Data Science transfer to UC
What every UC campus expects data science transfers to finish before they apply, where TAG applies, and how selective UCLA is (46% for fall 2025).
Checked against official UC and campus sources in October 2026.
The shared course list
UC’s Data science Transfer Pathway lists the community college courses that prepare you for this major at every campus. Finishing it doesn’t guarantee admission, and campuses add their own rules below.
| Course | Status |
|---|---|
| Introductory data science/statistics | Required |
| Single variable calculus (full sequence) | Required |
| Multivariable calculus (one semester) | Required |
| Linear algebra (one course) | Required |
| Computer programming (two courses) | Required |
Check your courses
Paste the course titles from your transcript or education plan and see which items on the list they cover.
Campus by campus
TAG lines come from UC’s TAG matrix for fall 2027. ASSIST shows which of your college’s courses count at each campus.
| Campus | TAG | Extra rule | Courses |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley | No TAG | None listed | ASSIST |
| UCLA | No TAG | None listed | ASSIST |
| UC San Diego | No TAG | None listed | ASSIST |
| UC Irvine | Not covered | None listed | ASSIST |
| UC Davis | Not covered | None listed | ASSIST |
| UC Santa Barbara | 3.40 | None listed | ASSIST |
| UC Santa Cruz | 3.00 | None listed | ASSIST |
| UC Riverside | 3.00 | None listed | ASSIST |
| UC Merced | 2.80 | None listed | ASSIST |
UCLA’s numbers for this major
- Fall 2025 admit rate
- 46%
- Applicants
- 163
- Admitted GPA, middle half
- 3.79–3.93
UCLA reports these for Data Theory (pre-major), against 26% for its community college applicants as a whole. UCLA reviews you for your first-choice major only, unless you’re a TAP student.
Your odds at every campus
Estimates for Data Science at all nine campuses at the GPA you set.
Questions
What classes do I need to transfer to UC for data science?
UC’s Data science Transfer Pathway lists 5 items, including introductory data science/statistics, single variable calculus (full sequence), multivariable calculus (one semester). Check each course on ASSIST for the campuses you apply to.
Can I get a TAG for data science?
Yes at UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz. UC Davis, UC Irvine don’t cover it with a TAG.
What GPA do you need to transfer to UCLA for data science?
UCLA admitted 46% of 163 transfer applicants to Data Theory (pre-major) for fall 2025, and the middle half of admits had GPAs of 3.79–3.93.