University of California-Los Angeles

The University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public university located in Los Angeles, California, with an enrollment of approximately 33,475 students. Admission is highly selective: the school accepts 9% of applicants, meaning the large majority of those who apply are not offered a place.

In-state tuition is $15,203 per year and out-of-state tuition is $49,403 per year. The average annual net price — the total cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, and living expenses, after grant and scholarship aid is applied — is $12,548. This figure represents what students pay on average once aid is factored in, and for many students it comes in well below published tuition. About 28.2% of students receive Pell Grants, a federal aid program for lower-income students. A relatively small share of the student body borrows federally: 18.8% of all students take out federal student loans. Among those who did borrow and completed their program, the median federal loan debt at graduation was $14,000, and 78.6% of borrowers are actively reducing their loan balance within three years of entering repayment.

UCLA has strong student persistence and completion numbers. The retention rate — the share of first-year students who return for a second year — is 97.3%, and the graduation rate is 92.6%. These figures reflect how students who enroll at UCLA tend to continue and finish their programs at a high rate.

On earnings, the median income 10 years after enrollment is $82,511. This figure is measured across all federally-aided students who enrolled, including those who did not complete a credential, so it is not a graduates-only figure. It provides a broad picture of economic outcomes for the overall enrolled population rather than a best-case view limited to completers.

Among the programs relevant to career-focused students, UCLA offers coursework in fields such as law and urban planning, which may be of interest to those pursuing professional roles in legal practice or city and regional development. Prospective students should contact the school directly for current program offerings, requirements, and application details.