UC San Diego Marine Biology
Transfer Acceptance Rate, GPA and Classes

For fall 2025, 41% of transfer applicants to UC San Diego Marine Biology were admitted (53 of 130). Admitted transfers' GPAs ranged 3.19–3.73.

The major preparation UC San Diego lists for Marine Biology transfers starts with BILD 1, BILD 2 and BILD 3; the full list is below.

UC San Diego does not offer the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG).

43 California community colleges have a current transfer agreement with UCSD for this major. Pick yours below to see which of its classes count.

41%

UCSD Marine Biology transfer admit rate, fall 2025

3.19–3.73

GPA range of admitted transfers

130

Transfer applicants, 53 admitted

California community colleges with a transfer agreement for Marine Biology

Source: UC Information Center, Fall 2025 transfer admissions by major.

Your community college

Which classes count at your community college?

Pick your college to see its class for each UCSD requirement.

Major Requirements

UC San Diego Marine Biology Major Preparation

The courses UC San Diego lists as Marine Biology major preparation for transfer applicants, for the 2026-27 academic year. Course numbers are UCSD's own; pick your community college above to see the matching class there.

Courses listed

BILD 1 The Cell
BILD 2 Multicellular Life
BILD 3 Organismic and Evolutionary Biology

Courses listed

CHEM 6A General Chemistry I
CHEM 6B General Chemistry II
CHEM 6C General Chemistry III
CHEM 7L Introductory Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory

Complete 1 of these options

MATH 10A Calculus I · MATH 10B Calculus II · MATH 10C Calculus III
MATH 20A Calculus for Science and Engineering · MATH 20B Calculus for Science and Engineering · MATH 20C Calculus and Analytic Geometry for Science and Engineering

Complete 1 of these options

PHYS 1A Mechanics · PHYS 1AL Mechanics Laboratory · PHYS 1B Electricity and Magnetism · PHYS 1BL Electricity and Magnetism Laboratory · PHYS 1C Waves, Optics, and Modern Physics · PHYS 1CL Waves, Optics, and Modern Physics Laboratory
PHYS 2A Physics - Mechanics · PHYS 2B Physics - Electricity and Magnetism · PHYS 2C Physics - Fluids, Waves, Thermodynamics, and Optics

Required

SIO 90 Undergraduate Seminar

Where a list says “courses listed”, or options are separated by a dot, UCSD's own Marine Biology requirements say exactly which of those courses you need.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UC San Diego Marine Biology transfer acceptance rate?

For fall 2025, 41% of transfer applicants to UC San Diego Marine Biology were admitted (53 of 130). Admitted transfers' GPAs ranged 3.19–3.73.

Does UC San Diego have a Marine Biology major for transfer students?

Yes. UC San Diego offers Marine Biology (B.S.) and lists the major preparation it expects transfer applicants to complete.

What classes do I need to transfer to UC San Diego for Marine Biology?

UC San Diego's Marine Biology major preparation includes BILD 1, BILD 2, BILD 3, CHEM 6A, CHEM 6B and CHEM 6C, with more courses in the list on this page. Pick your community college on this page to see which of its classes match.