Fall Enrollment 2024: The University of California (UC) achieved a milestone in Fall 2024 by enrolling a record quantity of California residentsThis vital growth got here amid nationwide scrutiny over the influence of the US Supreme Court’s 2023 choice to abolish race-acutely aware admissions insurance policies, ending a long time of affirmative motion practices designed to spice up range at establishments of larger studying.
A surge in Californian enrollment
According to information launched on January 7, 2025, California residents comprised 84.2% of the UC undergraduate physique, up from 83.5% the earlier yr. A complete of 198,718 Californians enrolled throughout the system’s 9 undergraduate campuses, spanning from Davis to San Diego. Among them had been 60,644 first-yr and switch college students, with six campuses reporting progress of their Californian pupil populations. UC San Diego led the surge, growing its enrollment of state residents from 8,436 to eight,907.
UC President Michael V. Drake highlighted the establishment’s dedication to accessibility and fairness in a press release: “The University of California is committed to expanding access and opportunity, helping our state’s brightest students from all backgrounds realize the value and promise of a UC degree. These enrollment figures reflect the state’s investment in California students and the dedication of our staff, faculty, and campus leaders to providing a world-class education,” Drake stated, as reported by The Los Angeles Times.
Shifts in racial and ethnic illustration
Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling, UC information exhibits that range amongst its pupil physique has largely held regular or grown. Asian Americans continued to be the largest demographic group, representing 36.3% of undergraduates. Latinos adopted at 26.7%, marking a rise in illustration, whereas white college students barely declined to 19.8%.
Black pupil enrollment rose to 4.8% systemwide, with 11,257 undergraduates—a notable acquire of 494 college students. Native American illustration ticked up barely to 0.6%, and Pacific Islander enrollment remained regular at 0.2%.
Berkeley and UCLA defy nationwide tendencies
UC Berkeley and UCLA, two of the system’s best campuses, stood out for resisting nationwide declines in Black and latino pupil enrollments following the end of affirmative motion.
At UC Berkeley, Black pupil enrollment elevated by seven, reaching 400 college students and representing 4.4% of the incoming class. Meanwhile, Latino enrollment fell barely by 55 college students however accounted for 21.9% of the class. Berkeley’s total admission charge stood at 11%.
UCLA reported a extra pronounced improve, enrolling 33 further Black college students in 2024 in comparison with the earlier yr. Black college students now represent 6.9% of the first-yr and switch class, totaling 717 people. The campus additionally noticed good points in Latino enrollment, which rose by 96 college students to make up 24.7% of new arrivals. UCLA’s admission charge was notably low at 9%.
Growing help for low-earnings college students
Another vital development in the information was the rise in low-earnings college students supported by federal Pell GrantsIn 2024, 85,772 UC undergraduates obtained Pell Grants—a soar of 7,180 from the earlier yr. This marked the second consecutive yr of progress in Pell Grant recipients after years of decline.
Pell Grants, awarded to college students from the lowest-earnings households, provide essential monetary help and don’t require reimbursement. For the 2024-25 educational yr, the most grant quantity reached $7,395, additional easing the monetary burden for a lot of college students.
