18 June 2026: QS World University Rankings 2027 has been released on 18 June 2026. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is ranked #49 among 1,500+ universities. Check out QS World University Rankings 2027 trend analysis
University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
Los Angeles, California
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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.
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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.
Check Out: UCLA (Spanish)
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
Following are the subject-specific ranking comparison of UC Los Angeles along with few other top universities in USA:
| Subject | UCLA | Cornell University | Columbia University |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology | #6 | #36 | #12 |
| Economics | #14 | #29 | #12 |
| Medicine | #6 | #34 | #14 |
Read more:
| UCLA vs California Institute of Technology | UCLA vs Stanford University | UCLA vs University of Illinois |
| UCLA vs USC | NYU vs UCLA | University of Utah vs UCLA |
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.
Undergraduate Programs at UCLA
The popular majors at University of Los Angeles are Biology, Social Sciences, Life Sciences, and Business Economics. The graph below shows the subject-wise undergraduate student enrollments at UCLA in Fall 2021:
Postgraduate Programs at UCLA
The university offers masters and professional degree programs in over 120+ subject areas. Popular University of California Los Angeles masters courses include MS in CS, MS Business Analytics, and MS Data Science.
For detailed information about popular UC Los Angeles masters programs, refer to the graph below:
Note: The university also has a separate department for continuing education programs known as UCLA Extention. It offers more than 100 certificate courses in over 20 different fields.
UCLA Campus
UC Los Angeles 417-acres campus is nestled at the base of the Santa Monica Mountains. The campus location is prime as it’s just 5-miles away from the pacific ocean which makes for a perfect getaway. The campus life at UCLA is fun and happening, offering ample exposure to every student. The liveliness of the University of California Los Angeles exuberates in its:
- Student Organisations: 1200+ clubs and organizations that’s present an opportunity to connect with like-minded peers.
- Sports and Recreation: University of California Los Angeles hosts over 30 league tournaments and events along with 50 club sports.
- Arts and Culture: There’s a myriad of cultural events that take place at the university. Annually around 500,000 people visit the campus to attend 1000+ cultural events- dances, music, art galleries, cappella shows, and much more.
Amongst the UC colleges in USA, UC Los Angeles is the only institution with a strong student government. UCLA students play an active role in running the show on-campus; irrespective of their program. The Undergraduate Student Association and Graduate Student Association allocate all the budgets to the Clubs and Organizations and foster new Cubs and activities on the campus to cater to the needs of the students.
UCLA Accommodation
Yes, multiple on-campus accommodations are available for UG and PG students of University of California Los Angeles. To know UCLA campus housing cost, click here
The various kinds of housing offered at UC Los Angeles are:
- Freshmen on-campus housing: Classic & Deluxe Residence Halls; Residential Suites & Plazas
- Current & Transfer UG: University apartments comprising Studio units; One, two & three-bedroom units.
- Graduate (preferably Medical Students): 1480 apartments at University Apartment North.
- Married UG & PG Students: One, two, three-bedroom apartments at University Village.
- Graduate Students: 477 universities at University Apartment South.
After enrolling, you have to submit a separate housing application on UCLA portal, which charges 30 USD (~2,285 INR) application fees, by the end of June. From Fall 2022, UCLA will guarantee upto 4 years of student accommodation for incoming freshmen and 2 years of transfer students.
Students have estimated that by living off-campus, they can save around 3,000 USD. However, living off-campus also means that you have to miss out on 40% of UCLA campus life and experiences.
| Category | On-campus Cost in INR | Off-campus Cost in INR |
|---|---|---|
| Room & Meals | 13.75 lakhs | 11.05 lakhs |
| Transportation/Personal | 1.7 lakh | 2.16 lakhs |
| UC Health Insurance | 2.08 lakh | 2.08 lakhs |
UCLA Admission
Receiving more than 100,000 applications every year, admission to the University of California Los Angeles is not a piece of cake. This section provides a brief outline of what will be required to submit a successful application.
How to apply?
- Application Portal: Apply online at the official website.
- Application Fee: 80 USD (~6,370 INR) for undergraduates; 140 USD (~11,150 INR) for graduates
- Application Deadline: Application must be submitted either before November 30 for undergraduate programs and December 1 for graduate programs.
UCLA Undergraduate Admission Requirements:
- High school achievements
- Overall 70% in X and XII in State Board and CBSE with no mark below 60%
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (~83-86%)
- Achievement in academic enrichment program
- Achievement in creative or intellectual field
- Personal Insight Questions and Answers (Maximum 350 words)
- Proof of sufficient fund availability (Minimum tuition cost of 57,701+5000 USD living expenses)
- English proficiency test score
- TOEFL: 100
- IELTS: 7
- Duolingo: 120
UCLA Graduate Admission Requirements:
- Official academic transcripts of all the academic institution attended and high secondary transcripts
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (~83-86%)
- LOR for USA
- Resume/CV
- Statement of Purpose
- GMAT/GRE scores (GMAT range: 670-750)
- English proficiency requirement:
- Resume/ Work Experience (if required)
Decision Date: Students are informed about the admission decision within 2 to 3 weeks. Selection is based on both academic and non-academic aspects of the application.
UCLA Cost of Attendance
The average tuition and fees in 2022-2023 for the courses at University of California Los Angeles are as follows:
- Undergraduate Tuition fees: 33.27 lakhs INR
- Graduate Tuition Fees: 31.84 lakhs INR
The tuition for masters degree at UCLA varies depending on the program/department. The tuition fees for a few masters degrees are tabulated below:
| Degree | 1st Year Fees in INR |
|---|---|
| MS | 19.58 to 37.23 lakhs |
| MBA/PGDM | 45 to 61.01 lakhs |
| MIM | 19.3 to 34.5 lakhs |
| M.Arch | 19.58 to 29.35 lakhs |
| M.E/M.Tech | 19.58 lakhs |
| MA | 19.58 to 31.41 lakhs |
| MFA | 19.58 to 31.41 lakhs |
The cost of living in UCLA for resident students are as follows:
| Expense Type | Cost for 9 Months in INR |
|---|---|
| Room and meals | 13.32 lakhs |
| Books and supplies | 1.1 lakh |
| Transportation | 49,000 |
| Personal expenses | 1.15 lakh |
| Health insurance | 2.2 lakhs |
| Total | ~18.26 lakhs |
UCLA Scholarships
About 52% of students of the University of California Los Angeles are awarded some kind of scholarship and 34% of the students receive Pell grants as well.
- The average aid provided per student is approximately 26,007 USD.
- Scholarships are awarded on the basis of financial background, merit, talent, or professional interest.
- Students must fill out the financial aid form along with the online application form to apply for the scholarships.
- Some of the scholarships available at the institute are Regent Scholarships, Alumni Scholarships, and Achievement Scholarships, among others.
University of California Los Angeles does not offer any scholarships to international students. Prospective students need to apply for external scholarships. For more information, click here.
UC Los Angeles Work While Studying
International students can choose work-study options provided by the University of California, Los Angeles. The maximum permissible working hours is 20 hours per week. Students must have enrolled at least for a half time at UCLA and demonstrate financial need with an EFC of 12,000 USD or less to apply for its work-study programs.
Following are some of the available options:
- University: Available for international students & Deferred Act for Childhood Arrivals (DASA) only during the academic year and for everyone during the summer term. The amount: 500 USD to 5000 USD.
- Jump Start: ArmiCorps work-study program for undergraduates. The amount offered is up to 5000 USD. Work for promoting literacy in local pre-schools.
- America Reads: Offered by BruinCorps, a community service-learning program by UCLA Student Affairs. The amount offered is up to 5000 USD. Two programs available are- Tutoring and VISTA Project working towards providing educational opportunities to the under-resourced communities.
- Community Service: On-campus and off-campus jobs to work for community benefits. The amount offered is up to 5000 USD.
UCLA Alumni
There are around 500,000 UCLA alumni around the globe. The university alumni had received 14 Nobel prizes, 14 faculty MacArthur fellows, 118 NCAA titles, and 261 Olympic medals so far. The university proudly boosts the establishment of more than 140 IT companies to its credit.
Benefits for alumni: Certain benefits enjoyed by the Alumni of UCLA are like Bruins Wood Family Resort, Career counseling, Football Tickets, Health insurance, etc.
Some of the notable alumni of UC Los Angeles are as follows:
- Kamala Harris, Vice President of United States
- Andrea Ghez, Recipient of Nobel Prize in Physics in 2020
- Ardem Patapoutian, Recipient of Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2021
- Kareem Abdul Jabbar, former American professional basketball player
- Mayim Chaya Bialik, an American actress, scientist, and author
- Mila Kunia, an American actress
- Sara Bareilles, an American singer-songwriter
UCLA Placements
UCLA placement opportunities are among the choicest in the country with records like 100% employment rate. Students get summer internship opportunities across companies like AIG, Amazon, EY, High Tree, Pacific Life, LA Capital, Kopentech, Standard Chartered Bank, Capital Group and several others. The average Monthly salary of the interns at University of Los Angeles is 8,086 USD. Students secured an average full-time employment compensation of 135,000 USD per year.
The top recruiters of UCLA graduates in 2021 were Goldman Sachs, Citi, Amazon, Wells Fargo, AIG, KPMG, Intel, SoFi, and Oracle. Around 95% students of Class of 2021 in UCLA Anderson School of Management received full-time offers. 87% of these students accepted employment with an average base salary of 116,000 USD per year. The average total compensation for first year including bonus is 129,000 USD per annum.
University of California, Los Angeles is the second-oldest campus of the University of California 10-campus system. It is constantly being ranked among top universities and is considered one of the most prestigious institutes in the USA. The graduate employability ranking of UC Los Angeles is even better than at universities like Harvard. Perhaps this is what attracts 100 thousands of applicants from across the world to UCLA.
FAQs
Ques. Is UCLA good for international students?
Ans. Yes, UCLA is one of the top-ranking universities not only in USA but also across the world. According to QS Global World Rankings, 2023, the university is ranked at #44.
Ques. Is UCLA better than Stanford?
Ans. Stanford University ranks better than UCLA when the world ranking is considered. Former has stronger academic and research facilities. However, UCLA is still one of the top universities in USA.
Ques. What is the #1 public university in America?
Ans. According to the US News Ranking of 2022, the University of California ranks 1st among the Top Public Schools in USA.
Ques. Is UCLA a party school?
Ans. UCLA organizes many fests and cultural activities including Greek Life and social scene Thursday. However, it is also very serious about its academics. Thus, students get to experience a blend of cultural activities with strong academics.
Ques. Is UCLA Ivy League?
Ans. No, UCLA is not Ivy League but it is referred to as Public Ivy for its excellent education quality.
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