The University of California, Davis, offered freshman and transfer admission to a total of 41,299 applicants from the state and beyond for fall 2017.

Admissions statistics for the university system and campuses were released today (July 6).

With overall gains among historically underrepresented groups, those identifying themselves as African American, American Indian and Chicano/Latino now represent more than 30 percent of admitted California students at UC Davis. The major increases among Chicano/Latino students continue the campus’s progress toward its goal of being designated an Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI).

From a record 70,968 applications for freshman status, UC Davis admitted 30,945 applicants, an increase of 1,974, or 6.8 percent, over last year's 28,971. Among 16,820 transfer applicants, the campus admitted 10,354.

“We’re continuing to improve access to a world-class education as the numbers of underrepresented, low-income and first-generation students increase among those admitted," said Ebony Lewis, executive director of Undergraduate Admissions.

California residents and transfer students

With this year’s admitted class, UC Davis is on track to do its part to help the university enroll 10,000 more new California resident undergraduates systemwide by the 2018-19 academic year. Last year, UC Davis enrolled approximately 1,100 more California residents in its entering class than it did in fall 2015.

This year, California residents account for 18,480, or 59.7 percent, of admitted freshmen. A total of 9,636, or about 93 percent, of the admitted transfer students are from California Community Colleges.

In fact, UC Davis has enrolled the most California resident undergraduates of all UC campuses since 2010, and the enrollment of nonresident undergraduates — new and continuing — will remain under the 18 percent cap that the UC board of regents established for UC Davis and four other campuses in May. 

UC Davis has already surpassed the systemwide goal of enrolling one new California resident transfer student for every two new California resident freshmen. Last fall, more than 40 percent were transfer students.

Gains in diversity

Among the admitted California freshmen, 30.6 percent are from historically underrepresented groups — African American, American Indian and Chicano/Latino. Last year, the historically underrepresented groups accounted for 28.7 percent.

• African Americans increased 2.1 percent, from 657 to 671
• American Indians decreased 10.3 percent, from 116 to 104
• Chicano/Latinos increased 6.7 percent, from 4,568 to 4,875

Among domestic students admitted from California Community Colleges, 30.8 percent are from underrepresented groups, compared to 30.6 percent last year.

Progress toward HSI designation

The increased representation of Chicano and Latino applicants among admitted freshman — now at 26.4 percent of admitted California residents — was also present among transfer students.

Among admitted California Community College students, there were 2,000 Chicano/Latinos — up 87, or 4.5 percent, from last year. They account for 25.2 percent of U.S. domestic students admitted from California Community Colleges

UC Davis aspires to become a designated HSI. To be eligible for HSI designation by the U.S. Department of Education, the undergraduate student body must be at least 25 percent Hispanic. The designation provides the university opportunities for federal grant funding that supports a variety of programs aimed at student success.

Other measures

Among admitted California freshmen, there were gains across the three socioeconomic measures. About 34.1 percent are from low-income families, and 37 percent would be in the first generation of their family to graduate from a four-year university. About one in five are from low-performing high schools.

Enrollment estimates

The campus estimates it will enroll a total 9,165 new freshmen and transfer students this fall, a decrease of about 340 from fall 2016. Total enrollment is expected to be about 37,850.

Statistics for the university system and UC Davis are available online.