The University of California, Davis, has offered freshman admission to more than 24,550 students for fall 2014, a group that holds promise for enrolling one of the most diverse and academically impressive classes in campus history.

UC Davis had 60,536 applications from which to make its offers this year and expects to enroll about 5,200 new freshmen in the fall.

“This admitted class represents the best and brightest of their generation,” said Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi. “With a UC Davis education, they will be prepared to address society’s most pressing problems and create bold new possibilities for our future.”

While the average grade point average of admitted freshmen is about the same (4.07 this year compared with 4.08 last year), the average SAT total or converted ACT score increased from 1932 to 1950.

The admissions decisions reflect UC Davis’ long-range plan to add 5,000 new undergraduates — including more California, national and international students — in the period between 2011, when the initiative was introduced, and 2020.

The 2020 Initiative is intended to build on the institution’s excellence, create a more diverse community of scholars, and foster a more active partnership with the state in supporting higher education.

Among all the offers of admission, 17,813 went to California residents, an increase of more than 5 percent from last year. UC Davis also offered admission to 2,454 national and 4,284 international students.

The proportion of historically underserved California students also increased. Among those admitted, 24.8 percent are American Indian, African American or Hispanic/Latino, versus 22.7 percent last year.

Indeed, among California admitted students, Hispanic/Latinos showed the largest gain, from 3,239 last year to 3,780 this year. They now account for 21.2 percent of California admitted students, compared with 19.1 percent last year.  

The admitted class also demonstrates UC Davis’ commitment to opportunity and access. Among California students:

• about 35.3 percent are from families where neither parent earned a four-year degree, compared with 32.8 percent last year;
• about 19.4 percent are from schools with very low academic performance indexes, versus 17.9 percent last year; and
• about 31.8 percent are from low-income families, compared with 28.9 percent last year.

UC Davis uses a holistic review process in which every application is reviewed according to 14 faculty-approved criteria designed to select applicants who have an excellent prospect of success, are likely to thrive on the campus, and will enhance UC Davis' intellectual and cultural diversity.

Students admitted for freshman studies have until May 1 to return their statement of intent to register, the final step in the admissions process before enrollment.

UC Davis will release its admissions decisions to transfer applicants today (April 18). The campus received more 14,400 transfer applications and plans to enroll about 3,200.

The university system is releasing freshman admissions data for all nine of its undergraduate campuses today at: http://www.ucop.edu/news/studstaff.html.

In a change for the upcoming admissions cycle, the University of California will open its 2015-16 application for undergraduate admissions on Aug. 1, two months earlier. The period for submitting completed applications remains Nov. 1 to 30.