University of California--Los Angeles

“California's #2 public research university, where bold curiosity meets boundless opportunity in the heart of Los Angeles.”

The University of California, Los Angeles is one of the most celebrated public universities in the world, consistently ranked among the top institutions in the United States and globally. Founded in 1919 as the Southern Branch of the University of California, UCLA opened its iconic Westwood campus in 1929 and has grown into a powerhouse of research, arts, medicine, and technology. The university is home to 12 professional schools and a comprehensive College spanning humanities, social sciences, physical sciences, and life sciences — offering more than 5,000 courses and 141 undergraduate majors. With approximately $1.6 billion in annual research funding and over 6,000 active research projects, UCLA sits at the intersection of discovery and impact. Its Samueli School of Engineering famously hosted the very first node of the internet (ARPANET) in 1969, and its medical center is consistently ranked among the top five hospitals in the nation. The university has produced 16 Nobel laureates among its faculty and is home to some of the most cited researchers in medicine, engineering, social science, and the humanities. Life at UCLA is shaped by the extraordinary diversity of Los Angeles and the scale and energy of one of America's largest research universities. The 419-acre Westwood campus feels like a city within a city: world-class libraries, an internationally recognized performing arts scene with more than 1,000 events per year, 118 NCAA team championships in 20 different sports, 1,200-plus student organizations, and a vibrant campus culture with 60-year-old traditions. Nearly all incoming freshmen choose to live on campus, taking advantage of four years of guaranteed housing on the iconic Hill. Traditions such as the Spring Sing talent showcase, the Beat 'SC Bonfire rivalry celebration, and the Dinner for 12 Strangers cross-generational dinner series reinforce a fiercely proud Bruin identity that extends to more than 670,000 living alumni worldwide. Dining at UCLA has been repeatedly recognized as the best in the nation — Niche.com ranked UCLA #1 for food in 2026. Academically, UCLA is exceptionally strong across a wide range of disciplines. Computer Science, engineering, psychology, clinical psychology, fine arts, medicine, law, and public health all rank among the top institutions nationally. The David Geffen School of Medicine is affiliated with Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, ranked among the nation's top five hospitals. The School of Law has five programs in the national top 10. The Anderson School of Management delivers one of the most sought-after MBA programs on the West Coast, and all three of its MBA programs carry STEM designation — enabling international students to apply for a 24-month OPT extension. For undergraduates, the university's location in Los Angeles — the entertainment, technology, and creative capital of the western United States — translates into unrivaled internship pipelines, industry connections, and career opportunities spanning film, aerospace, biotech, finance, and beyond.