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For comprehensive UC information, visit www.ucop.edu/pathways or ask your counselor for a copy of Introducing the University.

If you complete the three requirements listed below and meet the minimum thresholds for grades and test scores, you will satisfy the University�s freshman eligibility requirements. There are three steps to achieve UC eligibility :

subject requirement
examination requirement
scholarship requirement

Step 1: Subject Requirement

Students must successfully complete UC-approved courses in these 'a-g' subject areas with a 'C' grade or better. Be sure that the classes you take are on your school�s UC CERTIFIED COURSE LIST. Obtain your school�s list from your counselor, or https://doorways.ucop.edu/list/.

2 YEARS of history/social science. Must include 1 year world history and 1 year U.S. history.
4 YEARS of college-preparatory English.
3 YEARS of mathematics (4 years recommended). Must include elementary algebra, geometry, advanced algebra or higher.
2 YEARS of laboratory science (3 years recommended). Must include two of the following three areas: biology, chemistry, and physics.
2 YEARS of a language other than English (3 years recommended).
1 YEAR of visual and performing arts (VPA), chosen from the following: dance, drama/theater, music, or visual arts. (Year-long course must be in a single discipline).
1 YEAR of a college-preparatory elective. The elective course may be drawn from UC-approved courses taken beyond the minimum requirements in the areas 'a-f' listed above.

Step 2: Examination Requirement

All applicants must submit scores from the following tests:

The ACT Assessment plus Writing or the SAT Reasoning Test.
The critical reading, writing and mathematics scores on the SAT must be from the same sitting. If you take the ACT, you will be asked to report your scores on each section of the test as well as your composite score.
Two SAT Subject Tests.
These must be in two different areas, chosen from the following: English, history and social studies, mathematics (Level 2 only), science or language other than English.

2009-2010 Exam Dates

Note: Freshman applicants who graduated from high school in spring 2005 or earlier are required to have taken the SAT I (or ACT) and three SAT II: Subject Tests prior to high school graduation.

Step 3: Scholarship Requirement

The Scholarship Requirement defines the grade point average (GPA) you must earn in the "a-g" subjects and the test scores you must achieve to be eligible for admission to UC. The University uses an Eligibility Index — a combination of GPA and test scores — to determine if you meet this requirement. The minimum GPA is 3.0 for California residents, 3.4 for nonresidents.

To see whether you meet the Scholarship Requirement, refer to the index and detailed information below, or use the preliminary eligibility calculator.

UC Eligibility Index

Below are the combinations of GPA and UC Score Totals that meet UC's minimum requirements.

California Residents

"a–g" GPA Minimum UC Score Total

3.00 – 3.04 223

3.05 – 3.09 210

3.10 – 3.14 198

3.15 – 3.19 187

3.20 – 3.24 175

3.25 – 3.29 165

3.30 – 3.34 157

3.35 – 3.39 152

3.40 – 3.44 147

3.45 & above 143

Non California Residents

3.40 – 3.44 147

3.45 & above 143

Grade Point Average

To determine your eligibility, the University calculates your GPA in the "a-g" subjects by assigning point values to the grades you earn, totaling the points and dividing the total by the number of "a-g" courses. Points are assigned as follows: A=4 points, B=3 points, C=2 points, D=1 point, and F=0 points. (Pluses and minuses are not calculated in the grade point average).
Only the grades you earn in "a-g" subjects in the 10th and 11th grades - including summer sessions - are used to calculate your preliminary GPA. Courses you took in ninth grade can be used to meet the Subject Requirement if you earned a grade of C or better, but they will not be used to calculate your GPA.

Honors Courses: The University assigns extra points for up to eight semesters of University-certified honors-level and Advanced Placement courses: A=5 points, B=4 points, C=3 points. No more than two year long UC-approved honors level courses taken in the 10th grade may be given extra points. A grade of D in an honors or advanced placement course does not earn extra points.

The courses must be in the following "a-g" subjects: history/social science, English, advanced mathematics, laboratory science, language other than English, and visual and performing arts. Also, they must be certified as honors courses by the University. In these subjects, as well as in computer science, acceptable honors-level courses include Advanced Placement courses, Higher Level and designated Standard Level International Baccalaureate courses, and college courses that are transferable to the University.

D and F Grades: If you have earned a D or F in an "a-g" course, you must repeat the course with a grade of C or better in order to apply it toward your Subject Requirement. The original D or F grade will not be included in the GPA calculation, and the new grade will be used. If you repeat a course in which you initially earned a grade of C, the second grade will not be used.

UC Score Total

The University calculates your UC Score Total as follows:

If you took the SAT Reasoning Test: The University converts your highest scores in critical reading, math and writing from a single sitting and two SAT Subject Tests from different subject areas to equivalent UC Scores (see translation table below). Then all five UC Scores are added together to produce your UC Score Total (critical reading + math + writing + subject test 1 + subject test 2).

If you took the ACT plus its Writing exam: The University takes your highest math, reading, science and combined English/writing score from a single sitting and converts them to equivalent UC scores (see the translation table at right). To give the ACT writing component equal weight to the SAT writing exam, the University multiplies the sum of your converted math, reading and science scores by two-thirds, then adds the converted English/writing score. This subtotal is then added to your two highest SAT Subject Test scores from two different subject areas, which are also converted to equivalent UC Scores, to reach your UC Score Total ([math + reading + science] x 0.667 + English/writing + subject test 1 + subject test 2).

SAT Test Score Translation
SAT Score	UC Score	SAT Score	UC Score
800	100	490	48
790	98	480	47
780	97	470	45
770	95	460	43
760	93	450	42
750	92	440	40
740	90	430	38
730	88	420	37
720	87	410	35
710	85	400	33
700	83	390	32
690	82	380	30
680	80	370	28
670	78	360	27
660	77	350	25
650	75	340	23
640	73	330	22
630	72	320	20
620	70	310	18
610	68	300	17
600	67	290	15
590	65	280	13
580	63	270	12
570	62	260	10
560	60	250	8
550	58	240	7
540	57	230	5
530	55	220	3
520	53	210	2
510	52	200	0
500	50

ACT Test Score Translation
ACT Score	UC Score	ACT Score	UC Score
36	100	20	47
35	97	19	43
34	93	18	40
33	90	17	37
32	87	16	33
31	83	15	30
30	80	14	27
29	77	13	23
28	73	12	20
27	70	11	17
26	67	10	13
25	63	9	10
24	60	8	7
23	57	7	3
22	53	1-6	0
21	50

Minimum Eligibility vs. Selection

While attaining minimum eligibility is an important first step in gaining admission to the University, minimum eligibility does not assure admission to your first choice campus. When a campus cannot admit all eligible applicants, as has been the case among many UC campuses in recent years, it uses standards to select students that are more competitive than the minimum requirements. These standards, which the University calls selection criteria, identify students who have demonstrated the capacity for high academic achievement and promise, and who have a variety of other qualities that can contribute to the strength and diversity of the campus community.

Review Process

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Updated: October 9, 2009

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