UCLA has shattered national records for freshman applications and is on track to significantly widen access to underrepresented minorities as the number of students seeking admission for fall 2021 soared despite myriad pandemic challenges, according to data released Thursday.
Nearly 139,500 students applied to UCLA for freshman seats, a 28% increase over last year. The campus saw a historic increase in Black applicants, rising 48% over last year, and significant gains across all other racial and ethnic groups: 33% for Latinos, 35% for whites, 22% for Asian Americans, 34% for Pacific Islanders and 16% for American Indians. Asians were the largest group of applicants, followed by Latino, white and Black students.