Record Number of Transfer and Underrepresented Students Expected to Attend UC San Diego for Fall 2011

July 1, 2011

By Christine Clark

An estimated 3,692 incoming freshmen and a record 3,061 transfer students are expected to begin classes Thursday, Sept. 22 at the University of California, San Diego. Overall, the projected entering class reflects an increase in ethnic and geographic diversity.
 
The freshmen bring with them an average high school GPA of 3.96 and SAT reasoning test scores of 586, 648 and 607, respectively, for Critical Reading, Math and Writing. The new transfer students will bring an average college GPA of 3.38.
 
“The academic quality of our entering students is truly impressive and we look forward to welcoming these bright minds to our campus,” said UC San Diego Chancellor Marye Anne Fox. “We are excited to increase the number of transfer students and continue our strong partnerships with the California community colleges throughout the state.”  Students from California community colleges make up more than 90 percent of the university’s transfer class. 
 
The diversity of UC San Diego’s new students is up from last year with 15.6 percent more underrepresented new freshmen entering the university compared to Fall 2010. A total of 607 Mexican-Americans (up 18.8 percent from last year) and 161 Latinos (up 27.8 percent from last year) have accepted their offer to attend UC San Diego.
 
Similarly, underrepresented transfer students are up 13.9 percent.  In addition, 1,055 first-generation transfer students ( up 13.6 percent) are estimated to begin classes this Fall.  
 
More than 53 percent of freshmen and 61 percent of the transfers are from Southern California.
 
UC San Diego faces significant fiscal challenges for the 2011-2012 school year. The University of California system has received a $650 million cut for next year from the state of California funds for education, a substantial reduction for higher education.
 
Enrollment targets for in-state students are based on how much state funding UC San Diego receives per student.  Last year, UC San Diego enrolled more than 1,200 students for whom it received no state funding. In 2011-12 UC San Diego will continue to bring California resident enrollment closer in line with the actual funding levels provided by the state, levels that have not kept pace with enrollment.
 
For Fall 2011, the campus increased the number of out-of-state and international students offered admission, an effort designed to bring in more funding during difficult economic times and to broaden the diversity of the campus population. Non-California freshmen is up with 274 out-of state and 432 international students expected to attend UC San Diego in Fall 2011.  In addition, 35 out-of-state and 464 international transfer students are accepted their offers to attend the university.
                 
“Despite the difficult economy, UC San Diego will remain dedicated to educating California’s diverse populace,” said Mae Brown assistant vice chancellor for Admissions and Enrollment Services. “The university is committed to providing a quality undergraduate education for all qualified and ambitious students.”

Media Contact: Christine Clark, 858-534-7618, or ceclark@ucsd.edu