ELC: Eligibility in the Local Context

What is ELC?

Eligibility in the Local Context (ELC) is a program by which the University of California identifies top-performing California resident high school students. Unlike the broader statewide pathway, which seeks to recognize top students from throughout the state, ELC draws qualified students from among the top 9 percent of each participating high school. Over 1,600 California high schools currently participate in ELC.

How do students benefit from ELC?

ELC aims to recognize and reward the academic accomplishment of students who have taken advantage of the opportunities available to them. Students in the top 15 percent of their rising senior class receive a letter from UC in September, congratulating them on their academic achievement and encouraging them to apply to UC. ELC status is one of the 13 comprehensive review factors campuses may consider when reviewing applications. Additionally, applicants with ELC status who meet minimum UC requirements but are not admitted by any of the campuses to which they applied will be offered a spot at a UC campus that has space. In recent years, the campus with space has been UC Merced. Those referral offers are made in April once all freshman admission decisions have been reported.

How does a student receive ELC status?

ELC status is determined when the UC application is submitted. All UC applicants from participating schools will automatically be screened for ELC — no extra steps need to be taken by students in their applications. California resident applicants receive ELC status if they attend an ELC-participating high school, have taken a specific pattern of 11 A-G courses prior to the 12th grade, and have a UC-calculated GPA that meets or exceeds the 9 percent benchmark GPA calculated by UC for their high school. Benchmark GPAs are established by UC for the high school based on past transcripts submitted to ELC. The A-G subject and GPA criteria for ELC are listed on the Local Path section of UC’s admissions website.

Are the 9 percent benchmark GPAs weighted?

Yes, the 9 percent benchmark GPAs are weighted and uncapped (no limit to extra grade points for UC-approved honors courses). The benchmark GPA is compared to a GPA UC calculates for the student for the ELC process that is also weighted and uncapped, based on the courses and grades entered on the UC application.

The weighted and uncapped GPA used for the ELC determination differs from the UC GPA that is weighted and capped; the UC GPA allows an extra point for each semester of a UC-approved honors-level course, with a maximum of 8 points between 10th and 11th grades. Honors points are awarded only to UC-approved honors courses in California high schools with an A-G course list, AP and IB (HL) courses and UC-transferable college courses. For information about the UC GPA, visit the GPA Requirement page.

How does a student know they have ELC status?

Students learn if they received ELC status by logging in to their submitted UC application and checking the messages in the “View how your application is reviewed” section. A student with ELC status will see a message that states “You rank in the top 9 percent of your graduating class according to UC calculations. We refer to this as Eligibility in the Local Context, or ELC. If you meet the minimum admission requirements and aren’t admitted to any UC campus to which you applied, you will be offered a spot at another campus if space is available.”