University of California, Los Angeles facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
University of California, Los Angeles

Former names	Los Angeles branch of the California State Normal School (1881–1887) Los Angeles State Normal School (1887–1919) Southern Branch of the University of California (1919–1927) University of California at Los Angeles (1927–1958)
Motto	Fiat lux (Latin)
Motto in English	"Let there be light"
Type	Public land-grant research university
Established	May 23, 1919; 106 years ago (1919-05-23)
Parent institution	University of California
Accreditation	WSCUC
Academic affiliations	AAU APRU URA Space-grant
Endowment	$3.87 billion (2023)
Chancellor	Darnell Hunt (interim)
Provost	Michael S. Levine (interim)
Academic staff	7,941
Administrative staff	32,883 (fall 2023)
Students	48,048 (fall 2023)
Undergraduates	33,040 (fall 2023)
Postgraduates	13,636 (fall 2023)
Other students	1,372 (fall 2023)
Location	Los Angeles , California , United States 34°04′20″N 118°26′34″W / 34.0722°N 118.4427°W / 34.0722; -118.4427
Campus	Large city, 467 acres (189 ha)
Newspaper	Daily Bruin
Colors	Blue and gold
Nickname	Bruins
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I FBS - Big Ten MPSF
Mascot	Joe Bruin Josephine Bruin

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a large public university in Los Angeles, California. It is a "land-grant" university, which means it received land from the government to help fund its start. It is also a "research university," focusing on new discoveries. UCLA began in 1881 as a school to train teachers. It became part of the University of California system in 1919. This makes it the second oldest campus in the ten-campus University of California system. Only the University of California, Berkeley is older.

UCLA offers many different study programs. Students can choose from 337 undergraduate and graduate degrees. Each year, about 31,600 undergraduate students and 14,300 graduate students attend. For Fall 2022, UCLA received over 174,000 applications. This made it the most applied-to university in the United States. The university has a main College of Letters and Science and twelve other specialized schools. Six of these schools offer bachelor's degrees, like Arts and Architecture, Engineering, Music, Nursing, Public Affairs, and Theater, Film and Television. Other schools are for graduate studies, such as Medicine, Dentistry, and Law.

UCLA's sports teams are called the Bruins. They play in the Big Ten Conference. The Bruins have won 123 national team championships in the NCAA. This is the second highest number of titles for any university. Many Bruins have also competed in the Olympics. They have won 270 Olympic medals, including 136 gold medals. UCLA has had athletes in every Olympics since 1924. They have also had a gold medalist in every Olympics the U.S. has joined since 1932.

Many famous people have been part of UCLA. As of March 2024, 16 Nobel Prize winners have been connected to UCLA. This includes professors, researchers, and former students. Also, 11 Rhodes scholars and two Turing Award winners have been part of the university. Many faculty members are also part of important national academies.

History of UCLA

In March 1881, a new school was created in downtown Los Angeles. It was a branch of the California State Normal School, which trained teachers. This was done to help teach the growing number of children in Southern California. The school opened on August 29, 1882. It even had a special "demonstration school" where new teachers could practice with real students. This practice school is now the UCLA Lab School. In 1887, the Los Angeles branch became its own school. It was renamed the Los Angeles State Normal School.

In 1914, the school moved to a new campus on Vermont Avenue. This area is now part of Los Angeles City College. In 1917, people started trying to make the school a second campus of the University of California. At first, some people from the main UC Berkeley campus and politicians were against this idea. But the new UC President, David Prescott Barrows, supported it.

On May 23, 1919, the efforts paid off. The governor signed a law that turned the Los Angeles Normal School into the Southern Branch of the University of California. This law also added a two-year college program. The Southern Branch opened on September 15, 1919. It had 250 college students and 1,250 teacher training students. People in Southern California kept pushing for a full four-year program. By December 1923, they got approval for a four-year program. The first bachelor's degrees were given out in June 1925.

The school grew very quickly. By the mid-1920s, it needed a bigger campus. In 1925, a new location was chosen in Westwood. This land was sold for a very low price by real estate developers Edwin and Harold Janss. The famous Janss Steps on campus are named after them. In 1926, the students chose "Bruins" as their sports nickname. On February 1, 1927, the school was renamed the University of California at Los Angeles. The new campus in Westwood opened to students in 1929.

The first four buildings on the new campus were the College Library (now Powell Library), Royce Hall, the Physics-Biology Building (now Renee and David Kaplan Hall), and the Chemistry Building (now Haines Hall). These buildings were arranged around a central courtyard. About 5,500 students attended classes there in 1929. UCLA was allowed to offer master's degrees in 1933 and doctorates in 1936.

UCLA Becomes a Full University

For its first 32 years, UCLA was seen as a part of the Berkeley campus. Its leader was called a "provost." In 1951, UCLA became equal in status to UC Berkeley. Its leader, Raymond B. Allen, was the first to be called "chancellor." In 1958, the "at" was removed from UCLA's name. This showed its independence from Berkeley.

When Franklin David Murphy became chancellor in 1960, UCLA grew a lot. Many new buildings were built, and more talented professors joined. This helped UCLA become a strong university on its own.

Recent Changes at UCLA

In 2018, students helped create a new local government group called the North Westwood Neighborhood Council. This group wanted to make housing more affordable and encourage more nightlife in Westwood. In 2022, UCLA also made an agreement with the Tongva people. This agreement helps the Tongva care for parts of the campus land. It also allows for special events and workshops.

UCLA Campus and Buildings

When the new UCLA campus opened in 1929, it had four main buildings. These were Royce Hall, Haines Hall, Powell Library, and Kinsey Hall (now David Kaplan Hall). The Janss Steps were the original entrance to these buildings. Today, the campus has 163 buildings. It covers 419 acres in western Los Angeles. This is just north of the Westwood shopping area. From campus, you can even see the Channel Islands.

Campus Architecture and Design

The first buildings at UCLA were designed in a Romanesque Revival style. This style was chosen because it fit the warm, sunny weather of Southern California. It was also different from the Collegiate Gothic style used at many other universities. In the 1950s, architect Welton Becket helped expand the campus. He added many simpler, brick buildings, like the UCLA Medical Center. Other famous architects also designed buildings on campus later.

New construction and renovations are always happening at UCLA. This is to make space for more students. Because of this, UCLA is sometimes called "Under Construction Like Always."

One important building is Bunche Hall. It is named after Ralph Bunche, a UCLA alumnus. He won the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize for helping to make peace in Israel. He was the first person of non-European background to win this award. A statue of him is at the entrance of Bunche Hall.

The Hannah Carter Japanese Garden is a beautiful garden near campus. It was designed by Japanese landscape architects. The garden was given to UCLA in 1964. It was meant to be open to the public. However, the property was sold in 2016, so it is no longer required to be open to everyone.

Filming at UCLA

UCLA is close to Hollywood. Because of this, many movies and TV shows have been filmed on campus. For example, it was used as "Windsor College" in the movie Scream 2. UCLA has rules for filming to manage all the requests. A professor explained that UCLA is convenient for movie companies because it is "right where the action is."

UCLA Academics and Studies

Colleges and Schools at UCLA

UCLA has many different colleges and schools. They offer programs for both undergraduate (first degree) and graduate students.

• Undergraduate Schools:

* College of Letters and Science (started 1919) * School of the Arts and Architecture (1939) * School of Education & Information Studies (1881) * Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science (1945) * Herb Alpert School of Music (2007) * School of Theater, Film and Television (1947) * School of Nursing (1949) * Luskin School of Public Affairs (1994)

• Graduate Schools:

* School of Education & Information Studies (1881) * School of Law (1949) * Anderson School of Management (1935) * Luskin School of Public Affairs (1994) * David Geffen School of Medicine (1951) * School of Dentistry (1964) * Jonathan and Karin Fielding School of Public Health (1961)

Healthcare and Medical Research

UCLA has strong health science schools, including Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, and Public Health. The UCLA Health System runs the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. This is a hospital near campus. They also have clinics across Los Angeles County. UCLA medical researchers have made important discoveries. In 1981, a professor at UCLA first identified AIDS. UCLA also helped develop PET scanning for brain studies. A UCLA professor, Louis Ignarro, won a Nobel Prize in 1998 for his work on nitric oxide, a key molecule in the body. U.S. News & World Report ranked UCLA Medical Center 3rd in the U.S. and 1st in the West in 2021.

Research and Discoveries

UCLA is known for its very high level of research activity. In 2018, it spent $1.32 billion on research. This shows how much new knowledge is created there.

University Rankings

UCLA is ranked very highly among universities.

• The 2024 U.S. News & World Report ranked UCLA first among public universities in the U.S. It was tied for 15th among all national universities.
• The Washington Monthly ranked UCLA 22nd in 2021. This ranking looks at research, community service, and helping students from all backgrounds.
• Money Magazine ranked UCLA 26th in 2015. This was based on education quality, cost, and how much alumni earn.
• Globally, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings placed UCLA 15th in the world for academics in 2017–2018. It was also ranked 13th for its reputation.
• The U.S. News & World Report Best Global University Rankings ranked UCLA 10th in the world in 2017.

Top Graduate Programs

Many of UCLA's graduate schools are also highly ranked.

• The Graduate School of Education and Information Studies was ranked 3rd in 2021.
• The Anderson School of Management was ranked 18th.
• The David Geffen School of Medicine was tied for 12th for Primary Care.
• The School of Law was ranked 14th.
• The Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science was ranked 16th.

Top Departments and Fields

Many individual departments at UCLA are ranked in the top ten nationally or globally. For example:

• Clinical Psychology (1st nationally)
• Fine Arts (2nd nationally)
• Psychology (2nd nationally)
• Mathematics (7th nationally, 7th globally)
• Arts and Humanities (7th globally)
• Biology and Biochemistry (10th globally)

UCLA Library System

UCLA's library system is very large. It has over nine million books and many other resources. It is the 12th largest library system in the United States by number of books. The first library, University Library (now Powell Library), started in 1884.

Medical School Admissions

UCLA sends the most undergraduate students to U.S. medical schools. In 2015, 961 UCLA students applied to medical schools. About 51% of first-time applicants from UCLA were accepted to at least one U.S. medical school in 2014.

How to Get into UCLA

Undergraduate Admissions

Enrolled Fall Freshman Statistics

Excluding deferred applications or other unique situations.

	2022	2021	2020
Applicants	149,813	139,485	108,877
Admits	12,825	15,004	15,602
Admit rate	8.6%	10.8%	14.4%
Enrolled	N/A	6,300	6,386
Average GPA (weighted)	4.21–4.31	4.0	3.90
SAT range	N/A	N/A	1290–1510
ACT range	N/A	N/A	29–34

U.S. News & World Report says UCLA is "Most Selective." This means it is very hard to get into. In Fall 2021, 149,815 high school students applied to UCLA. This was more than any other four-year university in the United States.

The admission rate changes depending on where applicants live. For Fall 2019, 12.0% of California residents were admitted. 16.4% of U.S. residents from other states were admitted. Only 8.4% of international students were admitted. Overall, the freshman admission rate was 12.3% for Fall 2019.

UCLA looks at many things when deciding who to admit. They consider how challenging your high school classes were. Your grades (GPA) and test scores are also very important. Your application essays are important too. Other factors like your talents, personal qualities, volunteer work, and extracurricular activities are also considered. UCLA does not look at your class rank or if you have family who went there. They also do not consider race or ethnicity.

For students who started in Fall 2019, the average GPA was 3.90. The middle range for SAT scores was 1280–1510. For ACT scores, it was 27–34.

Admission rates can be very different for each school within UCLA. For example, in Fall 2016, the School of Nursing had an admission rate of only 2.2%. The School of Theater, Film and Television had a 4.4% admission rate.

After a law in 1996 stopped considering race in admissions, fewer African-American students were admitted. To help with this, UCLA started a "holistic admissions" process in 2007. This means they look at each applicant's full story. They consider their opportunities in high school, any difficulties they faced, and special home situations.

Graduate Admissions

Getting into UCLA's graduate programs is also very competitive. For Fall 2020, the David Geffen School of Medicine accepted only 2.9% of its applicants. This made it the 8th most selective medical school in the U.S. The School of Law had a high average GPA and test scores for its admitted students. The Anderson School of Management also had high average scores for its MBA program.

UCLA's Impact on the Economy

UCLA has a big effect on the economy in Los Angeles. It is the fifth largest employer in Los Angeles County. This means it provides many jobs.

Trademarks and Licensing

The UCLA logo and name are protected trademarks. They are managed by a part of the Associated Students UCLA (ASUCLA). This group helps license the UCLA brand.

UCLA clothing and other items are popular around the world. This is because of the university's strong academics and sports. It is also linked to the fun culture of Southern California. Many UCLA stores have opened in places like South Korea, China, and Kuwait. UCLA earns money from these international sales.

Shopping on Campus

UCLA has several stores on campus. The main store is in Ackerman Union. You can buy UCLA-themed products there. These products often cost more because of the licensing fees. However, students who work part-time for ASUCLA get discounts at the stores.

UCLA Sports and Athletics

UCLA's sports teams are called the Bruins. Their colors are blue and gold. They compete in NCAA Division I as part of the Big Ten Conference. The men's football team plays home games at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. They won a national title in 1954. The basketball, volleyball, and women's gymnastics teams play at Pauley Pavilion on campus. UCLA also has teams for cross country, soccer, golf, tennis, water polo, track and field, and softball.

The mascots are Joe and Josephine Bruin. The school's fight songs are Sons of Westwood and Mighty Bruins. The alma mater is Hail to the Hills of Westwood. In 1949, the football coach changed the uniforms. He added a gold stripe on the shoulders. He also changed the navy blue to a lighter "Powder Keg Blue." This helped UCLA stand out from other UC teams.

UCLA has won 135 national championships, including 123 NCAA championships. Only Stanford University has won more NCAA team titles. On April 21, 2018, UCLA's women's gymnastics team won its 7th NCAA National Championship. This was UCLA's 115th overall team title. The women's softball team won its 12th National Championship in 2019. The women's water polo team has won a record 7 NCAA championships.

The men's water polo team has won 11 national championships. In 2016, they broke an NCAA record with 52 consecutive wins. This beat Stanford's old record of 51 wins.

One of UCLA's most famous sports is men's basketball. Under coach John Wooden, the team won 10 NCAA championships. This included a record seven in a row from 1967–1973. They also won an amazing 88 games in a row from 1971 to 1974. UCLA's men's volleyball team has also won 21 national championships. UCLA is one of only six universities to win national championships in baseball, basketball, and football.

UCLA vs. USC Rivalry

UCLA has a big sports rivalry with the University of Southern California (USC). UCLA has the second-most NCAA team championships. USC has the third-most. Only Stanford University has more than both. The football rivalry is special because both strong teams are in the same city. UCLA has one national football title, while USC has 11. The two teams play for the Victory Bell trophy each year.

The schools also compete in many other sports. UCLA has won the most NCAA championships in men's volleyball, men's basketball, softball, and women's water polo. USC has won the most in men's outdoor track and field, men's tennis, and baseball. The annual SoCal BMW Crosstown Cup compares the schools' performance in 19 sports. USC has won this cup more times than UCLA. This rivalry even extends to the Olympic Games. UCLA athletes have won 250 Olympic medals. USC athletes have won 287. The schools also have a charity race called "We Run The City 5K."

Student Life at UCLA

Undergraduate demographics as of fall 2020

Race and ethnicity	Total
Asian	29%	29
White	26%	26
Hispanic	22%	22
Foreign national	10%	10
Other	9%	9
Black	3%	3
Economic diversity
Low-income	25%	25
Affluent	75%	75

UCLA's campus is close to fun places like the Getty Center and the Santa Monica Pier. Students can join over 1000 student organizations. There are also 66 fraternities and sororities. About 13% of undergraduate students are part of these groups. Students can also enjoy water sports like sailing, surfing, and kayaking at the UCLA Marina Aquatic Center.

UCLA has many performing arts groups. These include improv comedy teams and a cappella groups. Some a cappella groups, like the ScatterTones, have won national awards. Other groups focus on different cultures. For example, there are groups for Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese students. These groups often have "culture nights" with drama and dance.

There are also over twenty LGBTQ+ organizations on campus. One, OutWrite, started in 1979. It was the first college queer newsmagazine in the country. UCLA uses a "quarter calendar" for most classes. This means the school year is divided into three parts.

UCLA Traditions and Events

UCLA's official charity is UniCamp. It started in 1934. It is a summer camp for children from the Los Angeles area who need support. UCLA students volunteer as counselors. They also raise money so these children can attend camp.

The Pediatric AIDS Coalition organizes the annual Dance Marathon. Thousands of students dance for 26 hours to raise money. They support groups that help children with AIDS. Dancers stand for the whole time to show their support.

During Finals Week, students have a tradition called "Midnight Yell." They yell loudly at midnight to release stress. Another tradition is the "Undie Run." Students run through campus in their underwear. This run has become popular at other universities too.

The Alumni Association hosts many events. One is Spring Sing, a talent show that has been held for 70 years. Famous musicians often receive an award at this event. Past winners include Stevie Wonder and Julie Andrews. Another event is the "Beat 'SC Bonfire and Rally." This happens before the big football game against USC.

The JazzReggae Festival is a two-day concert. It happens on Memorial Day weekend. Over 20,000 people attend. It is the largest student-run event of its kind on the West Coast.

LA Hacks is an annual "hackathon." Students from all over the U.S. come to build technology products. It is the largest hackathon in the United States. Famous tech leaders have given talks and judged projects there.

Student Publications and Media

UCLA Student Media includes the university's newspaper, magazines, and radio station. The Daily Bruin is UCLA's main student newspaper. It started in 1919. It has won many national awards.

UCLA Student Media also publishes seven special magazines. These include Al-Talib, Fem, and OutWrite. There is also a yearbook called BruinLife. UCLA Radio is a student-run radio station.

Student Housing at UCLA

UCLA provides housing for over 10,000 undergraduate students. Most live in 14 complexes on "The Hill." Students can choose from different types of housing, like halls or apartments. Housing plans include access to dining halls. These dining halls are ranked among the best in the U.S. UCLA guarantees housing for four years for new freshmen. They guarantee two years for transfer students.

Graduate students live in five apartment complexes. Some are near campus, and others are a few miles away. Students in fraternities and sororities can also live in their group houses.

UCLA Hospitality Services

UCLA's Hospitality department manages services not directly related to student life. This includes two hotels on campus for visitors. They also manage a conference center in the San Bernardino Mountains. This department also runs UCLA Catering and vending services.

Chabad House at UCLA

The UCLA Chabad House is a community center for Jewish students. It is run by the Orthodox Jewish Chabad movement. It was the first Chabad House at a university, started in 1969. The current building was built in memory of three students who died in a fire there in 1980.

Healthy Campus Initiative

In 2013, UCLA started the Healthy Campus Initiative (HCI). This program aims to make UCLA the healthiest campus in the country. It encourages healthy choices for students and staff. Programs include making the campus tobacco-free and adding more gardens. They also promote healthy eating and physical activity. UCLA's initiative has inspired similar programs at other universities.

Famous People from UCLA

Many famous people have studied or taught at UCLA. They have won many awards. These include Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, and Nobel Prizes.

• '''Notable UCLA alumni include:'''
• 

  Jackie Robinson, first African-American player in Major League Baseball

• 

  James Franco, actor

• 

  Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, famous NBA player

• 

  Sean Astin, actor

• 

  Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former Prime Minister of Pakistan

• 

  Arthur Ashe, famous tennis player

• 

  Sara Bareilles, singer-songwriter

• 

  Randy Newman, singer-songwriter

• 

  Leonard Nimoy, actor (Spock in Star Trek)

• 

  Ben Shapiro, political commentator

• 

  Stefano Bloch, author and academic

• 

  Jack Black, actor and comedian

• 

  Mayim Bialik, actress and host of Jeopardy!

• 

  Tom Bradley, first African-American Mayor of Los Angeles

• 

  Carol Burnett, actress

• 

  Steve Martin, actor and comedian

• 

  Rob Reiner, actor and filmmaker

• 

  Ben Stiller, actor and comedian

• 

  Johnnie Cochran, lawyer

• 

  Francis Ford Coppola, filmmaker (The Godfather)

• 

  Paul Schrader, screenwriter

• 

  Troy Aikman, football Hall of Famer

• 

  Mark Harmon, actor

• 

  George Takei, actor and activist

• 

  Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Senator

• 

  James Dean, actor

• 

  H.R. Haldeman, former White House Chief of Staff

• 

  Bill Walton, basketball Hall of Famer

• 

  Jimmy Connors, famous tennis player

• 

  Michael Morhaime, co-founder of Blizzard Entertainment

• 

  Jim Morrison, lead singer of the Doors

• 

  Tim Robbins, actor

• 

  Russell Westbrook, NBA MVP

• 

  Sam Mewis, professional soccer player

• 

  Abby Dahlkemper, professional soccer player

• 

  Azadeh Kian, social scientist

• 

  Jessie Fleming, professional soccer player

• 

  Danish Renzu, Film Director

As of October 2023, 28 Nobel Prize winners have been connected to UCLA. This includes professors, former students, and researchers.

Faculty Nobel Prizes

Person	Field	Year
Guido Imbens	Economic Sciences	2021
Andrea Ghez	Physics	2020
James Fraser Stoddart	Chemistry	2016
Lloyd Shapley	Economic Sciences	2012
Louis Ignarro	Physiology or Medicine	1998
Paul Boyer	Chemistry	1997
Donald Cram	Chemistry	1987
Julian S. Schwinger	Physics	1965
Willard Libby	Chemistry	1960

Some former students who won Nobel Prizes include Richard Heck (Chemistry, 2010) and Elinor Ostrom (Economic Sciences, 2009). Mathematics professor Terence Tao won the 2006 Fields Medal, which is a top award in mathematics.

Faculty memberships (2017)

American Academy of Arts and Sciences	129
American Association for the Advancement of Science	120
American Philosophical Society	17
National Academy of Education	16
National Academy of Engineering	30
National Academy of Inventors	4
National Academy of Medicine	39
National Academy of Sciences	50

Geography professor Jared Diamond won the 1998 Pulitzer Prize for his book Guns, Germs, and Steel. Two other UCLA history professors also won Pulitzer Prizes in 2008.

Many UCLA alumni are important politicians. Ben Cayetano became the first Filipino American governor of a U.S. state. Judy Chu became the first Chinese American woman elected to the U.S. Congress. Kirsten Gillibrand is a U.S. Senator from New York. UCLA has had two Mayors of Los Angeles: Tom Bradley and Antonio Villaraigosa.

Some alumni are famous in the tech world. Michael Morhaime and his friends founded Blizzard Entertainment, which makes popular video games. Vint Cerf is called the "father of the Internet." Henry Samueli co-founded Broadcom Corporation. Susan Wojcicki was the CEO of YouTube. Travis Kalanick co-founded Uber.

UCLA alumni are also well-known in arts and entertainment. John Williams composed the music for Star Wars. Actors like Ben Stiller, Tim Robbins, James Franco, and Mayim Bialik went to UCLA. Music artists like Sara Bareilles, the Doors, and Maroon 5 also attended. Carol Burnett is a famous actress and comedian. Francis Ford Coppola directed The Godfather.

In sports, Meb Keflezighi won the 2014 Boston Marathon. Famous basketball players like Bill Walton and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played for UCLA. Many UCLA alumni work at big companies like Kaiser Permanente, UCLA Health, and Google.

See also

In Spanish: Universidad de California en Los Ángeles para niños