University of California, Los Angeles

University of California Los Angeles is the #1 Public School in USA, according to U.S.News and World Report 2022. Offering 1200+ courses, UCLA is listed among the most-enrolled universities in the USA. UCLA masters programs are more popular than the undergraduate program. International students comprise 22% of overall PG enrollment. In 2021, 38% of international students enrolled in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Civil Engineering. Other than engineering, LLM and MS Computer Science were the most enrolled programs.

UCLA’s campus is voted #2 in the USA, led by the University of Southern California. It is a single-campus accommodating 31,600 undergraduate and 14,300 graduate & professional students. The campus location is one of the key attractions for international students. It is just 30-minutes away from Hollywood and a 20-minute drive from Santa Monica beach. The year-round warm weather is also great for Indian students. 

UCLA opens its application session on August 1 and starts accepting applications until November 30. International students seeking admission to UC Los Angeles need a GPA of 3.6 (~89-90%) or above to even be considered. Students need a minimum TOEFL score of 100 for undergraduate programs and 80 for graduate courses. For MS courses, statement of purpose and personal statements are both necessary and also assessed for fellowships. MBA admissions includes an interview round as well. University of California Los Angeles admission decisions are declared by late March for freshmen applicants and by late April for transfer students.

The annual cost of studying at University of California Los Angeles varies between 43 to 49 lakhs INR, depending on the students’ choice of program and accommodation type. Though there are no international student scholarships, the on-campus job opportunities at UCLA are vast and innovative. The university has an outstanding record of 95% employment within 6 months of graduation. After graduating, UCLA students secured employment with lucrative salaries across companies like Amazon, AIG, Intel, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Citi, KPMG.

UCLA Highlights

Likes

• Affordable Fees: Study cost at University of California Los Angeles is estimated around 43 to 49 lakhs INR for international students. With work-study programs and other financial aid programs, students can fund up to 60% of their tuition fees.
• Work-Study Opportunities: UC Los Angeles encourages students for work-while studying and is quite innovative. For example, there is a profile of Lead Program Assistant at Partnership UCLA wherein students get an opportunity to interact with university alumni and thereby expand their social network.
• Balanced Lifestyle: UCLA’s academic curriculum keeps students on their toes, but the university is also famous for its events and party scenes. Whatever students want to pursue in their free time, there is a 99% chance there is an opportunity for it.
• Guaranteed Housing: Undergraduate students at UC Los Angeles are guaranteed on-campus accommodation for all 4 years of their program.
• Food on-campus: UCLA’s dorm food is almost the talk of the campus. Though it doesn’t factor in applicants’ university decisions, the amazing on-campus dining is quite a perk.

Dislikes:

• No International Scholarships: UCLA does not provide scholarships to international students, irrespective of their field of study. Students need to rely on external sources for scholarships or work-study opportunities.
• Small Campus: Although UC Los Angeles has the maximum number of students among all the UCs, its campus size is the smallest, making it a congested campus.
• Quarter System: UC Los Angeles adheres to 10-week quarter system instead of two-semester system, like UC Berkeley. While the quarter system allows students to take six more classes in 4-years, it adds extra pressure on them.
• Limited Undergraduate Majors/Minor: For a top public university, UCLA is offering a limited number of UG majors and minors. The university doesn’t have its own undergraduate business school.

UCLA Rankings

UC Los Angeles is ranking at #44 by QS Global World Rankings, 2023. The national and subject rankings of UCLA are also impressive:

• #20 in the World University Rankings by Times Higher Education, 2022
• #27 in US College Rankings by Times Higher Education, 2022
• #20 in National Universities by US News and World Report, 2022
• #1 in Top Public Schools, by US News and World Report, 2022

UCLA Acceptance Rate

UCLA acceptance rate is only 11%, reflecting a highly competitive admission policy. For Fall 2021, UCLA received 139,490 freshmen applications. The university admitted only 15,028 applicants among them. Only 6,586 of these students enrolled to the university.

UCLA is the most applied-to university in USA. UCLA houses 31,636 undergraduate students and 14,364 graduate students. The university is home to 5,400 international students representing 118 countries. 

UCLA Courses

Programs at University of California Los Angeles are offered via 10 schools and colleges. There are currently 31,600 undergraduate and 14,300 graduate students enrolled in the institution. The university is known for its UCLA School of Dentistry and UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. The popularity of UCLA courses varies amongst UG and PG students.

The University of California Los Angeles offers a plethora of courses at different levels. Following are the details of the programs offered by the university:

• 3900 courses at bachelor’s level, including 390 majors and 90 minor courses.
• 200+ masters and doctoral programs in 120+ professional and academic fields.
• 139 certificates and specializations courses.