Community College Library · San Diego County · San Diego
San Diego Mesa College to UC: Honors Program and International Students
San Diego Mesa College is located in the City of San Diego and is a member of the UCLA Transfer Alliance Program. International students must submit a TOEFL iBT score of 61 or equivalent, and proof of funds is $47,000 per academic year.
- Book a community college transfer consultation
- Semester calendar
- UCLA Transfer Alliance Program member
- Honors Program
- 392 admitted to UC in 2024-25 ↓
- International cost per unit
- $423 (from Fall 2026: nonresident tuition $377 plus enrollment fee $46)
- Application deadlines
- Spring 2027: November 1, 2026; fall: June 1 each year
- English requirement (selected tests)
- TOEFL iBT 61, IELTS 6.0, Duolingo 105
- Proof of funds
- $47,000 (one academic year of two semesters)
- Honors Program completion
- GPA 3.25, 15 honors units, 4 honors activities, 10 hours of community service
- UCLA Fall 2025 transfer profile
- 330 applicants, 22% admit rate, GPA 3.78 to 4.00
Mesa College to UC: ten years of transfer data
- UC applicants, 2024-25
- 583
- Admitted to UC
- 392
- Admit rate
- 67.2%
- Change in applicants since 2015-16
- +11%
- UC applicants
- Admitted
- Admit rate
- 2025-26 fall only
According to the UC Information Center, 583 San Diego Mesa College students applied to UC in 2024-25, and 392 were admitted to at least one campus, 67.2% of applicants; 284 enrolled at UC. The campuses that admitted the most students that year were UC San Diego (267), UC Santa Barbara (125), UC Santa Cruz (103). Compared with 523 applicants in 2015-16, that is an increase of 11%. For 2025-26, only fall data are available so far: 559 applied and 380 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 | 583 | 392 | 67.2% | 284 | 3.52 | |
| UC San Diego | 491 | 267 | 54.4% | 148 | 3.61 | |
| UC Santa Barbara | 227 | 125 | 55.1% | 12 | 3.61 | |
| UC Santa Cruz | 147 | 103 | 70.1% | 15 | 3.46 | |
| UC Irvine | 294 | 94 | 32.0% | 10 | 3.69 | |
| UC Riverside | 157 | 90 | 57.3% | 14 | 3.37 | |
| UC Davis | 147 | 80 | 54.4% | 10 | 3.68 | |
| UCLA | 309 | 67 | 21.7% | 30 | 3.85 | |
| UC Berkeley | 238 | 65 | 27.3% | 43 | 3.73 | |
| UC Merced | 39 | 22 | 56.4% | — | 3.34 |
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.
San Diego Mesa College (Mesa College) is a community college on the semester system, located in the City of San Diego and part of the San Diego Community College District. After completing transfer coursework here, students can apply to transfer to the University of California (UC). Mesa College admits international students on F-1 visas, offers an Honors Program, and is a member of the UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (TAP). The college’s Transfer Center also lists several transfer programs connected to UC San Diego. International applicants must submit English test scores and proof of funds of $47,000, so these should be prepared well before applying. The data section below shows how Mesa College students have transferred to each UC campus.
Transfer support and honors programs
Honors Program: completion requirements
- GPA of at least 3.25
- Complete 15 honors units or honors contract units
- Attend 4 honors activities and complete 10 hours of community service
- UCLA TAP certification also requires a first-choice or alternate major in the UCLA College of Letters and Science
- TAP certification also requires 60 UC-transferable units completed at Mesa College or other colleges in the district
- TAP certification also requires completion of IGETC or the general education courses required by the intended major, plus the prerequisites for the first-choice and alternate majors
Thresholds come from the official websites of the college, UCLA, and UC Irvine. The actual average admit GPA is UC Information Center data for Mesa 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)Mesa College appears on the official UCLA member list. Beginning in May 2026, students who attend a community college for only one year cannot receive TAP certification. The college's transfer guarantees page still lists the TAP certification date as February 2024, so students should follow the latest notice from the honors counselor. The Honors Program also lists UC Irvine Honors to Honors and partnerships with several CSU campuses and private universities.
Transfer CenterThe Transfer Center offers scheduled and drop-in counseling, transfer application workshops, and appointments with admission representatives. It explains UC TAG (submitted September 1 to 30 each year) and the Associate Degree for Transfer (ADT), and lists the UC San Diego U-LINK guaranteed admission program and the PATH program for arts and humanities majors.
International student admission
Effective Fall 2026, per the district tuition page. The college's international student page still lists $415 per unit, which is the rate for Spring and Summer 2026 (nonresident tuition $369 plus enrollment fee $46).
International application periods
- Spring entryDeadline November 1, 2026
- Fall entryDeadline June 1 each year
The spring deadline applies to Spring 2027. For fall entry, the college recommends submitting by April 1. Application materials are combined into a single PDF file and submitted by email or in person.
English proficiency (any one)
- 61TOEFL iBT
- 6.0IELTS
- 105Duolingo
An SAT Reading and Writing score of 450 is also accepted.
I-20 proof of funds$47,000One academic year of two semesters; add $9,000 for each dependent.
- Applicants must be high school graduates with a GPA of at least 2.0. Applicants who have completed about 60 semester units or an associate degree may be advised to apply directly to a four-year university.
- Students admitted for Spring 2027 must attend a 4-day in-person new student orientation from January 11 to 14; students who miss it will have their I-20 and admission canceled. The first-semester schedule is arranged by an international student counselor.
- A minimum of 12 units is required each semester; part-time F-1 status is not approved.
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. F-1 students must take at least 12 units each semester, which yields only 48 units over two years at the minimum load, so most students need to take additional courses. TAP certification requires 60 UC-transferable units completed at Mesa College or other colleges in the district, and units from outside the district may not count, so students targeting UCLA should complete most of their coursework within the district.
Further reading: The 7-course pattern, Cal-GETC general education courses.
Housing and transportation
- ✕On-campus housing
- The college's housing resources page states that Mesa College does not provide on-campus housing.
- ✓Off-campus housing
- The college partners with College Pads on an off-campus housing platform where students can compare listings, find roommates, and sublease. The page also lists nearby apartments and affordable housing from the San Diego Housing Commission.
- Transportation
- Students who have paid for at least 7 units can purchase a student bus and trolley pass. The Fall 2026 semester pass is $174, and the monthly pass is $57.60.
Further reading: Housing and homestays.
EDUBUS advice
- Before applying
Mesa College requires scores such as TOEFL iBT 61 or IELTS 6.0 and proof of funds of $47,000; confirm that both requirements can be met before applying.
- First semester
The middle GPA range of admitted students in the UCLA profile is 3.78 to 4.00, so students targeting UCLA should plan their courses for a GPA of 3.8 or higher.
- First year
Students interested in UC San Diego should confirm U-LINK and PATH eligibility with the Transfer Center.
- Two-year course plan
TAP certification requires 60 UC-transferable units within the district, so students targeting UCLA should complete most of their coursework within the district.
Frequently Asked Questions
How difficult is it to transfer from San Diego Mesa College to UCLA?
The UCLA Fall 2025 transfer profile shows that 330 San Diego Mesa College students applied to UCLA, with an admit rate of 22%. The 25th to 75th percentile GPA of admitted students was 3.78 to 4.00. Students who complete the Honors Program and earn TAP certification receive priority consideration, but this is not a guarantee of admission.
What is the tuition for international students at San Diego Mesa College?
The San Diego Community College District tuition page shows that, beginning in Fall 2026, nonresident tuition is $377 per unit plus an enrollment fee of $46, for a total of $423 per unit. The college's international student page still lists $415, which is the rate for Spring and Summer 2026.
What are the English requirements for international students at Mesa College?
The college requires a TOEFL iBT score of 61 or an IELTS score of 6.0, and also accepts a Duolingo score of 105 or an SAT Reading and Writing score of 450. Scores must be no more than two years old. Applicants who graduated from a high school where English is the language of instruction, or who completed a transfer-level English composition course at a U.S. institution with a grade of C or better, may also request a waiver.
What programs connect Mesa College with UC San Diego?
The college's Transfer Center page lists two UC San Diego programs, U-LINK and PATH. U-LINK is for first-year community college students; those who sign an agreement and complete the required courses receive guaranteed admission. PATH is for students transferring into arts and humanities majors at UC San Diego. International students should confirm their eligibility directly with the Transfer Center.
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 Admissions (San Diego Mesa College)sdmesa.edu
- Spring 2027 Application Checklist (San Diego Mesa College International Student Program)sdmesa.edu
- Tuition & Fees (San Diego Community College District)sdccd.edu
- Honors Transfer (San Diego Mesa College)sdmesa.edu
- Transfer Guarantees (San Diego Mesa College Transfer Center)sdmesa.edu
- Transfer Center (San Diego Mesa College)sdmesa.edu
- Off Campus Housing (San Diego Mesa College)sdmesa.edu
- Bus and Trolley Passes (San Diego Mesa College)sdmesa.edu
- UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (UCLA Undergraduate Admission)admission.ucla.edu
- Transfer Profile by Community College (UCLA, Fall 2025)admission.ucla.edu
Campus photo: Jamie Lantzy, 2010, 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.
