University of California, Los Angeles

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. Originally established in 1882 as a teachers’ college, the university officially became UCLA in 1919, making it the second-oldest university in California’s public college system. UCLA earns high accolades from around the globe. Its programs in engineering, business, law, and medicine are highly regarded. Notable alumni include BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, Oscar Award-winning director Francis Ford Coppola, and NBA star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Ranked 19 in the nation, UCLA is a selective school. Its acceptance rate is 14%, and its graduation rate is 91%. In-state tuition for UCLA is $13,249 per year, plus fees; its out-of-state tuition is $43,003 per year, plus fees. UCLA offers 337 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a wide range of disciplines, enrolling over 31,500 undergraduate and more than 14,000 graduate students. It follows a quarter-based academic calendar.

UCLA’s 419-acre campus was designed as a “campus in a garden.” Set in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains, the campus offers no shortage of beautiful scenery. Plus, as students walk to class, they pass major historical landmarks along the way: the Janss Steps, where Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his speech “Segregation Must Die”; the Meteorite Gallery, which houses the largest collection of meteorites in California; and Powell Library, where Ray Bradbury wrote Fahrenheit 451. UCLA is committed to leading students through academic discovery that will impact the greater good. Students also can participate in over 1,200 clubs and organizations, and most visit the university’s 15 fitness facilities. If they’re not competing in one of UCLA’s 30 intramural leagues or 50 club sports teams, they might be cheering on their champion Bruins.