University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) vs U of A
Nestled in the vibrant city of Los Angeles, UCLA and the University of Arizona in Tucson, a hub of innovation in the Sonoran Desert, stand as two distinct beacons of higher education. While both institutions share a commitment to academic excellence, they offer unique experiences shaped by their distinct locations, student demographics, and academic strengths. UCLA boasts a highly selective admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 12%, while Arizona is more accessible, with an acceptance rate of 80%. UCLA's student body is more diverse, with a larger international student population, while Arizona's student body is predominantly composed of in-state students. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details, including popular majors, graduation rates, and additional factors that may influence your decision in choosing the university that best aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() University of Arizona |
![]() University of California-Los Angeles |
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Overview |
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Location | Tucson, Arizona | Los Angeles, California |
Campus setting | City: Large | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Quarter |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 84.0% | 97.0% |
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Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 87.3% | 10.8% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$85
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Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$120
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SAT range | 1120 - 1370 | N/A |
ACT range | 21 - 29 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 13.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 19.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 48,065 | 139,489 |
Total number of admissions given out | 41,946 | 15,028 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 8,436 | 6,584 |
Yield rate | 20.1% | 43.8% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Not required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$30,136
Out of state:
$54,658
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In state:
$36,173
Out of state:
$65,927
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Average net price | $17,242 | $13,393 |
Tuition |
In state:
$11,299
Out of state:
$35,821
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In state:
$11,442
Out of state:
$41,196
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,400
Meal plan:
$5,050
|
$16,763 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
92.0%
Average amount $13,790 |
45.0%
Average amount $17,592 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
24.0%
Average amount $4,845 |
11.0%
Average amount $4,391 |
Students taking out private loans |
3.0%
Average amount $20,814 |
1.0%
Average amount $19,764 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
37,434
Men 44.3% Women 55.7% |
32,122
Men 40.2% Women 59.8% |
Graduate students |
10,840
Men 44.5% Women 55.5% |
13,994
Men 50.5% Women 49.5% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | 48.8% | 21.9% |
International students | 6.5% | 14.5% |
Campus local/setting | City: Large | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 7,036 | 20,372 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Arizona California Washington Illinois Colorado | California Texas Washington New York Illinois |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 17:1 | 18:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Higher Learning Commission | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 64.3% | 92.1% |
Dropout rate | 14.3% | 3.7% |
Transferred out | 19.6% | 3.6% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Physics (Doctoral Degrees)
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctoral Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Chemistry (Doctoral Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
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Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Applied Mathematics (Master's Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Mechanical Engineering (Doctoral Degrees)
Engineering, General (Master's Degrees)
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
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