Fall-term undergraduate applications to the University of California rose for the sixth straight year, according to data released today (Jan. 14). The university received 134,029 submissions from prospective students, an increase of 5.8 percent over last year.

While the 2.4 percent increase in freshman applicants was slightly smaller than last year's increase, applications from transfer applicants jumped 17.5 percent, to 33,709. Most of those were from California community college applicants.

All campuses saw growth in freshman applications this year, with the greatest increases at Merced (17.3 percent), Riverside (5.8 percent) and Santa Barbara (4.5 percent).  For the third year in a row, all campuses experienced notable increases in transfer applications. The increases in transfers ranged from 49.5 percent at Merced to 13.6 percent at Los Angeles. Transfer applications have increased at the systemwide level by 30.6 percent since 2008.

This jump is due in part to a well-communicated, strong UC commitment to student transfer, according to UC Director of Admissions Susan Wilbur.

"We made a decision last year to increase transfer enrollment from California community colleges by 500. That sent a welcoming message," Wilbur said. She also cited programs offered by seven UC campuses that guarantee admission to community college students, and focused efforts on the part of each campus to serve the needs of its local community colleges.

Underrepresented minorities saw significant percentage increases at both the freshman and transfer level. The largest increases on the freshman side were from American Indian (22.3 percent), Pacific Islander (14.0 percent), African American (9.3 percent) and Chicano/Latino (5.9 percent) students. Asian American freshman applicants grew by 2.2 percent, while there was a 9.8 percent decline in the white/other category. Among transfer applicants, there were increases of 48.2 percent for African Americans, 42.6 percent for American Indians, 24.6 percent for Chicano/Latinos, 16.0 percent for Asian Americans, 9.9 percent for Pacific Islanders, and 4.2 percent for white/others.

Freshman applications from California public high school applicants increased by 2.3 percent, despite the California Department of Finance's projected zero growth rate for graduates from public high schools. The department projects a decrease in white and African American graduates, virtually no change for American Indians and small increases for Chicano/Latino and Asian American/Pacific Islanders. In contrast to these projections, applications to the university show a 25.1 percent increase in American Indians, 8.4 percent increase in African Americans and a 6.5 percent increase in Chicano/Latinos. "This reflects the strong academic preparation and strong interest in UC on the part of these students," Wilbur said.

There was no significant change in the academic profile of applicants, but there was a small increase in those who were the first in their families to attend college. And despite the weak economy and the fact that fee increases will go into effect next year, "We haven't seen a decline in low-income students who are applying."

Still, Wilbur noted, "Admissions is only part of the equation. We don't want family finances to stand in the way of a UC education." The university is sending a welcome letter to applicants, explaining the financial aid process, and has raised the family-income threshold of the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan, a program that covers the systemwide fees of low-income California-resident students, to $70,000.

Detailed data tables on UC's fall 2010 term applications are available online.

Victoria Irwin is the student affairs communications coordinator with the UC Office of the President Integrated Communications. For more news, visit UC Newsroom or follow us on Twitter.