Community College Library · Los Angeles County · Torrance
El Camino College to UC: Honors Program and International Admission
El Camino College is in the South Bay area of Los Angeles, offers an Honors Transfer Program, and is a UCLA Transfer Alliance Program member. International students who do not yet meet the English requirement can first enroll in the college's intensive English program.
- Book a community college transfer consultation
- Semester calendar
- UCLA Transfer Alliance Program member
- Honors Transfer Program
- 608 admitted to UC in 2024-25 ↓
- International tuition and fees per unit
- $416 (from summer 2026, 2026-27 academic year)
- Deadlines for applicants abroad
- December 15, 2026 for spring 2027; July 1 for fall 2026
- English requirements (selected tests)
- TOEFL iBT 45, IELTS 4.5, Duolingo 75
- Proof of funds
- $26,500 (2026-27 academic year estimate)
- Honors Transfer Program eligibility
- 9 transferable units completed and a transferable-course GPA of at least 3.1
- UCLA fall 2025 transfer profile
- 619 applicants, 31% admit rate, GPA 3.77 to 4.00
ECC to UC: ten years of transfer data
- UC applicants, 2024-25
- 808
- Admitted to UC
- 608
- Admit rate
- 75.2%
- Change in applicants since 2015-16
- +23%
- UC applicants
- Admitted
- Admit rate
- 2025-26 fall only
According to the UC Information Center, 808 El Camino College students applied to UC in 2024-25, and 608 were admitted to at least one campus, 75.2% of applicants; 433 enrolled at UC. The campuses that admitted the most students that year were UC Irvine (281), UC San Diego (270), UC Santa Barbara (267). Compared with 656 applicants in 2015-16, that is an increase of 23%. For 2025-26, only fall data are available so far: 803 applied and 631 were admitted, which cannot be compared directly with the earlier full-year figures.
UC campus comparison, 2024-25
| Campus | Applicants | Admitted | Admit rate | Enrolled | Average GPA of admitted students | Ten-year admissions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC systemwide | 808 | 608 | 75.2% | 433 | 3.61 | |
| UC Irvine | 585 | 281 | 48.0% | 71 | 3.70 | |
| UC San Diego | 423 | 270 | 63.8% | 58 | 3.66 | |
| UC Santa Barbara | 387 | 267 | 69.0% | 40 | 3.67 | |
| UCLA | 635 | 221 | 34.8% | 161 | 3.79 | |
| UC Riverside | 268 | 171 | 63.8% | 19 | 3.51 | |
| UC Davis | 215 | 138 | 64.2% | 12 | 3.63 | |
| UC Santa Cruz | 188 | 135 | 71.8% | 18 | 3.51 | |
| UC Berkeley | 343 | 111 | 32.4% | 51 | 3.71 | |
| UC Merced | 48 | 29 | 60.4% | 3 | 3.39 |
Admit rates are calculated from student counts. UC does not publish categories with fewer than five students; these appear as "—" in the table. GPA is the UC-calculated GPA in transferable courses. Campus names link to the corresponding transfer guides. Source: UC Infocenter · Admissions by source school (visualizedata.ucop.edu, AdmissionsDataTable transfer view), retrieved 2026-09-27.
El Camino College (ECC) is a community college on the semester system in the Torrance area of the South Bay region of Los Angeles County. After completing transfer coursework there, students can apply to transfer to the University of California (UC). ECC admits international students on F-1 visas, offers an Honors Transfer Program, and is a member of the UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (TAP). Students who do not yet meet the English requirement can first enroll in the college’s intensive English program and then move into academic courses. For students who aim for UCLA and need an English transition period, transferring from ECC to UC offers a fairly complete pathway. The data section below shows how ECC students have transferred to each UC campus.
Transfer support and honors programs
Honors Transfer Program: completion requirements
- Be a current ECC student with at least two full semesters remaining before transfer or graduation
- Have completed 9 transferable units with a cumulative ECC transferable-course GPA of at least 3.1
- Be eligible for English C1000 or have completed the course
- Apply during the published application period; for entry in winter and spring 2027, the period is September 14 to October 9, 2026
Thresholds come from the official websites of the college, UCLA, and UC Irvine. The actual average admit GPA is UC Information Center data for ECC students in 2024-25; an average is not an admission cutoff. Further reading: UCLA Transfer Alliance Program, How transfer GPA is calculated.
UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (TAP)ECC is on UCLA's official list of member colleges. HTP offers priority registration, small honors classes, and a dedicated transfer counselor, and the program page lists three partnerships: UCLA TAP, UC Irvine Honors to Honors, and the UC Berkeley transfer alliance. Beginning in May 2026, students who attend a community college for only one year cannot receive TAP certification.
Transfer CenterOffers counseling by appointment and on a drop-in basis, transfer information workshops, university tours, admissions representative visits, and university fairs; the fall 2026 workshops cover TAG and fall 2027 UC and CSU applications.
International student admission
From summer 2026, 2026-27 academic year. The annual estimate includes $9,984 in tuition, $1,523 in health insurance, and estimated living expenses.
International application periods
- Fall admissionDeadline July 1, 2026
- Spring admissionDeadline December 15, 2026
Transfer students already in the United States have later deadlines: July 31 for fall 2026 and January 15, 2027 for spring 2027.
English proficiency (any one)
- 45TOEFL iBT
- 4.5IELTS
- 75Duolingo
Scores must be within two years. Students without an English score or with a low score can apply to the intensive English program (ECLA); completing ECLA Level 3 is also accepted as proof of English proficiency for academic courses.
I-20 proof of funds$26,5002026-27 academic year, plus $5,000 for each dependent.
- The application fee is $50.
Further reading: I-20 and visa, Annual budget, English and math placement.
Academic calendar and course planning
Semester calendar: fall and spring are the two main terms, and the units are already semester units, so no conversion is needed. Fall and spring semesters are 16 weeks each. The fall 2026 semester runs August 24 to December 12, the winter 2027 intersession runs January 4 to February 4, and the spring semester runs February 16 to June 12. F-1 students must take at least 12 units each semester, which yields only 48 units over two years, so most students need to take about 15 units each semester or use the winter intersession to make up the difference. HTP requires two full semesters remaining at entry, so students should apply within their first year at the latest.
Further reading: The 7-course pattern, Cal-GETC general education courses.
Housing and transportation
- ✕On-campus housing
- The college's international student housing page states that ECC does not provide room and board.
- ✓Homestay
- The housing page lists several homestay providers, including Universal Student Housing, and notes that students can also share a rental or rent an apartment in Torrance and nearby areas. The college states that this information is only a suggestion and that it does not endorse any provider.
- Transportation
- The housing page lists three transit systems: Metro, Beach Cities Transit, and Torrance Transit.
Further reading: Housing and homestays.
EDUBUS advice
- Before applying
International students who do not meet the English requirement can begin with ECLA, but they should build the time needed for the English transition into their two-year transfer plan. Before submitting an application, students should confirm the current tuition and deadlines with the international student office.
- First semester
The HTP GPA requirement is 3.1, while the middle GPA range of admitted students in the UCLA profile is 3.77 to 4.00. Students aiming for UCLA should plan their courses to a standard of 3.8 or higher.
- End of first semester
HTP accepts applications only during fixed periods and requires at least two full semesters remaining, so students should apply as soon as they complete 9 transferable units.
Frequently Asked Questions
How difficult is it to transfer from El Camino College to UCLA?
The UCLA fall 2025 transfer profile shows that 619 El Camino College students applied to UCLA, with an admit rate of 31%. The 25th to 75th percentile GPA of admitted students was 3.77 to 4.00. Students who complete the Honors Transfer Program and receive TAP certification receive priority consideration, but admission is not guaranteed.
What is the tuition for international students at El Camino College?
The college's international student expenses page shows that, beginning in summer 2026, tuition and fees total $416 per unit. At 12 units each in fall and spring, one academic year costs $9,984. To apply for an I-20, students must show $26,500 in funds, plus $5,000 for each accompanying dependent.
Can students apply to El Camino College without a TOEFL score?
Yes. Students can apply to the college's intensive English program (ECLA). To enroll directly in academic courses, students must submit a score such as TOEFL iBT 45, IELTS 4.5, or Duolingo 75, taken within the past two years. Completing ECLA Level 3 is also accepted as proof of English proficiency.
How do students apply to the El Camino College Honors Transfer Program?
Applicants must be current students who have completed 9 transferable units with a transferable-course GPA of at least 3.1 and who are eligible for English C1000. Students must have at least two full semesters remaining before they transfer or graduate. The application period for entry in winter and spring 2027 is September 14 to October 9, 2026.
Sources and Verification Date11 official sources · Last checked September 27, 2026
- Admissions by source school, transfer data (UC Infocenter, retrieved 2026-09-27)universityofcalifornia.edu
- Expenses & Funding (El Camino College International Student Program, 2026-27 academic year)elcamino.edu
- ISP Admission & Applications (El Camino College)elcamino.edu
- English Proficiency (El Camino College International Student Program)elcamino.edu
- Housing (El Camino College International Student Program)elcamino.edu
- Honors Transfer Program (El Camino College)elcamino.edu
- HTP Eligibility and How to Apply (El Camino College)elcamino.edu
- Transfer Center (El Camino College)elcamino.edu
- Academic Calendar (El Camino College, 2026-27 academic year)elcamino.edu
- UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (UCLA Undergraduate Admission)admission.ucla.edu
- Transfer Profile by Community College (UCLA, fall 2025)admission.ucla.edu
Campus photo: Kriddl, 2016, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Admission rules, tuition, deadlines, and visa policies change every year. Before applying, confirm the current information published by the college and the relevant official agencies.
