The coronavirus pandemic has led to a good news, bad news college application season, as the University of California drew a record number of applicants for fall 2021 while California State University tumbled a disparity reflected nationally by robust growth at many selective institutions and struggles at less resourced ones.
Applications to UC’s nine undergraduate campuses soared to a record 250,000 a 15% increase over last year, including significant rises among California Latino and Black freshmen applicants, according to preliminary data disclosed by UC President Michael V. Drake in a meeting this week with The Times editorial board. Campus-specific data will not be released until early next year.