Community College Library · Los Angeles County · Walnut
Mt. San Antonio College to UC: Honors Program and International Admission
Mt. San Antonio College is in eastern Los Angeles County, offers an Honors Program, and is a UCLA Transfer Alliance Program member. International students pay per unit, and the college has no residence halls, so students arrange their own housing.
- Book a community college transfer consultation
- Semester calendar
- UCLA Transfer Alliance Program member
- The Honors Program
- 706 admitted to UC in 2024-25 ↓
- International tuition per unit
- $434 international tuition + $46 enrollment fee (2026-27 academic year)
- Spring 2027 deadline for applicants abroad
- November 15, 2026; January 20, 2027 for transfers within the U.S.
- English requirement (selected tests)
- TOEFL iBT 3.5, IELTS 4.5, Duolingo 75
- Proof of funds
- Prepare $27,942 (recommended); the application page lists a minimum of $26,926
- UCLA TAP certification
- 15 honors units; GPA of at least 3.2 in both honors courses and transferable courses
- UCLA Fall 2025 transfer profile
- 787 applicants, 34% admit rate, GPA 3.80 to 4.00
Mt. SAC to UC: ten years of transfer data
- UC applicants, 2024-25
- 974
- Admitted to UC
- 706
- Admit rate
- 72.5%
- Change in applicants since 2015-16
- +31%
- UC applicants
- Admitted
- Admit rate
- 2025-26 fall only
According to the UC Information Center, 974 Mt. San Antonio College students applied to UC in 2024-25, and 706 were admitted to at least one campus, 72.5% of applicants; 513 enrolled at UC. The campuses that admitted the most students that year were UC Irvine (357), UC San Diego (331), UC Riverside (316). Compared with 743 applicants in 2015-16, that is an increase of 31%. For 2025-26, only fall data are available so far: 1,036 applied and 795 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 | 974 | 706 | 72.5% | 513 | 3.59 | |
| UC Irvine | 772 | 357 | 46.2% | 102 | 3.71 | |
| UC San Diego | 546 | 331 | 60.6% | 93 | 3.67 | |
| UC Riverside | 535 | 316 | 59.1% | 67 | 3.50 | |
| UC Santa Barbara | 368 | 242 | 65.8% | 28 | 3.67 | |
| UCLA | 682 | 198 | 29.0% | 137 | 3.83 | |
| UC Davis | 228 | 148 | 64.9% | 24 | 3.66 | |
| UC Berkeley | 437 | 105 | 24.0% | 53 | 3.82 | |
| UC Santa Cruz | 170 | 93 | 54.7% | 9 | 3.48 | |
| UC Merced | 85 | 44 | 51.8% | — | 3.35 |
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.
Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) is a semester-system community college in Walnut, in eastern Los Angeles County. After completing transfer coursework here, students can apply to transfer to the University of California (UC). Mt. SAC admits international students on F-1 visas, offers an Honors Program, and is a member of the UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (TAP). It suits students who are targeting UCLA and are willing to join the Honors Program. The college has no residence halls, so housing and commuting need to be arranged in advance. The data section below shows how Mt. SAC students transfer to each UC campus.
Transfer support and honors programs
The Honors Program: completion requirements
- Entry: students with prior college coursework must have completed 9 transferable units with a transferable GPA of 3.2
- Complete 15 honors units with an honors GPA of at least 3.2 by the end of the spring term before transfer
- Maintain a cumulative transferable GPA of at least 3.2 by the end of the fall term in the application year
- Meet UC transfer eligibility and the prerequisite requirements for the intended UCLA major
- Sign the UCLA TAP applicant form online between late January and mid-February
Thresholds come from the official websites of the college, UCLA, and UC Irvine. The actual average admit GPA is UC Information Center data for Mt. SAC 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)Mt. SAC appears on UCLA's official list of member colleges. Beginning in May 2026, students who attend a community college for only one year cannot receive TAP certification. The Honors Program page also lists the UC Irvine Honors to Honors program and several member universities of the Honors Transfer Council of California.
Transfer CenterOffers drop-in and online transfer counseling; helps students complete UC, CSU, and private university applications as well as UC TAG applications; hosts personal statement and TAG workshops, arranges meetings with university admission representatives, and holds transfer fairs in the fall and spring.
International student admission
Per the 2026-27 college catalog; out-of-state students pay $395 per unit. Based on 24 units per academic year, the tuition page estimates tuition and fees at $13,142.36. The application processing fee is $50.
International application periods
- Fall admissionDeadline: June 15, 2026
- Spring admissionDeadline: November 15, 2026 (Spring 2027)
- Summer admissionDeadline: April 30, 2027
Deadlines for transfers within the U.S. are July 25, 2026 for Fall 2026, January 20, 2027 for Spring 2027, and May 20, 2027 for Summer 2027. They apply only to current F-1 students transferring directly to Mt. SAC. The college has not yet published the Fall 2027 deadline.
English proficiency (any one)
- 3.5TOEFL iBT
- 4.5IELTS
- 75Duolingo
PTE Academic 41 is also accepted.
I-20 proof of funds$27,942The annual estimate on the tuition page includes $13,142.36 in tuition and fees and $14,800 in living expenses. The application page lists a minimum proof of funds of $26,926. Because the two amounts differ, students should prepare for the higher figure of $27,942.
- Applicants must be at least 18 years old when the first semester begins; applicants under 18 must have completed high school.
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. The Fall 2026 semester begins on August 24, the Winter 2027 intersession begins on January 4, and the spring semester begins on February 22, with final exams from June 7 to 13. Students should keep these dates in mind when planning summer internships or trips home. The tuition page estimates 12 units each in fall and spring, which totals only 48 units over two years, so most students need to take additional courses each semester or use winter and summer sessions to complete their units.
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 Mt. SAC does not provide on-campus housing.
- ✓Homestay
- The page lists homestay agencies such as Universal Student Housing and Homestay Match, as well as two student apartment complexes, one across from Cal Poly Pomona and one in the city of Pomona, for students to contact on their own.
- Transportation
- After paying fees, students can join the GoPass program with a student ID and ride 14 public transit systems for free.
Further reading: Housing and homestays.
EDUBUS advice
- When choosing a college
The tuition page estimates costs based on 24 units per academic year. Completing 60 units usually requires paying for more semesters, so the budget should include a margin.
- Before applying
International students should prepare proof of funds of $27,942 and submit an application from abroad by November 15, 2026 for Spring 2027 admission.
- First semester
TAP certification requires a GPA of 3.2 in both honors courses and transferable courses, while the middle range of admitted students' GPAs in the UCLA profile is 3.80 to 4.00. Students targeting UCLA should plan coursework to a standard of 3.8 or higher rather than aiming only for 3.2.
- First year
The 15 honors units must be completed before the final spring term, so students should begin taking honors courses in the first year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How difficult is it to transfer from Mt. San Antonio College to UCLA?
According to UCLA's Fall 2025 transfer profile, 787 Mt. SAC students applied to UCLA, and the admit rate was 34%. The 25th to 75th percentile GPA of admitted students was 3.80 to 4.00. Students who complete the Honors Program and receive TAP certification receive priority consideration, but this is not an admission guarantee.
What is the tuition for international students at Mt. San Antonio College?
The 2026-27 college catalog lists F-1 international student tuition at $434 per unit, plus an enrollment fee of $46 per unit. Based on 24 units per academic year, the tuition page estimates tuition and fees at $13,142.36, and the annual estimate including living expenses is $27,942. The application page lists a minimum proof of funds of $26,926; students should prepare for the higher figure of $27,942.
How does the Mt. SAC Honors Program lead to UCLA TAP certification?
Students must complete 15 honors units with an honors GPA of at least 3.2 by the end of the spring term before transfer. By the end of the fall term in the application year, the cumulative GPA in transferable courses must also reach 3.2. Students must also sign the UCLA TAP applicant form online between late January and mid-February.
Does Mt. San Antonio College have student housing?
No. The college's international student housing page states that Mt. SAC does not provide on-campus housing. The page lists several homestay agencies and nearby student apartments for students to contact on their own.
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
- Tuition & Fees (Mt. San Antonio College International Student Program)mtsac.edu
- Application Deadlines and Requirements (Mt. San Antonio College International Student Program)mtsac.edu
- Admission and Registration (Mt. San Antonio College 2026-2027 Catalog)catalog.mtsac.edu
- Honors Program Transfer Partners (Mt. San Antonio College)mtsac.edu
- Honors Program Eligibility & Application (Mt. San Antonio College)mtsac.edu
- Transfer Center (Mt. San Antonio College)mtsac.edu
- Housing & Transportation (Mt. San Antonio College International Student Program)mtsac.edu
- 2026-27 Academic Calendar (Mt. San Antonio College Catalog)catalog.mtsac.edu
- UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (UCLA Undergraduate Admission)admission.ucla.edu
- Transfer Profile by Community College (UCLA, Fall 2025)admission.ucla.edu
Campus photo: Geographer, 2004, CC BY 1.0, 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.
