Start your TAG preparation by confirming your entry year, campus, major, and course requirements. Review these before the September filing period, then plan for the UC application and later academic updates.
Check the Campus and the Major
UC's Transfer Admission Guarantee, or TAG, serves eligible California community college transfer students. The six participating campuses are Davis, Irvine, Merced, Riverside, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz. Participation does not mean every major is available or that meeting a single GPA threshold satisfies every condition.
Start with UC's official TAG page. The UC TAP FAQ explains that you may submit a TAG to one UC campus; you may still apply to other campuses through the regular UC application. Compare your major goals and course progress before choosing.
Find the Matrix for Your Entry Year
The TAG matrix brings together shared eligibility conditions and campus differences. As checked on October 22, 2026, UC provides a matrix for fall 2027 and spring 2028 entry. The entry year differs from the year you submit the application, so label your saved materials with both.
Check excluded majors, GPA, transferable units, deadlines for English and math, and major preparation. Read the notes after the tables rather than saving only one campus row. For example, UCI's official page lists different exclusions for fall 2027 and fall 2028, including changes affecting economics. Apply each rule to its stated entry year. An older post's comparison chart should not determine your current school list. Use our TAG planning page to organize the options.
Organize Your Record Before September
For fall entry, submit TAG through the UC Transfer Admission Planner, or UC TAP, from September 1 through September 30 of the preceding year. Confirm the dates for your cycle rather than relying on a saved screenshot.
Gather transcripts from each college and your upcoming schedule. Separate completed courses from those in progress or planned. Report your academic history accurately and keep TAG consistent with the UC application. Check attendance dates and gaps against your records; do not change dates merely to remove a system alert. UC's academic-history instructions require all college attendance, including college courses taken during high school.
Review Eligibility Before Submitting
Bring your transcripts and schedule to a community college counselor for review. Check both the conditions you already meet and the work that remains.
- Confirm that the campus, major, and entry year match the rules you are using.
- Calculate transferable units using the correct semester or quarter system.
- Check when English, math, and major preparation must be completed.
- Review GPA, individual course grades, and other academic conditions.
- Compare college attendance, breaks in enrollment, and planned courses across your records.
A displayed unit total or GPA alone does not establish eligibility. Resolve unclear course equivalencies before submitting. Finish every submission step, confirm that TAG shows a submitted status, and retain your records.
Complete the Work After TAG
TAG does not replace the UC application. You must also select your TAG campus in the regular application and use the same major for that campus. Check the regular application dates for your cycle; submitting TAG is not the last application task.
Continue meeting the agreement's course and grade conditions and submit the required Transfer Academic Update. If you change or drop courses, check the effect on your eligibility and update your record as instructed. Include these tasks in your transfer application plan, monitor your email, and respond to campus requests through the stated channels.