University of California : Which campuses of the University of California produce the most graduates for law, MBA, and PhD programs? Here’s what data shows.
University of California
University of California has provided detailed data on graduate degree outcomes for alumni who earned bachelor’s degrees between 2001 and 2018. This dataset, created by comparing UC undergraduate records to those from the National Student Clearinghouse, provides specific information about which UC campuses send the most graduates to advanced study in law, business, medicine, and PhD programs. The results show that the types of graduate degrees pursued varied significantly amongst schools.
According to US Census data, 36% of University of California undergraduates graduate, which is much higher than the 14% average for US individuals aged 25 to 45. The number of alumni pursuing specialized graduate degrees varies every UC campus, with some succeeding in medical, business, law, or PhD professions.
University of California : Graduate degree outcomes vary greatly between campuses.
UCLA leads the UC system in terms of alumni receiving graduate degrees, with 42%. UC Berkeley is close behind with 39%, followed by UC San Diego with 38%. Meanwhile, universities like UC Santa Cruz and UC Merced have smaller numbers (about 30%).
When it comes to medical degrees, UCLA ranks first, with 8% of its graduates seeking postgraduate medical certifications.
UC San Diego and UC Irvine both have 7%, with UC Santa Cruz trailing with 2%. These numbers show that universities with larger or more established pre-med programs had a higher rate of medical school enrollment.
Business graduate degrees follow a different trend. UC Riverside sends the most alumni to MBA programs, with 5%, followed by UC Irvine, Berkeley, San Diego, and UCLA, all at about 4%. The remaining campuses average between 2% and 3%. This shows that UC Riverside is particularly strong in attracting students to business graduate schools.
Doctoral degrees are the most prevalent among Berkeley alumni, with 6% finishing them. UC San Diego and UCLA both have 4%, while the other campuses range from 2% to 3%. This reflects UC Berkeley’s reputation as a research-intensive university with robust doctoral programs.
Law degrees exhibit a more even distribution. UCLA and Berkeley each have 5% of their alumni attending law school, followed by UC Santa Barbara and UC San Diego, both with 3%. The remaining campuses vary from 1% to 3%, demonstrating rather steady law school advancement throughout the system.
Master’s degrees comprise the largest group of graduate outputs.
Aside from professional and doctorate degrees, master’s degrees in other fields account for the majority of graduate degrees received. UC Riverside leads with 22%, followed by UC San Diego, UCLA, UC Santa Cruz, and UC Irvine, all of which are around 21%. Berkeley, UC Davis, and UC Santa Barbara report slightly lower rates (19% to 20%). This category is likely to cover a wide range of fields, reflecting the diversity of postgraduate interests.
According to the SF Chronicle, data from the University of California demonstrates the strengths of distinct campuses in various graduate pathways. According to a spokesman, “These outcomes help us understand where our alumni continue their education and how our campuses prepare students for advanced degrees” .
Summary of graduate degrees shared by UC campuses
| UC Campus | All Grad Degrees (%) | Medical (%) | Business (MBA) (%) | Doctorate (%) | Law (%) | Master’s (All Other) (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 42 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 21 |
| Berkeley | 39 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 19 |
| San Diego | 38 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 21 |
| Irvine | 36 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 21 |
| Davis | 34 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 19 |
| Riverside | 34 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 22 |
| Santa Barbara | 32 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 19 |
| Santa Cruz | 30 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 21 |
| Merced | 30 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 20 |
This data highlights the diversity of graduate pathways taken by UC alumni, with UCLA leading in overall graduate school attendance, Berkeley excelling in PhD degrees, and Riverside in business studies. Medical degrees are most prevalent among UCLA alumni, whereas law school progression is pretty evenly distributed between UCLA and Berkeley.
According to US Census data, 36% of University of California undergraduates graduate, which is much higher than the 14% average for US individuals aged 25 to 45. The number of alumni pursuing specialized graduate degrees varies every UC campus, with some succeeding in medical, business, law, or PhD professions.
According to the SF Chronicle, the University of California’s graduation outcomes data is a valuable resource for prospective students comparing various institutions and career prospects.
