A recent column in CalMatters says the University of California system, while formally one public university network, has developed a clear internal hierarchy among campuses. The article points to UC Berkeley and UC Merced as stark examples of the divide.
For fall 2026, Berkeley’s admit rate was about 12%, while Merced’s was about 95%; UCLA also remained highly competitive at about 13%. The column also says the wealth gap is substantial, with Berkeley spending nearly twice as much per student as Merced when private donations and endowment funds are included.
The article argues that the imbalance does not end at admission. Students who enter campuses with more financial and academic resources tend to have better graduation rates and stronger starting salaries after graduation, which can reinforce existing socioeconomic gaps. It questions whether it is fair to separate students into different educational environments based on academic readiness at age 17 or 18.
The column also notes that California already has a statewide eligibility system that guarantees admission to a UC campus for students in the top 9% of the state’s high school graduates, raising questions about how that policy should be used going forward.
