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UC Sees Historic Jump In Minority Applicants

The University of California has seen its most diverse applicant pool ever for the second year in a row now.

Overall, UC saw 210,840 first-year applications for fall 2022, a 3.5% increase over from last year, the Los Angeles Times reports. Of the first-year applicants, 132,337 were California residents with 38% being Latino, 31% Asian American, 21% white, 7% Black, 1% American Indian, and less than 1% Pacific Islander.

BLACK APPLICANTS SEE GREATER REPRESENTATION

Minorities have seen increased representation among the UC applicant pool in recent years. Black applicants have seen the fastest growth with their numbers increasing 25% system-wide over the past two years. At more competitive campuses, the growth in Black applicants is even more pronounced with UC Berkeley seeing a 57% increase and UCLA 47%.

“The University of California remains an institution of choice for so many hardworking prospective undergraduates,” UC President Michael V. Drake says in a statement. “This diverse group of students has shown their commitment to pursuing higher education and we are thrilled they want to join us at UC.”

COMMUNITY COLLEGE ENROLLMENT DECLINES

While UC saw large growth, California Community Colleges (CCCs) declined in enrollment by 13% since the last year. System-wide, transfer applications decreased 12.6% from last year. The drop in CCC enrollment is in line with a decline in community college enrollment nationwide in recent years.

“UC is aware of the decrease in transfer applications and California Community College students across the system and is working to ensure that this critical group is supported in their efforts to apply at our campuses,” Han Mi Yoon-Wu, executive director of Undergraduate Admissions at UC, says. “We are committed to having a strong and diverse pipeline of students.”

Sources: University of California, Los Angeles Times