Community College to UC · Popular Majors
Community College to UC Business:Prerequisites by Campus
Business pathway prerequisites include economics, calculus, statistics, introduction to business, and two accounting courses. UC Berkeley Haas requires a supplemental application, and business at UC Irvine and UC Davis is not open to TAG.
- UC Transfer Pathway
- Yes, applies to 6 degree programs at 6 campuses
- Pathway prerequisites
- Microeconomics, macroeconomics, one year of calculus, statistics, introduction to business, financial accounting, managerial accounting
- UC Berkeley Haas
- Supplemental application required in addition to the UC application, due January 31
- Business majors not open to TAG
- UC Irvine Business Administration, UC Davis Business
- UC Riverside School of Business
- Transferable GPA 2.7, prerequisite GPA 2.5; TAG threshold 2.8
Transfer Admission Data for Business Administration at Each UC Campus (Fall 2025)
According to the University of California Information Center, admit rates for fall 2025 transfer applicants across the 9 campus majors in the table below range from 4.9% for UC Berkeley Business Administration to 82.6% for UC Riverside Business Economics. Of these, 5 fall below the overall transfer admit rate of their campus.
Major names follow the official UC wording; "Pre-" in UCLA major names indicates admission in pre-major status. An admit rate reflects how competitive a major is and does not represent the chance of admission for any individual student.
Admit rate for this majorOverall transfer admit rate of the campus
| Campus | Major (Official UC Name) | Applicants | Admits | Admit Rate | Admit GPA (Middle 50%) | 2016 to 2025 Admit Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley | Business Administration | 2,413 | 118 | 4.9% | 3.87 to 4.00 | |
| UCLA | Pre-Business Economics | 3,379 | 342 | 10.1% | 3.89 to 4.00 | |
| UC San Diego | Business Economics | 2,320 | 1,008 | 43.4% | 3.63 to 3.95 | |
| UC Irvine | Business Administration | 3,192 | 490 | 15.4% | 3.80 to 4.00 | |
| Business Economics | 1,089 | 486 | 44.6% | 3.72 to 3.95 | ||
| UC Davis | Managerial Economics | 748 | 506 | 67.6% | 3.53 to 3.90 | |
| UC Santa Cruz | Business Management - Economics | 1,213 | 792 | 65.3% | 3.25 to 3.79 | |
| UC Riverside | Business Economics | 466 | 385 | 82.6% | 3.32 to 3.82 | |
| UC Merced | Management and Business Economics | 428 | 261 | 61.0% | 3.16 to 3.77 |
Fall admission data. UC does not publish categories with fewer than 5 applicants or with fewer than 3 admits or enrollees; these appear as "—". GPA is the self-reported transfer GPA of applicants, and the range covers the middle 50 percent of admitted students. The trend charts use a fixed vertical axis from 0 to 100% for easier comparison; a line breaks in years when the major was renamed. The UC Information Center campus summary table does not yet list UCLA data for fall 2025, so the UCLA rows have no campus-wide admit rate marker. Campus names link to the corresponding transfer guide. Source: UC Infocenter · Transfers by major (visualizedata.ucop.edu, Transfersbymajor workbook, fall admission), retrieved September 27, 2026.
Business is a popular direction for community college students transferring to UC, but major names and the colleges that house them vary widely across campuses. UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, and UC Riverside offer Business Administration, while UC Davis offers Business and Managerial Economics. UCLA and UC San Diego offer Business Economics, and UC Santa Cruz offers Business Management Economics. The main challenges are threefold. First, there are many prerequisites, and accounting and statistics need to be scheduled early. Second, UC Berkeley Haas requires a separate supplemental application. Third, business at UC Irvine and UC Davis is not open to TAG. Community college students aiming for business at UC should choose the target major first and then plan the two-year schedule backward from it. The data section below shows transfer admission results for this major at each campus.
Common Prerequisites
This section explains which courses the UC Transfer Pathway for business requires. UC Transfer Pathways are standardized prerequisite lists that UC has compiled for popular majors. Following the list satisfies the transfer course requirements for that major at the participating campuses.
| Course type | Number of courses | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Microeconomics | 1 course | Pathway requirement |
| Macroeconomics | 1 course | Pathway requirement |
| Single Variable Calculus | One-year sequence | STEM version encouraged; some campuses accept the non-STEM version |
| Statistics | 1 course | Pathway requirement |
| Introduction to Business | 1 course | Must include finance content |
| Financial Accounting | 1 course | Pathway requirement |
| Managerial Accounting | 1 course | Pathway requirement |
The business pathway applies to 6 degree programs. These include the B.S. in Business Administration at UC Berkeley and UC Riverside and the B.A. in Business Administration at UC Irvine. The other three are Business Management Economics at UC Santa Cruz, Management and Business Economics at UC Merced, and Managerial Economics at UC Davis. UC does not require Business Law, which differs from some community college Associate Degrees for Transfer. Students whose targets include UC Berkeley must also make sure the two English composition courses satisfy the UC Berkeley reading and composition requirement. Specific courses can be verified using the method in the ASSIST guide.
Requirements by Campus
This section compares transfer thresholds for business-oriented majors at the main campuses. Most campuses require prerequisites to be completed by the end of the spring term before transfer.
| Campus and major | Major threshold | Grade requirements | Required prerequisites |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley Business Administration (Haas) | Separate supplemental application required; applicants must apply directly to business | Transferable GPA of at least 3.0; C- or better in prerequisites | Introduction to business, microeconomics and macroeconomics, probability and statistics, two semesters of calculus, two reading and composition courses |
| UC Irvine Business Administration (Paul Merage School of Business) | Not open to TAG | Transferable GPA 3.0 | Two calculus courses, two economics courses, statistics, two accounting courses |
| UC Riverside Business Administration | School of Business major | Transferable GPA 2.7, prerequisite GPA 2.5, C or better in each course | One calculus course, introduction to business, financial accounting, microeconomics and macroeconomics, statistics |
| UC Davis Business (Graduate School of Management) | Selective major; not open to TAG | Transferable GPA 3.00, prerequisite group GPA 3.20 | Microeconomics and macroeconomics, elementary financial accounting, elementary managerial accounting, one calculus series, statistics |
| UC Davis Managerial Economics | Selective major | Prerequisite group GPA 2.00 | Microeconomics and macroeconomics, one calculus series, statistics |
| UCLA Business Economics | Direct admission required; no switching in after enrollment | No published minimum | Microeconomics, macroeconomics, one year of calculus, financial accounting, managerial accounting |
| UC San Diego Business Economics | Screening major | Prerequisite GPA 2.3, C- or better in each course | Two calculus courses, one introductory economics course, accounting courses |
| UC Santa Cruz Business Management Economics | Screening major | GPA 2.8 in 3 prerequisites | One calculus course, microeconomics and macroeconomics |
UC Berkeley Haas prerequisites must have been taken within the last 5 years, and each must carry at least 3 semester units. For Haas, the UC application is due November 30 and the supplemental application is due January 31. The supplemental application includes self-reported grades, a short essay, an activities update, and a video interview. UCLA notes that applicants for Business Economics far outnumber available spaces and strongly recommends completing the prerequisites by the fall term of the year before transfer. UC Santa Cruz recommends taking accounting courses as well.
Is TAG Available?
This section describes business-oriented majors at the six TAG campuses. The Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) rules are covered in full in TAG: Transfer Admission Guarantee. UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC San Diego do not participate in TAG.
| Campus | Related majors | TAG status |
|---|---|---|
| UC Davis | Business; Managerial Economics | Business not open; Managerial Economics open, with a College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences threshold of 3.2 |
| UC Irvine | Business Administration; Business Economics | Business Administration not open; Business Economics open for fall 2027, threshold 3.4 |
| UC Merced | Management and Business Economics | Open; School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts threshold 2.8 |
| UC Riverside | Business Administration | Open; School of Business threshold 2.8, with major preparation courses required |
| UC Santa Cruz | Business Management Economics | Open; threshold 3.0, and screening majors have additional prerequisite GPA requirements |
Beginning in fall 2028, Business Economics at UC Irvine will also no longer be open to TAG. Students who enter community college in fall 2026 will be able to apply to business-oriented majors at UC Irvine only through regular admission.
Planning Two Years of Courses
This section gives a sample plan for a community college on the semester system, assuming the student enters in fall 2026 and transfers in fall 2028. Business has about 8 prerequisites, so two to three per semester is recommended.
| Term | Major prerequisites | General education and core courses |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2026 | Calculus I, Microeconomics | English Composition I |
| Spring 2027 | Calculus II, Macroeconomics, Financial Accounting | English Composition II |
| Fall 2027 | Managerial Accounting, Statistics, Introduction to Business | One or two general education courses |
| Spring 2028 | Remaining courses required by target campuses | Remaining general education courses |
At community colleges on the quarter system, the academic year has three quarters and the same sequence is split into more courses, so students should check ASSIST by quarter. How much general education to complete depends on the campus. The UC Riverside School of Business strongly recommends completing Cal-GETC general education certification. UC Berkeley Haas does not require general education and does not allow a single course to satisfy both a prerequisite and a general education requirement. The structure of Cal-GETC is explained in Cal-GETC general education.
EDUBUS advice: Business at UC Irvine and UC Davis is not open to TAG, and Business Economics at UC Irvine will also be excluded beginning in fall 2028. Students who want a TAG guarantee can consider Business Administration at UC Riverside, Managerial Economics at UC Davis, or Business Management Economics at UC Santa Cruz. The Haas supplemental application is due January 31 and requires self-reported prerequisite grades. Students whose targets include Haas should complete most prerequisites by the end of fall 2027. The short essays for the Haas supplemental application can be prepared together with the UC personal insight questions (PIQ).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which courses does a community college student need to transfer to UC in business?
The UC business Transfer Pathway lists 7 categories of courses: microeconomics, macroeconomics, one year of single variable calculus, statistics, introduction to business including finance, financial accounting, and managerial accounting. UC encourages the STEM version of calculus, but some campuses accept non-STEM calculus. Specific courses must be verified by campus in ASSIST.
What does transferring to UC Berkeley Haas require?
Students must submit the UC application by November 30 and apply directly to the business major. They must also submit the Haas supplemental application by January 31, which includes self-reported grades, a short essay, and a video interview; applicants who miss the deadline are denied. Prerequisites must be completed by the end of the spring term before enrollment, with grades of C- or better, and must be no more than 5 years old.
Can TAG be used for Business Administration at UC Irvine?
No. Business Administration at UC Irvine is not open to TAG for either fall 2027 or fall 2028. Regular admission requires a transferable GPA of at least 3.0 and completion of calculus, two economics courses, statistics, and two accounting courses. Business Economics at the same campus remains open to TAG for fall 2027 and is excluded beginning in fall 2028.
Does UCLA offer a business major for transfer students?
The business-oriented transfer major at UCLA is Business Economics. The prerequisites are microeconomics, macroeconomics, one year of calculus, and one course each in financial accounting and managerial accounting. Students must be admitted directly as Pre-Business Economics or Pre-Economics; they cannot switch into it after enrolling or take it as a double major.
Sources and Verification Date13 official sources · last verified September 27, 2026
- Transfers by major, fall 2025 and earlier years (UC Infocenter, retrieved September 27, 2026)universityofcalifornia.edu
- UC Transfer Pathways: Business Administration (UC Admissions)admission.universityofcalifornia.edu
- UC TAG Matrix, Fall 2027 and Spring 2028 Cycle (June 9, 2026 version)admission.universityofcalifornia.edu
- Transfer Students (UC Berkeley Haas Undergraduate Program)haas.berkeley.edu
- Transfer Requirements by School (UC Irvine Office of Undergraduate Admissions)admissions.uci.edu
- Majors Preparation Guide (UC Riverside Undergraduate Admissions)admissions.ucr.edu
- Business Administration Major (UC Riverside School of Business)business.ucr.edu
- Major requirements for the Graduate School of Management (UC Davis Undergraduate Admissions)ucdavis.edu
- Major requirements for the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (UC Davis Undergraduate Admissions)ucdavis.edu
- MGT Course Catalog (UC Davis General Catalog)catalog.ucdavis.edu
- Transfer Preparation Requirements: Business Economics (UCLA Undergraduate Admission)admission.ucla.edu
- Transfer Major Preparation (UC San Diego Undergraduate Admissions)admissions.ucsd.edu
- Business Management Economics B.A. (UC Santa Cruz General Catalog)catalog.ucsc.edu
Major requirements, TAG conditions, and admission data change every year. Before applying, confirm the figures published by UC and each campus for the current year.
