Bioengineering transfer to UC Santa Cruz
What UC Santa Cruz expects bioengineering transfers to finish before fall 2027. Below are Santa Cruz’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
- 70.4%
- Screens applicants
- Yes
- TAG GPA line
- 3.00
- Admits transfers
- Yes
UC Santa Cruz admitted 70.4% of all transfer applicants for fall 2025, and it doesn’t publish admit rates by major. UC Santa Cruz reported an average GPA of 3.47 for admitted fall 2025 transfers and no range. The calculator’s range is an estimate around that average.
What Santa Cruz expects
Biomolecular Engineering and Bioinformatics B.S.
- Courses to finish
For the 2026-27 catalog, transfers must complete eight courses from a list that includes BME 80G, BIOL 20A, MATH 19A, MATH 19B, CHEM 8A, CHEM 8B, AM 10 or MATH 21, and CHEM 3A-3C or CHEM 4A-4B. Source
At least ten listed courses are recommended to graduate in two years, and PHYS 5A, 5B and BME 21L can also count for the biomolecular engineering concentration. Source
- Selection
Students need a GPA of 2.8 or better in the screening courses, with five of the eight done by the end of fall term before a fall transfer. AP credit satisfies a course but does not count in the GPA. Source
- Also note
The 2026-27 catalog's Baskin Engineering page lists no Bioengineering major, and Biomolecular Engineering and Bioinformatics B.S. is its closest match. Source
Applicants must state their planned concentration (biomolecular engineering or bioinformatics) in the personal statement. Source
- Every Santa Cruz major
For Fall 2026, UCSC screens transfer applicants for completion of major preparation courses in a published list of screening majors, with criteria given in each major's General Catalog entry. Source
Required major preparation must be completed by the end of the spring term before fall transfer, or by the end of the fall term before winter transfer. Source
UC’s shared course list
UC’s Bioengineering Transfer Pathway lists the courses that prepare you for this major at every campus, UC Santa Cruz included. Where Santa Cruz’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 |
| Biology (full introductory sequence) | Required |
| Programming (one course) | Required |
| Circuits (one course) | Required |
Paste your course titles to see which items they cover.
TAG for this major
UC Santa Cruz’s TAG covers bioengineering for fall 2027 at a 3.00 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 Santa Cruz for bioengineering.
The same major at other campuses
| Campus | Screens applicants | TAG |
|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley | Yes | No TAG |
| UCLA | Yes | No TAG |
| UC San Diego | Yes | No TAG |
| UC Irvine | Yes | 3.40 |
| UC Davis | Yes | 3.50 |
| UC Riverside | Yes | 3.00 |
| UC Merced | Yes | 3.00 |
Other majors at UC Santa Cruz
- Anthropology
- Biological Sciences
- Business Administration
- Business Economics
- Chemistry
- Cognitive Science
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Earth Science / Geology
- Economics
- Electrical Engineering
- English
- Environmental Science
- Film and Media Studies
- History
- Linguistics
- Mathematics
- Neuroscience
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Sociology
Official links
- UC Santa Cruz transfer admissionsadmissions.ucsc.edu
- ASSIST: course agreements to UC Santa Cruzassist.org
Questions
What GPA do you need to transfer to UC Santa Cruz for bioengineering?
Students need a GPA of 2.8 or better in the screening courses, with five of the eight done by the end of fall term before a fall transfer. AP credit satisfies a course but does not count in the GPA. A TAG needs at least a 3.00.
What classes do I need to transfer to UC Santa Cruz for bioengineering?
For the 2026-27 catalog, transfers must complete eight courses from a list that includes BME 80G, BIOL 20A, MATH 19A, MATH 19B, CHEM 8A, CHEM 8B, AM 10 or MATH 21, and CHEM 3A-3C or CHEM 4A-4B. Check each course on ASSIST for your college.
Is bioengineering selective or screened at UC Santa Cruz?
Yes. UC Santa Cruz screens transfer applicants for it. Students need a GPA of 2.8 or better in the screening courses, with five of the eight done by the end of fall term before a fall transfer. AP credit satisfies a course but does not count in the GPA.
Can I get a TAG for bioengineering at UC Santa Cruz?
Yes, for fall 2027, with at least a 3.00 GPA. TAG filing runs September 1–30 of the year before you transfer.