UC Santa Cruz Biotechnology
Transfer Acceptance Rate, GPA and Classes

For fall 2025, 36% of transfer applicants to UC Santa Cruz Biotechnology were admitted (9 of 25). Admitted transfers' GPAs ranged 3.21–3.73.

The major preparation UC Santa Cruz lists for Biotechnology transfers starts with BIOL 20A, CSE 20 and STAT 5; the full list is below.

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

36%

UCSC Biotechnology transfer admit rate, fall 2025

3.21–3.73

GPA range of admitted transfers

Transfer applicants, 9 admitted

115

California community colleges with a transfer agreement for Biotechnology

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 UCSC requirement.

Major Requirements

UC Santa Cruz Biotechnology Major Preparation

The courses UC Santa Cruz lists as Biotechnology major preparation for transfer applicants, for the 2025-26 academic year. Course numbers are UCSC's own; pick your community college above to see the matching class there.

Required major preparation courses

Complete all of these

BIOL 20A Cell and Molecular Biology
CSE 20 Beginning Programming in Python

Complete 1 of these options

STAT 5 Statistics
STAT 7 Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences · STAT 7L Statistical Methods for the Biological, Environmental, and Health Sciences Laboratory

Also listed by UCSC

UCSC lists these under the headings shown, apart from the list above.

Recommended preparation

BME 5 Introduction to Biotechnology
BME 80G Bioethics in the 21st Century: Science, Business, and Society

1 of these

BME 18 Scientific Principles of Life
BME 80H The Human Genome
ECE 80B Engineering Innovations for Medicine and Natural Sciences

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

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UC Santa Cruz Biotechnology transfer acceptance rate?

For fall 2025, 36% of transfer applicants to UC Santa Cruz Biotechnology were admitted (9 of 25). Admitted transfers' GPAs ranged 3.21–3.73.

Does UC Santa Cruz have a Biotechnology major for transfer students?

Yes. UC Santa Cruz offers Biotechnology (B.A.) and lists the major preparation it expects transfer applicants to complete.

What classes do I need to transfer to UC Santa Cruz for Biotechnology?

UC Santa Cruz's Biotechnology major preparation includes BIOL 20A, CSE 20, STAT 5, STAT 7 and STAT 7L. Pick your community college on this page to see which of its classes match.