Admission data released April 18 shows a lower UCSD admit rate for the class entering Fall 2011, as well as more offers for out-of-state students.
The data showed a 0.4 percent overall drop in admission from 38.1 percent to 34.1 percent. California residents made up 76.7 percent of freshman admits, fewer than the 84.3 percent admitted in 2010. Out-of-state student admits rose 36 percent and international students jumped 47.7 percent from 8.4 percent to 12.2 percent.
UCSD spokesperson Christine Clark said the rising numbers may be attributed to insufficient funding, since international and out-of-state students pay higher tuition than California residents.
As of 2011, the total amount of tuition paid by students will be greater than what the state funds the system.
Across all UC campuses, over 41 percent of admitted freshmen will be the first in their families to earn a college degree.
The proportion of those graduating from high schools with low Academic Performance Index scores — a measure of the academic performance and progress of individual schools — also increased from 17.6 percent to 22.8 percent. Nearly 37 percent of freshman admitted for 2011 are from low-income families.
The number of underrepresented minority students admitted to UCSD for Fall 2011 increased by 15.4 percent over last year, from 3,041 students to 3,512.
“Despite the highly competitive nature of this year’s admission process, we have expanded access to many students who are traditionally underserved in higher education,” UC interim undergraduate admissions director Pamela Burnett said. “The proportion of our new California residents from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups grew from about 28 percent in 2010 to nearly 31 percent in 2011.”
Based on self-reported admissions data, African-American make up 2.4 percent of the total admits, while Mexican-Americans compose 19.6 percent of the total. Just over 25 percent of admits — or 4,568 — are first-generation college students.
“We are also pleased that the number of underrepresented students admitted to the university went up 15 percent this year and we remain committed to ensuring accessibility and affordability for all students who want to attend UC San Diego,” Chancellor Marye Anne Fox said in a statement.
Overall, the number of students who were admitted to the UC system increased by 6 percent — from 68,329 admits in 2010 to 72,432 admits this year — though UCSD accepted around 100 fewer students than last year.
According to Assistant Vice Chancellor of Admissions Mae Brown, the decrease in student admissions is to compensate for this year’s slight over-enrollment in 2010.
