California residents
More than 80 percent of UC undergraduates are California residents. They are a vibrant and diverse group, encompassing the cultural, racial, socioeconomic and geographic richness of our state.
Two paths to UC
For the highest-achieving California applicants, we offer two pathways to UC. If you are in one of the following groups, but you are not admitted to any of the UC campuses you apply to, you'll be offered a spot at another campus, if space is available.
Statewide guarantee
If you rank in the top 9 percent of California students according to our updated Statewide Index you will be eligible for the Statewide Guarantee.
Learn more about the Statewide Guarantee »
Local guarantee (Eligibility in the Local Context)
If you rank in the top 9 percent of your graduating class at a participating California high school, you will be eligible for the local guarantee.
Learn more about ELC »
Who is a California resident?
A student is considered a resident for admission purposes if he or she can answer yes to any of the following questions:
- Have you attended high school in California for at least three years during grades 9-12 and will graduate or have graduated from a California high school?
- Have you lived in California for the last 12 months?
- If you're under 18, does your parent or legal guardian live in California?
- Is your parent, legal guardian, spouse or registered domestic partner an employee of the University of California or a UC-affiliated national laboratory?
Non-immigrants (students on a foreign/non-immigrant visa) are not eligible for California resident status for admission purposes.
Determining residency for tuition purposes is a separate process with different requirements. You can learn more about the California residency requirements for tuition here.