Community College Library · Orange County · Mission Viejo
Saddleback College to UC: Honors Program and International Admission
Saddleback College is in south Orange County, accepts international applications year-round, and allows students without an English score to begin with ESL. The college offers an Honors Program and is a UCLA Transfer Alliance Program member.
- Book a community college transfer consultation
- Semester calendar
- UCLA Transfer Alliance Program member
- Honors Program
- 579 admitted to UC in 2024-25 ↓
- International tuition per unit
- $512 (2026-27 academic year)
- International application deadline
- Accepted year-round
- Annual budget (proof of funds)
- $31,000 (2026-27 academic year)
- English requirement (selected tests)
- TOEFL iBT 52, IELTS 4.5, Duolingo 80; applicants without a score receive an I-20 for ESL
- UCLA Fall 2025 transfer profile
- 516 applicants, 28% admit rate, GPA 3.68 to 4.00
to UC: ten years of transfer data
- UC applicants, 2024-25
- 755
- Admitted to UC
- 579
- Admit rate
- 76.7%
- Change in applicants since 2015-16
- +23%
- UC applicants
- Admitted
- Admit rate
- 2025-26 fall only
According to the UC Information Center, 755 Saddleback College students applied to UC in 2024-25, and 579 were admitted to at least one campus, 76.7% of applicants; 410 enrolled at UC. The campuses that admitted the most students that year were UC Irvine (297), UC San Diego (266), UC Santa Barbara (218). Compared with 613 applicants in 2015-16, that is an increase of 23%. For 2025-26, only fall data are available so far: 832 applied and 643 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 | 755 | 579 | 76.7% | 410 | 3.60 | |
| UC Irvine | 575 | 297 | 51.7% | 151 | 3.71 | |
| UC San Diego | 427 | 266 | 62.3% | 70 | 3.64 | |
| UC Santa Barbara | 301 | 218 | 72.4% | 33 | 3.65 | |
| UC Riverside | 229 | 134 | 58.5% | 20 | 3.45 | |
| UC Santa Cruz | 190 | 133 | 70.0% | 19 | 3.46 | |
| UCLA | 443 | 117 | 26.4% | 79 | 3.82 | |
| UC Davis | 167 | 110 | 65.9% | 16 | 3.61 | |
| UC Berkeley | 263 | 58 | 22.1% | 20 | 3.76 | |
| UC Merced | 59 | 34 | 57.6% | — | 3.32 |
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.
Saddleback College is a community college in Mission Viejo, in south Orange County, that operates on a semester calendar. Students who complete transfer coursework here can apply to transfer to the University of California (UC). The college accepts international student applications year-round, and students without an English score can begin with ESL (English as a Second Language) courses. Saddleback College offers an Honors Program and is a member of the UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (TAP). For international students who still need to strengthen their English and want to study in Orange County, Saddleback College offers relatively flexible entry requirements on the path to UC. The data section below shows how Saddleback College students have transferred to each UC campus.
Transfer support and honors programs
Honors Program: completion requirements
- Apply to the Certificate-Track for priority registration; students taking only one or two honors courses do not need to apply
- Complete at least 15 honors units, usually five courses
- Maintain a UC-transferable course GPA of at least 3.25 and an honors course GPA of at least 3.20
- Complete one required writing and research course, several honors electives, and one Capstone course
- Take up to 6 honors units at Irvine Valley College or another approved honors program
Thresholds come from the official websites of the college, UCLA, and UC Irvine. The actual average admit GPA is UC Information Center data for Saddleback College 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)Saddleback College is on UCLA's official list of member colleges. To earn UCLA TAP or UC Irvine Honors to Honors certification, students must complete at least 9 honors units by the end of the fall semester before transfer. The college states that the Honors Program has more than 30 transfer partner institutions nationwide. Starting in May 2026, students who attend a community college for only one year cannot receive TAP certification.
Transfer CenterCounselors explain transfer requirements and procedures; the center arranges visits from university admission representatives, application workshops, and university tours, and provides information on UC and CSU transfer programs.
International student admission
2026-27 academic year. Estimated tuition for two semesters is $12,288.
International application periods
- Year-round admissionAccepted year-round
The college enrolls F-1 international students and accepts applications year-round.
English proficiency (any one)
- 52TOEFL iBT
- 4.5IELTS
- 80Duolingo
Applicants without an English score are first issued an I-20 for ESL; after the student completes ESL courses, the college issues an I-20 for associate degree study.
I-20 proof of funds$31,000Annual budget for the 2026-27 academic year, the college's minimum estimate of tuition and living costs, including tuition, health insurance, housing, and living expenses; add $5,000 for each dependent.
- Students must enroll in and complete at least 12 units in each fall and spring semester.
- Students without an English score complete ESL courses after enrollment before beginning associate degree study.
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. Students who begin with ESL should check, course by course in ASSIST articulation, which ESL courses count toward UC transfer units. The 9-unit honors milestone is tied to the fall semester before transfer, so each semester's schedule needs to be planned backward from that point.
Further reading: The 7-course pattern, Cal-GETC general education courses.
Housing and transportation
- ✕On-campus housing
- The college states that Saddleback College has no student residence halls and does not provide on-campus housing.
- ✓Homestay
- The international student page provides a list of homestay providers and nearby apartments.
- Transportation
- Full-time and part-time students enrolled in the current term can obtain a free bus pass for unlimited rides on OC Bus local fixed routes. OCTA Routes 85 and 91 and MV Shuttle, the free City of Mission Viejo shuttle, all stop on campus; the shuttle runs on weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Further reading: Housing and homestays.
EDUBUS advice
- When choosing a college
Saddleback College issues an I-20 for ESL to applicants without an English score, which gives international students with weaker English a path to enrollment, but the ESL stage may delay completion of the 60 transfer units.
- Before applying
Students who are able to should obtain a TOEFL iBT score of 52 or an equivalent score before applying, so they can enter degree courses directly.
- First academic year
Students targeting UCLA should begin honors courses in the first academic year to ensure that 9 honors units are completed by the fall semester before transfer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it difficult to transfer from Saddleback College to UCLA?
UCLA's Fall 2025 transfer profile shows that 516 Saddleback College students applied to UCLA, with an admit rate of 28%. The 25th to 75th percentile GPA of admitted students was 3.68 to 4.00. Students who complete the Honors Program and earn TAP certification receive priority consideration at UCLA, but this is not an admission guarantee.
What is the tuition for international students at Saddleback College?
The international student page of the college shows tuition of $512 per unit for the 2026-27 academic year, with estimated tuition of $12,288 for two semesters. The annual budget listed by the college is $31,000, covering tuition, health insurance, housing, and living expenses. Students bringing dependents must add $5,000 for each dependent.
Can a student apply to Saddleback College without a TOEFL score?
Yes. The college states that applicants whose official English scores have not been received are issued an I-20 for ESL study. After the student completes ESL courses, the college issues an I-20 for associate degree study. Students who already have scores can submit results such as TOEFL iBT 52, IELTS 4.5, or Duolingo 80.
What does the Saddleback College Honors Program require?
The Honors Certificate requires 15 honors units, a UC-transferable course GPA of at least 3.25, and an honors course GPA of at least 3.20. To apply for UCLA TAP or UC Irvine Honors to Honors, students must complete at least 9 honors units by the end of the fall semester before transfer.
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
- International Student (Saddleback College, 2026-27 academic year)saddleback.edu
- Honors Program (Saddleback College)saddleback.edu
- Honors Certificate Requirements (Saddleback College)saddleback.edu
- Honors Transfer (Saddleback College)saddleback.edu
- Transfer Center (Saddleback College)saddleback.edu
- Free Bus Pass (Saddleback College)saddleback.edu
- Maps and Directions (Saddleback College)saddleback.edu
- UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (UCLA Undergraduate Admission)admission.ucla.edu
- Transfer Profile by Community College (UCLA, Fall 2025)admission.ucla.edu
- Transfer basic requirements (UC Admissions)admission.universityofcalifornia.edu
Campus photo: Nandaro, 2013, CC BY-SA 3.0, 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.
