

UCLA is especially strong in STEM and engineering fields. Students are expected to complete a capstone project related to their major to deeply explore and define their passions. With over 1,200 clubs and student organizations, UCLA encourages everyone to broaden their horizons and find their niche among a cross-section of cultures. Attending a massive public university in one of America’s largest cities means tons of diverse opportunities. UCLA offers 125 majors and 90 different minors, many of which rank in the best academic programs in the nation, and instruction in 40 different languages. In addition, the student body is quite diverse-33 percent of undergrads are Asian, 26 percent are white, 21 percent are Hispanic, 5 percent are African American, and 10 percent are international students. Students come from all 50 states and over 100 foreign countries, though the majority of undergrads are Californians.

It has the largest undergraduate enrollment in the whole UC system with over 30,000 undergrads-as well as over 14,000 graduate and medical students. UCLA prides itself on being a large and diverse academic community. (We said miles, not minutes-Los Angeles is notoriously car-centric and plagued by bad traffic.) Its 419-acre campus is located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, at the foot of the Santa Monica mountains and a few miles from the Pacific Ocean. UCLA, widely considered a Public Ivy, is one of nine schools in the University of California, the Golden State’s public college system.

If you’re looking for clarity on the differences between UCLA and USC, you’re not alone! We’re here to help you navigate the ins and outs of these two famous SoCal schools and help you and your child decide which (if not both) might make their college list.įirst, let’s consider each school in its own right, starting with the University of California, Los Angeles. So you may be asking yourself: How different are UCLA and USC, really? Is one more prestigious than the other? Could my child be a competitive applicant for both schools? And if your child’s been admitted to both (congratulations!) how can you choose? News and World Report, UCLA and USC rank 20th and 25th in their list of best national universities, respectively. If it looks like your child will be a strong applicant for some of the nation’s top schools, you’re probably curious about LA’s two top universities - the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of Southern California (USC), famous cross-town rivals.Īccording to U.S. As you gear up for application season, you and your child may be curious about the higher education offerings in sunny Los Angeles, California.
