The University of California, Los Angeles, is one heck of a public university. Hundreds of thousands of students try their hand at admission each year, and most don’t even come close! And yes, this includes the students with near-perfect grades and test scores! Don’t let UCLA’s status as a public college fool you: for the UCLA Class of 2029, 58.8% of students boasted perfect GPAs. That’s not even to mention the many students with 4.0s who don’t get into this top school!

But in actuality, is there a GPA cutoff for UCLA admission? What kind of GPA does a student need when applying to the University of California, Los Angeles? Let’s take a close look at the data over the past three admissions cycles:

University of California, Los Angeles Admissions Rate

UCLA is no walk in the park to get into. The acceptance rate for the Class of 2029 clocked in at 9.4%, and the year before that saw an even lower acceptance rate: 8.96% for the Class of 2028. On top of that, UCLA has accumulated record-setting applicant pools that number in the hundreds of thousands during these years!

What is a Good GPA for Getting into UCLA?

GPA Percentage of UCLA Class of 2029

The following is the GPA breakdown of the members of UCLA’s Class of 2029, as reported in UCLA’s 2025-26 Common Data Set:

GPA	Percentage of UCLA Class of 2029
4.0	58.8%
3.75-3.99	34.6%
3.5-3.74	4.9%
3.25-3.49	1.0%
3.0-3.24	0.4%
2.5-2.99	0.2%
2.0-2.49	0.1%
1.0-1.99	0.0%

GPA Percentage of UCLA Class of 2028

The following is the GPA breakdown of the members of UCLA’s Class of 2028, as reported in UCLA’s 2024-25 Common Data Set:

GPA	Percentage of UCLA Class of 2028
4.0	56.31%
3.75-3.99	36.12%
3.5-3.74	5.23%
3.25-3.49	1.65%
3.0-3.24	0.6%
2.5-2.99	0.09%
2.0-2.49	0.0%
1.0-1.99	0.0%

GPA Percentage of UCLA Class of 2027

The following is the GPA breakdown of the members of the UCLA Class of 2027:

GPA	Percentage of UCLA Class of 2027
4.0	59.0%
3.75-3.99	34.4%
3.5-3.74	4.5%
3.25-3.49	1.4%
3.0-3.24	0.2%
2.5-2.99	0.1%
2.0-2.49	0.0%

Further Context on GPAs of UCLA Students

Last year, 58.8% of students who enrolled in the UCLA Class of 2028 boasted perfect GPAs, while 56.31% of students in the UCLA Class of 2028 did. So, while UCLA may not have a literal GPA requirement for admission, it appears quite obvious that they have a de facto requirement for stellar grades. Moreover, consider the many students with excellent grades and test scores who still face rejection! Oy vey!

It’s for this very reason that we at Ivy Coach can’t guarantee our clients’ admission to UCLA or any other college (nor can any other counselor; those who do should not be trusted to keep it real!). Without a comprehensive understanding of a student’s profile, including their high school, coursework rigor, extracurriculars, essays, and letters of recommendation, any answer about their chances would be meaningless. 

Like all highly selective U.S. universities, UCLA follows a holistic admissions process. While high grades and test scores are crucial, UCLA also values creativity, passion, and personality in its students. And great grades do not an interesting or passionate student make!

Can I Get into University of California, Los Angeles with a Low GPA?

While it’s certainly possible to get into UCLA with a low GPA, that doesn’t mean it’s likely. For the Class of 2029, only 1% of admitted students to UCLA had GPAs below 3.5. Still, in all likelihood, these weaker academic links fulfilled some other institutional need that superseded their poor grades, such as being the children of major donors or being recruited athletes or public figures.

How Ivy Coach Can Gauge Your Child’s Chances at UCLA

Consider Ivy Coach’s Strategy Session if you want to enhance your child’s chances of getting into UCLA. This session provides a comprehensive assessment of your child’s potential for admission to UCLA. You’ll come away with a personalized plan to optimize your chances with the help of our team of former elite college admissions officers. To learn more about Ivy Coach’s Strategy Session, fill out our complimentary consultation form, and we’ll contact you.