UC admission rate for Californian students drops slightly

UC admission rate for Californian students drops slightly

After rising last year by more than 15 percent, the number of in-state freshmen admitted to the University of California for the fall of 2017 dropped 1.7 percent from the year before, according to data released by UC on Thursday.

About 70,000 freshmen and 21,000 transfer students from California have been offered a spot at one of UC’s nine campuses. And despite the slight decline this year, UC says it’s on pace to meet its goal of adding 10,000 more Californians to the system by the 2018-19 school year over the course of several years.
The system exceeded its goal of adding 5,000 more California students last year and should be able to add 2,500 this fall and the year after, UC says. About 25 percent of in-state freshmen admitted for the fall of 2017 are from the Bay Area.


“We welcome this accomplished, talented group of applicants to the university,” UC President Janet Napolitano said in a statement. “All of us — in California and throughout the nation and world — will be enriched by their talent, curiosity and drive to learn and succeed.”


Overall, the system’s admission rate for California students is 62.6 percent and about 54 percent for out-of-state students. But at some of UC’s most coveted schools, it’s actually harder for in-state students to land a spot.


At Berkeley, the admission rate for in-state residents was 19.7 percent, slightly below the 22.1 percent admission rate for out-of-state students. UCLA had the lowest admission rate of 14.6 percent for California residents, significantly below its 23.3 percent admission rate for out-of-state residents.


Out-of-state students aren’t as likely to actually enroll as California residents, said Stephen Handel, UC’s vice president of undergraduate admissions, during a call with reporters. But the number of out-of-state students who actually enroll won’t be available until the fall.


But the news comes as the system faces criticism for failing to do enough to serve the state’s young people. In addition, a recent state audit found that the central office maintained a $175 million undisclosed fund, raising questions about how the system is managed.


Earlier this year, the UC regents who oversee the system voted to impose a cap on the percentage of out-of-state students for the first time in UC’s 149-year history. At most campuses, the percentage of out-of-state undergraduates will be limited to 18 percent. But schools already above that limit —Berkeley, San Diego, Los Angeles and Irvine — can keep their 2017-18 nonresident enrollment levels moving forward.


The proportion of Californians from historically underrepresented groups and low-income families has also increased slightly, from 37.8 percent last year to 38.7 percent this year. Latinos make up about a third of admitted California freshmen compared to about 40 percent of state residents, while African-Americans make up just 5 percent of admitted students and about 6 percent of state residents. Berkeley admitted 375 African-American students, down 26 from last year, or 3.9 percent of admitted students, down from 4.1 percent last year.


Nearly 40 percent of California freshmen admitted come from low-income families, and 43 percent will be the first in their families to go to college.
About 70,000 freshmen and 21,000 transfer students from California have been offered a spot at one of UC’s nine campuses. And despite the slight decline this year, UC says it’s on pace to meet its goal of adding 10,000 more Californians to the system by the 2018-19 school year over the course of several years.
The system exceeded its goal of adding 5,000 more California students last year and should be able to add 2,500 this fall and the year after, UC says. About 25 percent of in-state freshmen admitted for the fall of 2017 are from the Bay Area.
“We welcome this accomplished, talented group of applicants to the university,” UC President Janet Napolitano said in a statement. “All of us — in California and throughout the nation and world — will be enriched by their talent, curiosity and drive to learn and succeed.”
Overall, the system’s admission rate for California students is 62.6 percent and about 54 percent for out-of-state students. But at some of UC’s most coveted schools, it’s actually harder for in-state students to land a spot.
At Berkeley, the admission rate for in-state residents was 19.7 percent, slightly below the 22.1 percent admission rate for out-of-state students. UCLA had the lowest admission rate of 14.6 percent for California residents, significantly below its 23.3 percent admission rate for out-of-state residents.
Out-of-state students aren’t as likely to actually enroll as California residents, said Stephen Handel, UC’s vice president of undergraduate admissions, during a call with reporters. But the number of out-of-state students who actually enroll won’t be available until the fall.
But the news comes as the system faces criticism for failing to do enough to serve the state’s young people. In addition, a recent state audit found that the central office maintained a $175 million undisclosed fund, raising questions about how the system is managed.
Earlier this year, the UC regents who oversee the system voted to impose a cap on the percentage of out-of-state students for the first time in UC’s 149-year history. At most campuses, the percentage of out-of-state undergraduates will be limited to 18 percent. But schools already above that limit —Berkeley, San Diego, Los Angeles and Irvine — can keep their 2017-18 nonresident enrollment levels moving forward.
The proportion of Californians from historically underrepresented groups and low-income families has also increased slightly, from 37.8 percent last year to 38.7 percent this year. Latinos make up about a third of admitted California freshmen compared to about 40 percent of state residents, while African-Americans make up just 5 percent of admitted students and about 6 percent of state residents. Berkeley admitted 375 African-American students, down 26 from last year, or 3.9 percent of admitted students, down from 4.1 percent last year.
Nearly 40 percent of California freshmen admitted come from low-income families, and 43 percent will be the first in their families to go to college.

Credit: ​mercurynews