The University of California, Davis, continues to draw record numbers of highly qualified applicants for undergraduate admissions as the university implements a bold, long-range plan to grow the size of its undergraduate student body.

A record high of nearly 75,000 students applied for fall 2014 admission status. The rates of growth in applications — 8.3 percent for freshman and 4.7 percent for transfer students — outpaced the rates for the University of California systemwide.  This impressive pace comes as the largest and most diverse class in UC Davis history enrolled last fall.

The growth in applications from among the state’s historically underrepresented groups as well as transfer students is in keeping with UC Davis’ commitment to educating all Californians.

"UC Davis is drawing promising applicants from California, the United States and around the world,” said Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi. "It is recognition that we offer a world-class education right here in California for all students."

UC Davis, ranked ninth overall among all U.S. public research universities by U.S. News & World Report, is adding 5,000 new undergraduates by 2020 — including substantial increases in national and international students and gains in the number of California residents — compared with 2011.

The 2020 Initiative, first proposed by the chancellor in fall 2011, is intended to build on the institution’s excellence, create a more diverse community of scholars, and promote financial stability.

The record applications for fall 2014 show gains in academic measures. Among freshman applicants, the average GPA increased from 3.73 to 3.76, and the average SAT increased from 1803 to 1812 — both the highest they have been in the last 10 years. The GPA and SAT increases appeared for applicants from all three resident groups: California, national and international.

The average GPA for transfer applicants increased from 3.28 to 3.31, also the highest it has been in the last 10 years.

Applications also demonstrate impressive gains in international applicants and steady gains for those from historically underrepresented groups.

Among transfer applicants, students from 111 of California’s 112 community colleges applied to UC Davis. 

“We have invested a considerable amount of human and material resources to reach out to all regions of California with particular attention given to underserved rural and underrepresented communities,” said Walter Robinson, associate vice chancellor of Undergraduate Admissions and Enrollment Planning.

On Jan. 16, Katehi announced the expansion of two programs aimed at increasing college opportunity for first-generation and low-income students, the Special Transitional Enrichment Program (STEP) and the Transfer Opportunity Program (TOP).

TOP, which will expand to 35 California community colleges, helps students seamlessly transition into UC Davis academic programs, providing access and ensuring success of first-generation and low-income students.

About three of every 10 applicants — among domestic freshman and transfer applicants — are from the historically underserved groups of African American, American Indian and Chicano/Latino.

The percentages of those from the historically underserved groups increased 6.2 percent among California freshman applicants and 7.6 percent among domestic transfer applicants.

Also among California freshman applicants:

• more than four in 10 would be in the first generation of their family to earn a four-year college degree;
• more than three in 10 are from families with low incomes; and
• one in five is from a high school with a low Academic Performance Index (API) of 1 to 4. 

Admission notifications will be released for all freshman applicants on March 14 and for transfer applicants on April 18.

In fall 2013, UC Davis enrolled 5,122 new freshmen from 52 of California’s 58 counties, 40 states and 38 countries, and 3,124 new transfer students from 38 California counties, 30 states and nine countries. Total enrollment was 34,155, including 26,693 undergraduates.

Statistics for Davis and the UC system are available online.