UC Freshmen Math Failure Rates Nearly Double Since Dropping SAT/ACT; Faculty Push to Reinstate Testing Amid Preparedness Gap

New data from the University of California system shows that nearly one in five freshmen enrolled in introductory math courses (calculus, precalculus, and preparatory algebra/trigonometry) failed to pass or withdrew during the 2025-26 academic year, a rate that has nearly doubled from 9.2% in 2020-21—the final year SAT and ACT scores were required for admission.

EdSource reported the system-wide figure at 17.8%, with average GPAs in these courses falling from 3.18 to 2.71. Failure rates vary sharply by campus: UC Merced reached 36.4%, while UC Santa Barbara recorded the lowest at 8.2%. Other campuses, including UC Riverside and UC Santa Cruz, saw steep recent increases.

The timing coincides with UC's shift to test-blind admissions. More than 3,000 faculty members across campuses have signed open letters calling for reinstatement of standardized testing, citing a widening gap in mathematical preparation within the same classrooms. UC Davis math professor Joel Hass noted the growing divide: highly qualified students alongside many unprepared for college-level work, with some arriving needing middle-school remediation.

A Berkeley math professor's op-ed highlighted students struggling with fractions and basic algebra in calculus office hours. Statewide K-12 math proficiency remains low, with fewer than 31% of 11th graders meeting standards. Despite the math struggles, first-year retention for STEM-intending students stayed high at around 94-95%.

Critics argue the policy change admitted underprepared students to elite campuses better suited for community college pathways first. UC Regents continue reviewing admissions standards, with recommendations expected by 2027. The data underscores broader questions about aligning K-12 outcomes, admissions criteria, and college readiness in California's public higher education system.