UCLA Tuition 2015-2016
UC systemwide tuition for California residents was $12,240 for the 2015-2016 academic year. Non-residents paid $36,948 including Nonresident Supplemental Tuition. Campus-based fees averaged $1,211 across UC.
Resident Tuition
$12,240
Non-Resident Tuition
$36,948
Campus Fees (UC average)
$1,211
Year-over-year change: Resident tuition changed by +0.4%. Non-resident tuition changed by +5.36%.
What changed in 2015-2016
Residents frozen; nonresidents absorb an 8% jump
This is the year resident and nonresident paths split. Resident tuition stayed at $11,160 for a fifth year, but the Student Services Fee rose $48 to $1,020. Nonresident Supplemental Tuition jumped $1,830, or 8 percent, from $22,878 to $24,708 — its first increase in four years.
The mechanism was explicit. After a public standoff, Governor Brown and UC President Napolitano negotiated through a two-member committee; Napolitano had already postponed the proposed increase in February. On May 21, 2015 the Regents did two things in one motion: endorsed the framework in the Governor's revised budget, and authorized the President to implement nonresident increases of up to 8 percent annually through 2019-20.
The state side of the deal included roughly $436 million over three years toward pension and base funding, 4 percent annual base increases for four years, and $25 million each for deferred maintenance and energy projects. In-state tuition would stay flat two more years. Out-of-state students paid for the peace.
2015-2016 tuition in 2025 dollars
Comparing tuition across decades only works once inflation is stripped out. Adjusted with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index, the $12,240 a California resident paid in 2015-2016 is equivalent to $16,626 in 2025 dollars. Non-resident tuition of $36,948 works out to $50,187 in 2025 dollars.
Resident tuition in 2025 dollars
$16,626
Non-resident tuition in 2025 dollars
$50,187
Inflation adjustment uses CPI-U annual average, U.S. city average, all items (1982-84=100). The 2025 annual average is computed from eleven months because the October 2025 index was never collected during the federal funding lapse.
What does that mean? UCLA tuition worked out to roughly $45/day of instruction, or $816/class (assuming 15 classes per year).
At California's $9.00/hr minimum wage back then, covering tuition alone would take 1,360 hours of work (~34 full-time weeks) — before housing and food.
Quick Facts
Resident Tuition
vs. 5 years earlier (2010-2011)
+$1,938
Resident tuition rose 18.81% from $10,302 to $12,240
vs. 10 years earlier (2005-2006)
+$6,099
Resident tuition rose 99.32% from $6,141 to $12,240
Non-Resident Tuition
vs. 5 years earlier (2010-2011)
+$3,767
Non-resident tuition rose 11.35% from $33,181 to $36,948
vs. 10 years earlier (2005-2006)
+$12,987
Non-resident tuition rose 54.2% from $23,961 to $36,948
Looking for Current UCLA Costs?
UCLA tuition for 2026-2027 is now $16,430 for California residents. Use our interactive Cost Calculator to estimate your total cost of attendance — including housing, meal plans, books, and more.
Sources
Figures and historical context for 2015-2016 are drawn from the following sources.
- Regents minutes, May 21, 2015 (endorse framework; authorize up to 8% nonresident through 2019-20)(opens in a new tab)
- Daily Bruin: UC in-state tuition to remain flat for two years under revised budget(opens in a new tab)
- Daily Bruin: Napolitano postpones proposed tuition increase until fall quarter(opens in a new tab)
- UCOP Historical Fee Levels, Tables 1-3(opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U annual averages (CUUR0000SA0)(opens in a new tab)
- California Department of Industrial Relations, History of California Minimum Wage(opens in a new tab)