Chemical Engineering at UC Davis
What UC Davis expects chemical engineering transfers to finish before fall 2027. Below are Davis’s own preparation and selection rules, UC’s shared course list, the TAG terms and your odds.
Checked against official UC and campus sources in November 2026.
At a glance
- Fall 2025 campus admit rate
- 63.5%
- Screens applicants
- Yes
- TAG GPA line
- 3.50
- Admits transfers
- Yes
UC Davis admitted 63.5% of community college applicants for fall 2025, and it doesn’t publish admit rates by major. The middle half of admitted transfers had GPAs from 3.46 to 3.90 for fall 2025.
What Davis expects
Chemical Engineering · Biochemical Engineering
- Courses to finish
Chemical Engineering requires CHE 002A/B/C, organic chemistry CHE 128A/B and 129A or 118A/B, ECS 032A or ECH 060, MAT 021A/B/C/D, MAT 022A/B and PHY 009A/B/C. Source
- Selection
All College of Engineering majors are selective. Non-TAG applicants need a minimum 3.10 cumulative GPA and a 3.20 GPA in major preparation coursework, and Engineering TAG requires at least a 3.50 GPA in both cumulative and major preparation coursework. Source
- Campus rule
Engineering is selective, its TAG needs a 3.5, and summer courses before transfer don’t count. Source
- Also note
Biochemical Engineering adds BIS 002A or BIO 002/002L, an English composition course (ENL 003, UWP 001, COM 001-004 or NAS 005) and one of ENG 017, 035 or 045 to the chemistry, math and physics list. Source
- Every Davis major
UC Davis requires a minimum 2.80 GPA for transfer admission, and selective majors require higher overall, series and group GPAs. Source
Selective major preparation courses must be taken for a letter grade with no grade below C. Pass/No Pass does not count except for winter, spring and summer 2020 courses. Source
All major preparation and admission requirements must be finished by the end of spring term before fall enrollment. Summer coursework taken before transfer does not count toward admission requirements. Source
UC’s shared course list
UC’s Chemical engineering Transfer Pathway lists the courses that prepare you for this major at every campus, UC Davis included. Where Davis’s own list above asks for more, follow the campus.
| Course | Status |
|---|---|
| Calculus-based physics (full sequence with lab) | Required |
| Single variable calculus (full sequence) | Required |
| Multivariable calculus (one semester) | Required |
| Linear algebra (one course) | Required |
| Differential equations (one course) | Required |
| General chemistry (full sequence with lab) | Required |
| Organic chemistry (full sequence with lab) | Required |
| Programming (one semester, MATLAB recommended) | Required |
Paste your course titles to see which items they cover.
TAG for this major
UC Davis’s TAG covers chemical engineering for fall 2027 at a 3.50 UC-transferable GPA. TAG filing runs September 1–30 of the year before you transfer.
Your odds
Move the GPA to see a regular-review range at UC Davis for chemical engineering.
The same major at other campuses
| Campus | Screens applicants | TAG |
|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley | Not stated | No TAG |
| UCLA | Yes | No TAG |
| UC San Diego | Yes | No TAG |
| UC Irvine | Yes | 3.40 |
| UC Santa Barbara | Yes | Not covered |
| UC Riverside | Yes | 3.00 |
| UC Merced | Yes | 3.00 |
Other majors at UC Davis
- Aerospace Engineering
- Anthropology
- Bioengineering
- Biological Sciences
- Business Administration
- Business Economics
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Cognitive Science
- Communication
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Data Science
- Earth Science / Geology
- Economics
- Electrical Engineering
- English
- Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Science
- Film and Media Studies
- Global and International Studies
- History
- Linguistics
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Neuroscience
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Statistics
Official links
- UC Davis transfer admissionsucdavis.edu
- ASSIST: course agreements to UC Davisassist.org
Questions
What GPA do you need to transfer to UC Davis for chemical engineering?
All College of Engineering majors are selective. Non-TAG applicants need a minimum 3.10 cumulative GPA and a 3.20 GPA in major preparation coursework, and Engineering TAG requires at least a 3.50 GPA in both cumulative and major preparation coursework. A TAG needs at least a 3.50.
What classes do I need to transfer to UC Davis for chemical engineering?
Chemical Engineering requires CHE 002A/B/C, organic chemistry CHE 128A/B and 129A or 118A/B, ECS 032A or ECH 060, MAT 021A/B/C/D, MAT 022A/B and PHY 009A/B/C. Check each course on ASSIST for your college.
Is chemical engineering selective or screened at UC Davis?
Yes. UC Davis screens transfer applicants for it. All College of Engineering majors are selective. Non-TAG applicants need a minimum 3.10 cumulative GPA and a 3.20 GPA in major preparation coursework, and Engineering TAG requires at least a 3.50 GPA in both cumulative and major preparation coursework.
Can I get a TAG for chemical engineering at UC Davis?
Yes, for fall 2027, with at least a 3.50 GPA. TAG filing runs September 1–30 of the year before you transfer.