Computer Engineering transfer to UC

Computer Engineering has no UC Transfer Pathway, so each campus sets its own preparation. 8 of the nine campuses offer it, and UCLA admitted 6% of applicants for fall 2025.

Checked against official UC and campus sources in November 2026.

At a glance

UC campuses offering it: 8 of 9
Admit transfers to it: 8
Publish selection criteria: 8
UCLA admit rate, fall 2025: 6%

UC has no Transfer Pathway for computer engineering, so there is no shared course list. Each campus publishes its own major preparation, and ASSIST shows which of your college’s courses match it.

Campus by campus

Campus	Program	Admits transfers	Selection criteria	Courses
UC Berkeley	Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, Electrical and Computer Engineering	Yes	Yes, see below	ASSIST
UCLA	Computer Engineering	Yes	Yes, see below	ASSIST
UC San Diego	Computer Engineering BS (CSE department), Computer Engineering BS (ECE department)	Yes	Yes, see below	ASSIST
UC Irvine	Computer Engineering, B.S.	Yes	Yes, see below	ASSIST
UC Davis	Computer Engineering	Yes	Yes, see below	ASSIST
UC Santa Barbara	Computer Engineering, B.S.	Yes	Yes, see below	ASSIST
UC Santa Cruz	Computer Engineering B.S.	Yes	Yes, see below	ASSIST
UC Riverside	Computer Engineering	Yes	Yes, see below	ASSIST
UC Merced	Not offered	—	—	—

“None stated” means the campus page we checked lists preparation without extra selection criteria. Every UC campus still reviews your whole application.

What each campus expects

UC Berkeley
Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences · Electrical and Computer Engineering
Courses to finish
EECS transfer applicants need one year of calculus, multivariable calculus, differential equations and linear algebra, two calculus-based physics courses with lab, one more natural science course and two reading and composition courses. CS 61A, 61B, 61C and EE 64 and 66 equivalents are strongly recommended. Source
ECE transfer applicants must complete all required preparation courses to be eligible for admission, using ASSIST.org. Source
Selection
The College of Engineering requires a minimum 3.5 UC-transferable GPA by the end of fall of the application year and strong preparation in math and physical sciences. California community college applicants receive the highest priority. Source
Also note
Engineering transfer applicants must complete all lower-division courses for the intended major as listed on ASSIST, and IGETC is not accepted by the College of Engineering. Applicants whose overall GPA is below 3.5 but whose major GPA is above 3.5 may ask about eligibility in January. Source
Admitted engineering transfers are not eligible to change their major within the college and are allotted five semesters to graduate. Source
Applications are due November 1 to 30 for the following fall, and Berkeley does not accept new transfer applications for spring. Source
UCLA
Computer Engineering
Courses to finish
Required: calculus, multivariable calculus, differential equations and linear algebra, a calculus-based physics series with labs, and one programming course (computer engineering applicants should take C++). Chemistry is not required, and two English composition courses are required. Source
Selection
Admission to the Samueli School of Engineering is highly selective. Applicants need a minimum 3.4 GPA at application, junior standing by entrance and completed preparation for the major. No supplemental application is required. Source
Also note
IGETC or UC Reciprocity is not required for engineering majors and partial IGETC is not accepted. Source
For Fall 2027 applicants, requests to change to a major in The College, Education, Engineering, Public Affairs or Public Health are due January 1, 2027. Source
UC San Diego
Computer Engineering BS (CSE department) · Computer Engineering BS (ECE department)
Courses to finish
Computer Engineering screening requires MATH 18 and MATH 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, PHYS 2A, 2B, 2C, and CSE 11 and CSE 12 equivalents. CSE 30 is recommended because it is required for UC San Diego Computer Engineering majors. Source
Selection
Engineering is a selective, screened major. Applicants are screened on the number of preparation courses completed, the grades earned and cumulative GPA, with screening courses completed at C (2.0) or better unless otherwise noted. Source
Also note
For selective majors (Data Science, Engineering, Public Health) UC San Diego strongly recommends listing an alternate non-selective major on the UC application, and applicants not admitted to the first choice may be admitted to the alternate if space is available. Source
Required minimum major preparation for screened majors must be completed by the end of the spring term before fall admission. The page does not name a specific admission year. Source
The minimum transfer GPA for UC San Diego eligibility is 2.4 for California residents and 2.8 for nonresidents. Source
UC Irvine
Computer Engineering, B.S.
Courses to finish
Complete single-variable and multivariable calculus, differential equations, linear algebra, three calculus-based physics courses with labs, one programming course and one circuit analysis course, each with a C or better. Source
Selection
A cumulative UC transferable GPA of 3.0 (3.4 for TAG) is required, with a 3.0 GPA in the required major preparation courses. Source
Also note
Additional courses such as Programming Concepts and Methodology II, computer architecture, digital systems and digital logic lab are not required for admission, but UCI says the degree cannot be finished in two years without them. Source
UC Davis
Computer Engineering
Courses to finish
Complete CMN 001 or ENG 003, ENG 017, ECS 020 and 036A/B/C, MAT 021A/B/C/D, MAT 022A/B, PHY 009A/B/C, and ENL 003 or UWP 001. Source
Selection
All College of Engineering majors are selective. Non-TAG applicants need a 3.10 cumulative GPA and a 3.20 GPA in major preparation with no grade below C, and TAG requires at least a 3.50 GPA in both. Source
Also note
Computer Engineering is listed as open to TAG. Fall 2027 applicants use ASSIST academic year 2025-26. Source
UC Santa Barbara
Computer Engineering, B.S.
Courses to finish
For Fall 2027, two semesters of calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, a physics series with labs equivalent to UCSB Physics 7A-B-C-L, programming in C or C++ and data structures in C++ are required before transfer. Source
Discrete math, advanced C++ programming, multivariable calculus, digital logic, physics equivalent to UCSB Physics 7D and electrical circuits are strongly recommended. Source
Selection
Required courses must be completed with no grade below C. The guide states no minimum GPA for engineering majors. Source
Also note
Required courses must be completed by the end of the spring term before transfer. The guide is not comprehensive and directs California community college students to ASSIST. Source
UC Santa Cruz
Computer Engineering B.S.
Courses to finish
The new screening list is PHYS 5A and 5L plus at least five of MATH 19A, MATH 19B, linear algebra (AM 10 or MATH 21), AM 20, multivariable calculus (AM 30 or MATH 23A), CSE 12, CSE 13S or ECE 13, CSE 16, CSE 30, and PHYS 5C with 5N (2026-27 catalog). Source
For a two-year finish, the catalog recommends PHYS 5A/5L and 5C/5N, MATH 19A and 19B, one of MATH 23A, AM 10, MATH 21 or AM 20, and at least one programming course. Source
Selection
The new list needs a C or better in each course and a 2.8 GPA across the screening courses. It becomes mandatory for students entering fall 2028. Fall 2027 entrants are encouraged to complete it but are still considered if they meet the 2025-26 screening requirements. Source
Also note
AP credit satisfies screening courses but does not count toward the minimum GPA. Source
UC Riverside
Computer Engineering
Courses to finish
Required are Math 9A, 9B and 9C, Computer Science 10A and 10B, and Physics 40A, plus three from Computer Science 11, Computer Science 61, Electrical Engineering 30A with 30LA, Physics 40B and Physics 40C. Source
Selection
Engineering majors require a minimum 2.8 GPA in UC-transferable coursework, a 2.5 GPA in the calculus sequence (Math 9A-9C) and a 2.5 GPA in one additional major preparation sequence. Other required courses need a C or better. Source
Also note
Engineering encourages applicants to focus on major preparation rather than Cal-GETC, though Cal-GETC is accepted for most breadth requirements. Source
UCR's transfer page says engineering applicants should complete the equivalent of the first two years of UCR coursework. Source

Not offered at UC Merced.

UC Merced has no computer engineering major. Its Computer Science and Engineering major is covered on the Computer Science page.

UCLA’s numbers

Admit rate: 6%
Applicants: 358
Admitted GPA, middle half: 3.93–4.00

UCLA reports these for Computer Engineering, fall 2025, counting all transfer applicants. The GPA range is the middle half of admits. Its community college applicants as a whole were admitted at 26%.

Transfer Admission Guarantee

Six campuses offer TAG. These are the fall 2027 terms for computer engineering at the TAG campuses that offer it, from UC’s TAG matrix.

Campus	TAG	GPA line	What the matrix says
UC Davis	Yes	3.50	Computer Engineering is a College of Engineering selective major open to TAG. The matrix requires a 3.5 GPA for Engineering plus selective major prep GPAs.
UC Irvine	Yes	3.40	Computer Engineering is open to TAG for fall 2027, but the matrix lists it among majors excluded starting with fall 2028 admission.
UC Riverside	Yes	3.30	The matrix sets a 3.3 GPA for Computer Engineering, and all Engineering majors require major preparation.
UC Santa Barbara	No	—	The matrix excludes all College of Engineering majors, and UCSB lists Computer Engineering B.S. in the College of Engineering.
UC Santa Cruz	Yes	3.00	Computer Engineering is a UCSC screening major open to TAG with added major preparation criteria.

How TAG works at all six campuses

Questions

Which UC campuses offer computer engineering?

8 of the nine: UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Irvine, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside. UC Merced doesn’t offer it.

Is there a UC Transfer Pathway for computer engineering?

No. Each campus sets its own computer engineering preparation, listed on this page. Use ASSIST to match your community college courses to each campus.

Can I get a TAG for computer engineering?

Yes at UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UC Santa Cruz, under the fall 2027 TAG matrix. UC Santa Barbara doesn’t cover it.

How hard is it to transfer to UCLA for computer engineering?

UCLA admitted 6% of 358 transfer applicants to Computer Engineering for fall 2025, and the middle half of admits had GPAs of 3.93–4.00.