Nearly a 1/3 of all UC graduates start at a community college like Skyline College! The University of California is a public university system in the state of California that started over 150 years ago. UC offers over 160 academic majors.  There are 10 campuses in the UC system. 9 campuses offer undergraduate programs for transfer students from Skyline College. The campuses are the following: Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz. UC San Francisco offers graduate programs. 

On average, 130 students transfer to UC in a given year from Skyline College. You may visit our data dashboard to learn more about UC admission statistics. 

The most important advice for students is to make sure you complete UC transfer admission requirements. Please use Assist.org regularly and check UC admission websites. Make appointments with Skyline College counselors on a regular basis to update your education plan. Make appointments with UC admission coordinators to get more in depth advice on how to plan your transfer to UC. 

Basic Requirements for UC Junior-Level Transfer Admission 

  1. Complete the 7-Course UC Pattern prior to transferring to UC. 
  2. Complete at 60 transferable units (90 quarter units) of UC transferable credit. A list of UC transferable courses can be found on Assist.org or the Catalog 
  3. Achieve at least a 2.4 grade point average (GPA) in UC transferable courses. (2.8 minimum GPA for CA non-residents). It is really important that you are aware that a minimum GPA is to be considered for admission. The UC Info Center lists average GPAs thresholds for the previous admitted class. 
  4. Complete the required courses needed for your intended major. UC campuses will also request minimum GPAs for major prep. courses, especially for "Selective Majors" at UC. Complete recommended courses for you intended major to be competitive and advance quickly to UC graduation after transfer. Use Assist.org and UC campus websites to determine major courses. 
  5. You need to be in good academic standing (GPA 2.00 or above) at the last college/university you attended prior to enrolling at UC. 
  6. You must submit a UC Application to be considered for admission. 

Additional Notes:

  • All campuses recommend that you complete math and English as early as possible (some highly recommend completing them by the end of the fall term, one year prior to enrolling at UC). 

UC Transfer Admission Planner (TAP) 

Skyline College encourages all enrolled students who have an interest to transfer to UC, to create a UC TAP account the moment they start their first semester. Update it after you complete each academic semester up until you transfer. 

The UC TAP helps you plan to transfer. It tracks your progress towards UC transfer goals. It serves as your application for the UC Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program. 

UC Transfer Admissions Guarantee (TAG) Program

If you’re interested in transferring to a University of California (UC) campus, then the Transfer Admissions Guarantee (TAG) Program may be right for you.

The TAG Program offers students guaranteed admission to one of six UC campuses that participate in the program, including Davis, Irvine, Merced, Riverside, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz.

Students in the program, must complete a UC TAG application AND a UC Admissions application one year prior to transfer. Interested students must satisfactorily complete UC and campus-specific transfer admissions requirements to be eligible to apply for a TAG. Both applications are completed via the UC Transfer Admissions Planner and are required for admission to one of the six participating UC campuses.

There are two TAG admission cycles. Fall TAGs are due by September 30th. Spring/Winter TAGs to UC Riverside, UC Merced, UC Santa Cruz are due by May 31st. 

Please Note: Skyline College offers lots of support in September 2024. Please attend one of our many TAG workshops to fill out a UC Transfer Admission Planner and then connected to a counselor. 

The UC TAG Matrix   lists TAG requirements for the 6 UC campuses. 

UC Transfer Pathways 

Transfer Pathways give you a roadmap to prepare for your major and graduate on time from any UC campus. Find out which Skyline College courses you need to complete for a specific Transfer Pathway with UC's Transfer Pathways Guide.

UC Transfer Alliance Program (TAP) and UC Honors to Honors

Priority admissions to UCLA and UC Irvine are given through the Skyline College Honors Transfer Program's UC Transfer Alliance Program. Learn more by visiting the Honors Transfer Program website.

UC Berkeley Transfer Alliance Project (TAP)

The Transfer Alliance Project (TAP) is a cohort-based program that aims to address educational barriers and increase equitable access to resources and information for California Community College students interested in transferring to a University of California campus. All our services are completely free.
Meet with the UC Berkeley advisor during the semester to learn more. 
 

UC Davis Transfer Opportunity Program (TOP) 

Transfer Opportunity Program (TOP) is a transfer preparation program with a mission to support and enhance a transfer culture for college students enrolled at our partner community colleges. We provide support that complements your college’s efforts and initiatives to increase the number of transfer ready students.

Meet with the UCD advisor assigned to Skyline College to gain support. 

 
 

UC Blue & Gold Opportunity Plan 

The UC has a wonderful program to help with UC affordability for eligible students. If you are eligible, your systemwide tuition and fees will be fully covered by scholarship or grant money. The plan combines all sources of scholarship and grant awards you receive (federal, state, UC and private) to go toward covering your tuition and fees. Note: Campus fees and summer tuition and fees are not covered. 

You must submit a FAFSA application or California Dream Act Application financial aid application & a UC Application to be considered it. 

The UC has a website with more information. The UC has a financial aid calculator too. 

UC Articulation Agreements

Articulation agreements allow course credits earned at one public California college or university to be applied when transferred to another. Skyline College has articulation agreements with all of the University of California (UC) campuses which means select courses you take at Skyline College will apply at a UC.

Completing courses as indicated in an articulation agreement does not guarantee admissions to any college. 

Application Timelines 

All students, no matter which UC campus they apply to, will need to apply for Fall admission during the application period between November 1- November 30 one year prior to transfer. The Transfer Center offers an array of support programs and services to help you through the application process.

Campuses like UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside, or UC Merced, offer Spring and Winter admission. That application deadline is July 31st.