Nearly ⅓ of all UC graduates start at a community college like Skyline College!

On average, 130 students transfer to UC in a given year from Skyline College.

The University of California is a public university system in the state of California that started over 150 years ago.

  • The 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: Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz.
    • UC San Francisco also offers graduate programs

Visit our data dashboard to see more Skyline College to UC admission statistics. 

UC Admission Requirements

The most important thing for students is to complete UC transfer admission requirements.

  • Please use Assist.org regularly and check UC admission websites for requirements
  • Make appointments with Skyline College counselors on a regular basis to update your education plan.
  • Make appointments with UC admission coordinators to get in-depth advice on how to plan your transfer to UC. 

Basic Requirements for UC Junior-Level Transfer

  1. Complete the 7-Course UC Pattern prior to transferring to UC. 
    • It must be completed by the end of the Spring semester before you transfer in Fall. 
  2. Complete at 60 transferable units (90 quarter units) of UC transferable credit.
  3. Achieve at least a 2.4 GPA in UC transferable courses. (2.8 minimum GPA for CA non-residents). 
    • Be aware that a minimum GPA is 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 majors that are high-demand, selective, or impacted. Use Assist.org and UC campus websites to determine major courses. 
    • Completing recommended courses for your intended major helps you be competitive in your application and helps you graduate quickly after transfer.
  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: Math & English Completion

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). 

Transfer Admission Options

There are many programs that can help you transfer to a UC. Check out your options and see what you can apply for!

TAP Application | TAG to a UC | Honors Transfer to UCLA or UCI | UC Berkeley CCTS | UC Davis TOP

TAP: UC Transfer Admission Planner

Create your UC TAP account!  
  • The UC TAP helps you plan & accomplish your transfer
  • It tracks your progress towards UC transfer goals
  • And it serves as your application for the UC Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program

Skyline College encourages all enrolled students who have an interest to transfer to UC to create a UC TAP account as soon as you begin your first semester. Update it every time you complete a semester.

TAG: UC Transfer Admissions Guarantee

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 TAG applications are due September 30
  • Spring/Winter TAG applications to UC Riverside, UC Merced, UC Santa Cruz are due May 31

Please Note: Skyline College offers you lots of support in your application. 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 

The Transfer Pathways can help you be a more competitive applicant across the UC system. Some majors listed in a pathway may want fewer courses for admission, but none will expect more. 

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.

View the UC Transfer Pathways.

Honors Transfer: TAP to UCLA or H2H to UCI

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.

CCTS: UC Berkeley Community College Transfer Services

UC Berkeley CCTS is open to all students from any California Community College interested in transferring to UC Berkeley or any University of California campus. The UC Transfer Admission Planner (UC TAP) is also used in this program to track academic progress toward UC transfer requirements.

Students can also earn a certification for each semester they participate in Transfer to Success Webinars and can highlight these certificates on their UC Applications and resumes. 

TOP: UC Davis Transfer Opportunity Program

UC Davis 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.

TOP also utilizes the UC Transfer Admission Planner (UC TAP) and has a dedicated UC Davis Counselor for Skyline College students. Meet with the UCD advisor assigned to Skyline College to gain support in your transfer to UCD!

UC Transfer Resources

Learn more about resources that can help you transfer successfully.

Financial Aid: UC Blue & Gold

The UC offers Blue & Gold: UC Financial Aid 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 or California Dream Act Application & a UC Application to be considered for this aid.

UC Articulation Agreements

Articulation agreements allow course credits earned at one public California college or university to be applied when you transfer 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 in an articulation agreement does not guarantee admission to any college or university.

Lower Division Transfer

There is an admission pathway at UC that is called lower division transfer. However, since all UC campuses welcome a large pool of junior-level transfers, most admit only a limited number of lower-division students. 

For example, UC Merced, offers the Early Transfer Opportunities Pathways to Success.

Eligibility Requirements for Lower Division Transfer

You are eligible for lower division transfer if:

  • You met minimum requirements for admission to UC when you graduated from high school AND you have a C (2.0) average in your transferable college coursework (2.8 GPA for CA nonresidents).

  • If you had a minimum required GPA in high school but did not satisfy the 15-course subject requirement, you must take transferable college courses in the missing subjects, earn a C or better in each required course and have an overall C (2.0) average in all transferable coursework to be eligible to transfer (a 2.8 GPA is required for nonresidents).

  • You must also complete courses intended for the major as required by UC campuses that accept lower-division transfer applicants. 

Application Timelines 

Desired Admission Semester Application Deadline
Fall Admission November 1 - 30, one year prior to transfer
Spring/Winter Admission July 31, the year prior to transfer

No matter which UC campus you apply to, the UC Deadline for Fall Admission is November 1 - November 30 one year prior to transfer.

Campuses like UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside, or UC Merced, offer Spring and Winter admission. The Winter/Spring application deadline is July 31 in the year prior to transfer.

The Transfer Center offers an array of support programs and services to help you through the application process. Connect with us today!