One-Quarter Of New UC Students Transfer From Community Colleges: Report

About 36,000 students attending community colleges applied to transfer to a UC school in 2025.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 6:21am

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A brightly colored, abstract grid of textbooks in vibrant shades of blue, green, and orange, conceptually representing the growing importance of community college transfers for UC enrollment.Community college transfers are playing an increasingly vital role in fueling enrollment at UC campuses across California.Today in Sacramento

A new report has found that around one-quarter of students who enrolled at University of California schools in the previous year attended a community college before transferring. The data shows that for fall 2025, about 77% of transfer students gained acceptance to at least one UC school among approximately 36,000 who applied, with over 19,000 community college students ultimately enrolling in the UC system.

Why it matters

This trend highlights the important role that community colleges play in providing accessible pathways to four-year university education, especially for students who may not have the means or qualifications to enroll directly in a UC school. The varied acceptance rates across different community colleges also suggest that factors like curriculum focus and student support services can significantly impact transfer outcomes.

The details

The report found that UC Merced had the highest acceptance rate of 75% among UC schools, while UC Berkeley had the lowest at 25%. The acceptance rates among individual community colleges also varied widely, with some colleges noted as having a more "transfer-oriented culture." Factors like students' grades and the quality of guidance counseling also contributed to admissions rates. For example, Cabrillo College in the Bay Area had the highest acceptance rate to UC Berkeley at 38%, followed closely by Laney College in Oakland and Monterey Peninsula College.

  • The report analyzed data for fall 2025 admissions.
  • In the previous year, over 19,000 community college students enrolled in the UC system.

The players

University of California

The public university system in California, consisting of 10 campuses across the state.

Cabrillo College

A community college located in the Bay Area that had the highest acceptance rate to UC Berkeley at 38%.

Laney College

A community college in Oakland that had a 37% acceptance rate to UC Berkeley, close behind Cabrillo College.

Monterey Peninsula College

A community college that had a 37% acceptance rate to UC Berkeley, also close behind Cabrillo College.

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The takeaway

This report highlights the growing importance of community colleges as a pathway to four-year university education, especially for students who may face financial or academic barriers to enrolling directly in a UC school. The varied acceptance rates across different community colleges suggest that institutional factors like curriculum focus and student support services can play a significant role in facilitating successful transfers.