| 14. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | 17 | 0% |
| 15. CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY-POMONA | 14 | 0% |
| 16. STANFORD UNIVERSITY | 12 | 0% |
| 17. CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY - FULLERTON | 11 | 0% |
2025 Transfer Destinations
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Enrollment Institution
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# UCLA Admits | % UCLA Admits |
|---|---|---|
| 1. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-LOS ANGELES (Self) | 3,930 | 61% |
| 2. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-BERKELEY | 1,156 | 18% |
| 3. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE | 233 | 4% |
| 4. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-SAN DIEGO | 181 | 3% |
| 5. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | 123 | 2% |
| 6. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-DAVIS | 82 | 1% |
| 7. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-SANTA BARBARA | 67 | 1% |
| 8. CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY - LONG BEACH | 30 | 0% |
| 9. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-RIVERSIDE | 29 | 0% |
| 10. SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY | 28 | 0% |
| 11. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-SANTA CRUZ | 27 | 0% |
| 12. CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY-POMONA | 26 | 0% |
| 13. CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY-SAN LUIS OBISPO | 19 | 0% |
| 14. STANFORD UNIVERSITY | 19 | 0% |
| 15. COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | 12 | 0% |
| 16. CORNELL UNIVERSITY | 12 | 0% |
| 17. YALE UNIVERSITY | 12 | 0% |
Transfer Enrollment Destination Map
National Scale Destinations
California Regional Destinations
FAQ: UCLA Cross-Admit & Enrollment Data
Based strictly on the latest admissions and enrollment data analyzed above, here are the most frequently asked questions regarding where accepted UCLA students ultimately matriculate.
UC Berkeley is the primary competitor. In 2025, over 1,150 admitted freshmen and 1,156 admitted transfers chose to enroll at UC Berkeley instead of UCLA.
Yes. Ivy+ and Top 25 National Universities, particularly Stanford, Columbia, Harvard, and Yale, consistently draw a significant portion of top cross-admitted talent. For instance, Stanford enrolled 428 UCLA freshman admits in 2025.
UCLA is highly successful in the transfer market, yielding over 60% of its transfer admits in recent cycles. Most non-yielding transfer students choose to remain within the UC system, typically opting for UC Berkeley or UC Irvine.
The University of Southern California (USC) is UCLA's top cross-town private competitor. In 2025, USC enrolled 319 freshman admits and 123 transfer admits who had also been accepted to UCLA.
Data Sources
The admissions data and metrics referenced throughout this report are derived directly from the official University of California analytics repository and cross-referenced with national trends to isolate true competitor pathways.
- Admissions Statistics & Campus Planning - UCLA Academic Planning and Budget
- Admissions by Source School & Destination (First-Year Undergraduates) - UC Information Center
- Transfer Enrollment and Pathways Report (Fall 2025) - National Student Clearinghouse
- Undergraduate Admissions Summaries - UC Office of the President (UCOP)
Further Reading
Geographic Consolidation of UCLA Undergraduate Admissions and The Structural Deficit of The Most Applied-to University
An exhaustive analysis of UCLA's domestic undergraduate admissions strategy, mapping capacity constraints, geographic expansion, out-of-state constriction, the structural deficit, and test-blind mechanics.
The Southern California Advantage: Analyzing UCLA’s Top Domestic Feeder Schools
Data-driven analysis of UCLA's 2024-2025 domestic undergraduate admissions, analyzing the Top 25 Public and Top 25 Private feeder high schools in California.