According to the UC website, the UC app deadline for 2025 is, strictly speaking, is Dec 1.

But please, if at all possible, don’t wait until that deadline.

We’ll get into why below, where we’ll talk through when UC apps are due, but also what we’d actually recommend regarding when to work on your UC application components, and other important dates for the UC app process.

Here we go.

When are UC apps due?

The deadline for the UC Application is typically the end of November or early December — some years it’s been November 30 and sometimes later, based on when Thanksgiving falls. For 2025 it’s December 1.

But that’s just the final day you can submit!

We’d highly, highly recommend not waiting until the final day—among other reasons, the portal has historically become unstable sometimes as many thousands of students try to submit at the last minute. Ideally, try to click “submit” on your app a couple days before the deadline.

The application filing period (as in, when the UC portal is open for submission) is usually Oct 1 - Dec 1. So you’ve got a giant window for when you can send in your UC app.

And we’d strongly advise you to start working on your application components

before the portal even opens. (The UCs typically announce changes to their PIQ prompts ahead of time, so you’re generally fine diving in during the summer, since your PIQs can in some cases be used as super essays for Common App supplemental essays.

If you’re applying for the winter quarter/spring semester, the application window is July 1-31. (Though note that not all campuses may open apps for the winter/spring term.)

Additional UC App Deadlines

Other important UC dates below. In particular, be sure to complete and submit your FAFSA.

July 1 - 31: Spring 2026 application filing period for Merced.

August 1: Application opens for fall 2026 applicants.

October 1 - December 1: Fall 2026 admission application filing period.

October 1: Filing period opens for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, California Dream Act Application and GPA Verification Form (required for Cal Grant consideration).

March 1 - 31: Notification of fall 2026 admission decisions. (Some campuses may release decisions prior to March.)

March 2: Deadline for applicants to submit FAFSA, California Dream Act Application and GPA Verification Form.

May 1: Deadline for all fall 2026 admitted first-year students to submit their SIR.

July 1: Final, official transcripts must be postmarked or electronically submitted to campus admissions offices for students intending to enroll for fall 2026.

July 15: Deadline for official AP and IB examination results to be postmarked or electronically submitted.

UC App Fee

The UC App fee depends on your status:

Domestic Applicants: The application fee is $80 per UC campus.
International and Non-Immigrant Applicants: The application fee is $95 per UC campus.
Fee Waivers: UC offers fee waivers for up to four campuses for qualified students. (more below)
How to Apply: You can make your payment either by credit card or by mail, following the instructions in the application.
Non-refundable: Application fees are non-refundable, even if you cancel your application.
Where to find information: You can find more information on the University of California Admissions website.

How to get UC application fee waivers

Fill out the "About you" section of the UC application, including family income and size, and you'll automatically be notified if you qualify for a fee waiver in the "Campuses & majors" section. If you qualify, you'll be able to apply to up to four campuses for free. (Source)

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Automatic Eligibility:
The UC application system automatically assesses your eligibility for a fee waiver based on the information you provide in the "About you" section, specifically regarding your family income and size.
"About you" Section:
Be sure to complete this section accurately, as it's the basis for the fee waiver determination.
"Campuses & majors" Section:
After completing the "About you" section, when you select your campuses in the "Campuses & majors" section, you will see a message indicating whether you qualify for a fee waiver and how many campuses you can apply to for free.
Accept the Fee Waiver:
If you qualify, you'll need to accept the fee waiver in the review and submit section of your UC application.
Additional Campuses:
If you qualify for the fee waiver and select more than four campuses, you'll need to pay a fee for each additional campus.
Undocumented Students:
Undocumented students who are AB 540-eligible and meet income guidelines can also apply for a fee waiver within the online application.
Other Fee Waivers:
If you don't qualify for the UC fee waiver, you may be able to use fee waivers from other sources like the College Board, ACT, NACAC, or EOPS.
Contact UC:
If you have questions or need assistance, you can contact the UC Application Center for guidance on fee waivers.
EOPS Students:
Nearly all EOPS students will receive the admission application fee waivers automatically. (We have a guide to the Educational Opportunity Program here.)

How to get UC application fee waivers

Fill out the "About you" section of the UC application, including family income and size, and you'll automatically be notified if you qualify for a fee waiver in the "Campuses & majors" section. If you qualify, you'll be able to apply to up to four campuses for free. (Source)

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Automatic Eligibility:
The UC application system automatically assesses your eligibility for a fee waiver based on the information you provide in the "About you" section, specifically regarding your family income and size.
"About you" Section:
Be sure to complete this section accurately, as it's the basis for the fee waiver determination.
"Campuses & majors" Section:
After completing the "About you" section, when you select your campuses in the "Campuses & majors" section, you will see a message indicating whether you qualify for a fee waiver and how many campuses you can apply to for free.
Accept the Fee Waiver:
If you qualify, you'll need to accept the fee waiver in the review and submit section of your UC application.
Additional Campuses:
If you qualify for the fee waiver and select more than four campuses, you'll need to pay a fee for each additional campus.
Undocumented Students:
Undocumented students who are AB 540-eligible and meet income guidelines can also apply for a fee waiver within the online application.
Other Fee Waivers:
If you don't qualify for the UC fee waiver, you may be able to use fee waivers from other sources like the College Board, ACT, NACAC, or EOPS.
Contact UC:
If you have questions or need assistance, you can contact the UC Application Center for guidance on fee waivers.
EOPS Students:
Nearly all EOPS students will receive the admission application fee waivers automatically. (We have a guide to the Educational Opportunity Program here.)

UC App Questions

The UCs require 4 responses of max 350 words (chosen from 8 possible prompts) for their Personal Insight Questions (PIQs).

We have full guides to the PIQs here:

UC Transfer Timeline

Here’s the 2025 transfer timeline for the UC Application:

July 1-31: Spring 2026 application filing period for Merced.

August 1: Application opens for applicants for fall 2026.

August 15: Winter 2026 application deadline for Santa Cruz.

September 1-30: Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) application filing period for fall 2026 term.

October 1 - December 1: Fall 2026 general admission application filing period.

October 1: Filing period opens for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, California Dream Act Application and GPA Verification Form (required for Cal Grant consideration). Filing period open through March 2, 2026.

December 15: Online transfer application update (TAU) opens for transfer applicants to report final fall grades and in-progress or planned coursework (priority deadline is January 31).

March 1: Notification of fall 2026 admission decisions begins.

March 2: Deadline for applicants to submit FAFSA, California Dream Act Application and GPA Verification Form.

May 1: Notification period for fall 2026 admission decisions ends.

May 1 - 31: Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) application for winter/spring 2027 term.

June 1: Deadline for admitted transfer students to submit Statement of Intent to Register (SIR).

July 1: For students admitted for fall 2026: Final, official transcripts must be sent to the campus admissions office. Transcripts must be postmarked or electronically submitted on or before July 1.

July 15: Official AP, IB examination results and other documents (such as IGETC or Cal-GETC certification) must be sent to the campus admissions office. Test scores and documents must be postmarked or electronically submitted on or before July 15.

Andrew Simpson, CEG’s Editorial Director, has worked as an educator, consultant, and curriculum writer for the past 20 years, and earned degrees from Stanford in Political Science and Drama. He feels most at home on mountain tops and in oceans.

Top Values: Insight/Growth | Truth | Integrity