University of California - San Francisco Acceptance Rate 2025

One of the most prestigious universities around the globe, the University of California San Francisco is a private research university in Stockton, California, United States. UCSF is one of the best study-abroad universities for international students as the UC San Francisco ranking has been consistent among the top 100 US universities for over a decade.

Students worldwide apply for University of California San Francisco admissions due to the university's world-class programs, impressive return on investment, vibrant campus life, and more. However, due to the university's competitive nature, only a fraction of candidates secure an enrolment.

University of California San Francisco Acceptance Rate 2024

For Fall 2023 admissions, UCSF received over 8,700 applications from prospective undergraduates and graduates. Out of these, only about 280 candidates secured an admission offer from the university. Hence, it can be concluded that with the University of California San Francisco acceptance rate of 3.2%, the university is extremely selective to get into.

University of California San Francisco Acceptance Rate for International Students

As of the academic year 2024-25, the total enrollment of the university stands at 3,017, including 1,909 females. Of these, 321 (10.6%) students are international. Mentioned below are some of the key statistics:

When it comes to the ethnic breakdown, a vast number of students are Asian, White, Hispanic, International, Black, and more.

University of California San Francisco Acceptance Rate Trends

Lately, the acceptance rate of UCSF has witnessed a surge in comparison to the previous years. In Fall 2023, the UC San Francisco acceptance rate for international students stood at 3.2%. Whereas, in Fall 2021, it was recorded to be at merely 2.5%.

Also, the number of students applying to the University of California San Francisco Campus has witnessed a dip in the past few years. In Fall 2023, the university received a total of 8.776 applications, out of which only 282 students managed to secure admission to the university. When we talk about the Fall 2021 statistics, a total of 9,824 candidates applied to the university and merely 249 out of them were granted admission.

University of California San Francisco Admission Requirements for International Students

All overseas applicants must meet certain UC San Francisco admission requirements listed below to secure admission:

Undergraduate Requirements:

• Official secondary school transcripts;
• Proof of English language proficiency; and
• SAT/ACT scores (not mandatory).

Graduate Requirements:

• Four-year bachelor’s degree (or equivalent);
• Proof of English language proficiency;
• Minimum of 3.5 GPA (on a 4.0 scale);
• GRE/GMAT scores;
• Resume/CV;
• Letters of recommendation (LOR); and
• Other course-specific requirements.

University of California San Francisco English Language Requirements: UCSF accepts major English proficiency exam scores as proof of proficiency in the English language. Students can refer to the table below for minimum score requirements:

University of California San Francisco Average GPA, SAT & ACT Scores

In order to secure enrollment in UCSF, students can appear for one of the standardized tests (SAT/ACT). However, it is not mandatory as the university is test optional. Listed below are the average score requirements:

Tips to Get Selected at the University of California San Francisco

UC San Francisco Campus is a competitive university to get into and thus, students must submit exceptional academic grades as well as excel in co-curricular activities.

Fulfilling the required Grade Point Average is one of the major entry requirements at the university and international students must maintain an undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) to boost their chances of getting admitted to the university. Apart from fulfilling the academic qualifications, some of the best practices that students can follow include acquiring strong letters of recommendation, submission of high English language proficiency scores and standardized test scores.

University of California San Francisco Vs University of San Francisco Acceptance Rate