Your child can realize their dreams at a top American university.
For over a decade, we’ve been helping international students achieve more than they ever thought possible.
The Admissions Solution
Two years of American college can change four-year university admission odds.
On average, less than 6% of international students are directly admitted into UCLA, UC Berkeley, and other top US News-ranked schools. But thanks to progression laws and agreements, like California’s TAG guarantee, American colleges can improve those odds via the “2+2” pathway.
Prestigious four-year universities are more likely to accept transfer students who have completed their first two years of undergrad at select American colleges. These students then go on to graduate and earn their degree from the university of their dreams. And our 360° in-person support service is designed to supercharge those odds in your child’s favor.
%
of all American bachelor’s degrees start in a two-year college
%
UBridge alumni admitted to a top 40 university since 2015
%
2025 international student tranfer rate to UCLA without UBridge
vs.
%
Average transfer rate of UBridge alumni to UCLA since 2015
How it works
The transfer system is complex — and difficult to navigate while juggling school and social life. Whether your child is a top student seeking an edge or a motivated learner ready for a fresh start, UBridge can help.
CollegeCare® is UBridge’s multi-year, in-person advising and transfer support program for international students. This high-touch program is built to maximize the transfer opportunities offered by guarantees and preferential college relationships in California, Washington, and Virginia, enabling your child to gain admission to top American universities.
| CollegeCare® | Typical College Support | |
| Student-Advisor Ratio | 20:1 | 500:1 |
| 1:1 Mentoring Hours Per Year | 150+ | 2–3 |
| Transfer Application Support | Comprehensive | Limited/None |
| Parent Communication | Bi-weekly Reports + WhatsApp, LINE, Zalo, etc. |
None |
Meet our team of elite advisors
Our academic and transfer expert advisors are the heart and soul of UBridge. All graduates of top universities themselves, they’re 100% dedicated to facilitating your child’s academic goals.
CollegeCare® is a comprehensive, multi-year advisory — not a per-hour service or short-term program. With one-on-one planning and mentorship that supports every layer of student life, your child can thrive and unlock new opportunities for their future.
Stay in the loop with parent support.
We believe parents play an important role in the transition to independent student life. That’s why CollegeCare® includes active communication and ongoing updates for parents via our exclusive Parent Team. These trained experts work with advisors to:
Include parents in academic goal setting
Provide bi-weekly progress reports on academics and overall wellbeing
Facilitate communications through WhatsApp, Zalo, WeChat, LINE, etc.
Provide end-of-semester reports tracking to overall transfer progress
Set up end-of year video calls for direct updates and Q&A
Keep parents informed about transfer applications, visa status, and university enrollment needs
Visit our Dream Calculator.
Ready to see the difference two years at college with UBridge could make?
Safe & Welcoming Locations
Where international students go to succeed
Strategic college partnerships
Our six partner colleges in California, Washington, and Virginia are located in diverse, liberal communities that value their booming international populations. Whether your child wants to pursue STEM, business, the arts, health and life sciences, or social and environmental impact, we can help them find the right place — and pathway — to thrive.
While most students begin in-person for their freshman fall semester, we have start dates throughout the year. They can also take advantage of UBridge online — our from-anywhere jumpstart program for students who need a bit more time at home before heading to campus.
A secure, high-end dorm experience
The best college experience is a shared one, where students are surrounded by their peers, juggling the rigors of school and the fun of independent living together.
Our campus-adjacent housing is designed to remove the stress of living abroad, from background checks and local guarantors to apartment security and maintenance to social isolation. High-end, gated accommodations with fine finishes provide comfort, as social opportunities keep homesickness at bay.
Student success stories
Gladys
UCLA
“My academic journey with UBridge has been incredible! UBridge provided valuable guidance as I navigated studying in a foreign country, giving my parents peace of mind. SMC has been equally welcoming, with passionate professors and a strong community of international students who support one another.”
Bat-Erdene
UC Berkeley
“It’s been an incredible journey—from the very beginning to finally transferring. I’m especially thankful for getting a second chance at UBridge, where amazing advisors truly believed in me.”
Kristina
UC Berkeley
“The collaboration with my University Bridge advisor has been so successful. We got along very well. I would like to highlight the support my advisor provided in helping me adjust to the US education system and college life.”
Gladys
UCLA
“My academic journey with UBridge has been incredible! UBridge provided valuable guidance as I navigated studying in a foreign country, giving my parents peace of mind. SMC has been equally welcoming, with passionate professors and a strong community of international students who support one another.”
Bat-Erdene
UC Berkeley
“It’s been an incredible journey—from the very beginning to finally transferring. I’m especially thankful for getting a second chance at UBridge, where amazing advisors truly believed in me.”
Kristina
UC Berkeley
“The collaboration with my University Bridge advisor has been so successful. We got along very well. I would like to highlight the support my advisor provided in helping me adjust to the US education system and college life.”
Use our Student Success Tool to find alumni like your child.
So many of our students go on to pursue their dreams at universities they once thought out of reach. With UBridge, there are no surprises. No hopeless challenges. Just opportunity and growth.
Investment
Small mistakes can close admissions doors at top universities. For families already investing in international education, CollegeCare® provides the expert guidance that protects that investment.
We help students make the right moves, at the right time, to maximize their opportunities with the university of their dreams.
Program cost
For fall-start students, CollegeCare® is offered at a fixed program fee, which covers a complete academic year: $39,750. Spring-start students can expect to pay less, and the fee can vary. See our college partner brochures for more details.
What’s included
This fee includes tuition, strategic advising, academic and transfer planning, admission navigation, and ongoing coordination across institutions — services that are difficult or impossible to access otherwise.
Housing
Housing fees vary by campus based on each city’s real-estate market. The cost breaks down to about $3,100 per month for the academic year (no month-to-month leases) for a fully furnished, shared apartment, including UBridge community events and activities. See partner brochures for details.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between college and university?
At UBridge, colleges are the two-year partner schools where our students begin their academic journey. These colleges range in size from a few thousand to over 10,000 students and have the ability to grant students Associate degrees in addition to accruing the transfer credits needed to transfer into a university. While there are colleges all over America, we partner with a select group of elite schools that offer preferred and guaranteed transfer admissions to top universities.
Universities are four-year schools with more advanced courses that grant students Bachelor’s degrees and beyond. UBridge students do two years at a college partner, transfer, and then finish up their last two years at top U.S. universities to earn their Bachelor’s degree.
What GPA is needed to attend?
There is no minimum GPA for UBridge. We take a holistic view of each applicant. If you have specific questions, please reach out to us or speak with your education agent.
What TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo or other English test scores are needed to attend?
Every UBridge campus has different English language requirements:
- Santa Monica College: TOEFL 45, IELTS 5.0, Duolingo 75
- Irvine Valley College: TOEFL 52, IELTS 4.5, Duolingo 80
- College of Marin: TOEFL 61, IELTS 6.0, Duolingo 90
- College of San Mateo: TOEFL 56, IELTS 5.5, Duolingo 85
- Shoreline College: TOEFL 61 (20 Writing), IELTS 5.5 (6.0 Writing), Duolingo 95
- Piedmont Virginia CC: TOEFL 61, IELTS 6.0
If you have taken a different test outside of TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo you are still eligible. Our recruitment team can help determine where your score lands.
What part of the world do your students come from?
UBridge students come from all over the world, including approximately 30 countries and counting. No matter where they are from, students who bring a positive attitude and a willingness to learn will all succeed.
What if my child is not a very good student?
Over the course of nearly 15 years, we have helped students of all backgrounds find the right university match for their needs and abilities. Our outcomes regularly surprise parents and students alike — our students usually transfer to a Top 100 U.S. University. No student has ever finished the UBridge program and not received a university placement, including those who have dropped out or failed out of other colleges and universities in the past.
Can this really help my child if they’re already a great student?
UBridge helps top students every year because it’s simply very hard to get into schools like UCLA and Berkeley as a first-year international student–as low as 5% admissions. UBridge’s annual acceptance rates have been as high as 50%+ into those same schools. So, the transfer path can be a great one for top students looking for schools like Columbia University, NYU, University of Michigan, UCLA, Berkeley, and University of Washington. We’ve had numerous alumni transfer into them all.
Who are the advisors?
Our advisors are full-time, professional academic experts. They are specialists on each campus they work at and graduated from top U.S. universities such as UCLA, Berkeley, USC, and UPenn. Several advisors are former international students themselves, so they understand both the academic challenges and what it’s like to be a student far from home. Because they are local to each campus they know everything about how to help your student succeed, down to which professors are right for your student.
Does student housing have security?
Yes. All housing has 24/7 security.
Is my child going to be safe as a foreign student in an American city?
UBridge has gone to great lengths to partner with the best two-year colleges in America, in vibrant and welcoming cities that celebrate their thriving immigrant communities. The neighborhoods we live in are known for being safe so we recommend that students exercise the same cautions they would at home.
How many other international students are there?
Every campus is different. Some of our college partners have smaller international student populations while schools like Santa Monica College rank in the Top 5 largest international student population for all two-year colleges in the U.S.
How much does it cost?
Fall 2026 academic fees are US$39,750 for a full-year (12 month) program including up to 36 credits. We price in a full year with extra credits so that students are able to either drop courses or take extra credits that can be used at their university to save money. Housing, if wanted, is an additional cost that varies slightly by campus based on each city’s real-estate market. In general, the cost is roughly $3,100 per month for the academic year, for a fully-furnished, shared apartment, including UBridge community events and activities.
What’s included in the cost?
University Bridge is priced to include nearly everything a student needs for a full academic year, so families do not get hit with constant add-on costs. Your program fee includes:
- a full 12-month year of UBridge support
- up to 36 college credits
- standard tuition and required school fees at your UBridge partner college
- CollegeCare® academic advising and transfer support, including ongoing 1:1 guidance, course planning and registration help, and transfer application strategy and execution
If you choose UBridge Housing, the cost also covers a furnished apartment and the core living setup, including utilities, internet/Wi-Fi, move-in support, housing management, and community programming and student events.
Some costs are not included. Students must purchase health insurance required by our partner colleges, and families should also budget for food, personal transportation, entertainment, and other personal spending. Textbooks and class-specific materials or fees, such as lab fees or art supplies, are also separate because they vary by course and major.
Can’t my child just attend college on their own?
Yes. But it’s meaningfully more difficult.
UBridge exists to make the process easier for international students and their families. While the guaranteed admissions agreements are great in theory, in practice they are exceedingly difficult to achieve–especially in just two years. A recent article in the publication Inside Higher Ed points to the fact that just 2.5% of domestic [American] students successfully transfer within two years. And that’s without the complication of a visa. It means that trying to transfer on your own is incredibly tough. You only have one shot to do it right, which is why families have been trusting UBridge with their future for well over a decade.
Is this a tutoring service?
No, our advisors cover much, much more than tutoring. Your childe will be assigned a professional, in-person advisor who covers all aspects of your student’s needs. From creating a full two-year plan to transfer, to actually registering for classes, required academic meetings/updates during the semester, written parent reports to you, and transfer assistance in year two. Those students who live in UBridge housing also receive assistance with living, medical questions, and a host of other personal guidance.
What is your official relationship to the colleges?
University Bridge maintains active partnership agreements with each college in our portfolio of college partners. These agreements allow UBridge to recruit students for each campus partner and actively manage the students’ needs while they are in the program. Feel free to reach out to us for more information about partnerships.
How long have you been in business?
We started in 2013 and have grown steadily in the many years since, helping students from around the world achieve the U.S. university admissions dreams they never thought possible.
Where is your team located?
Our management team and our advisors are all in the U.S. Advisors live close to the campus they work at, each specializing in just one campus. This allows them to be experts on that specific school — the area, the professors, individual courses, etc. — so they know everything their students need to succeed.
Our recruiting, administrative, and parent team members are located around the world, serving families in their native languages and time zones.
How can you guarantee admissions to any university?
University Bridge itself does not guarantee admissions to any university. But through the relationships with our two-year college partners, we are able to help students take advantage of admissions guarantees to over 100 U.S. universities. Admissions guarantees are fulfilled through meeting very strict GPA, course, major and credit hour requirements. Our advisors are experts at helping students of all backgrounds meet the exact requirements of their dream university.
Can my child transfer to any university?
Yes! While UBridge students get to take advantage of guaranteed admissions to some of the best universities in the world, we also help students transfer elsewhere.
Imagine receiving their guaranteed admissions to a Top 40 school like UC Irvine or UC Santa Barbara while they also apply to a handful of other exclusive private or public schools. No matter what they would be guaranteed to attend a Top 40 school. Our students have even been admitted to prestigious schools outside of the U.S. that were once out of reach.
Discover the difference UBridge can make.
We’d love to chat about your family’s specific needs, goals, and dreams.
Apply to become a partner
Campus Finder
Find your perfect college launchpad
Answer a few simple questions about your estimated GPA, English test scores, and personal preferences, and we’ll recommend the best two colleges for you.
Excellent!
Based on your information we think you’ll be happiest and most successful at *:
Download our campus brochures to learn more about your matches — including their top transfer universities:
*Campus options shown reflect your closest matches based on the information you provided. Please review all admissions requirements for your preferred campuses to determine whether any of your scores need adjustment prior to applying.
Get in touch
Dream Calculator
Calculate your admission odds
Answer a few quick questions about your academic history and citizenship, and we’ll calculate your chances of getting into your dream university.
Thank you!
Based on your information and statistical admissions numbers for your university:
Your likelihood of direct freshman admission is
X–X%
On average, UBridge alumni are admitted as third-year transfer students at
95%
That makes you 2-4x more likely to reach your university with UBridge than if you go it alone.
In fact, we’ve helped students from 30+ different countries gain admission to universities they once only dreamed of. We can help you achieve your dreams, too.
Results are estimates based on University Bridge internal data and publicly available admissions information. Outcomes vary by student, major, and university, and admission is not guaranteed. For informational purposes only.
Student success stories
Terry
UC San Diego
"“UBridge has helped me in the past two years through academic planning, including course selection, drafting and editing my UC application essays. They helped me resolve challenges efficiently, saving time I would have spent researching uncertain answers online.”"
Shivom
UC San Diego
"“My UBridge advisor is without a doubt one of the sweetest and most helpful people I know. Whether I needed help with my college application, getting in touch with a professor or even something not related to college, she was always ready to help. I honestly don’t think I would have done as well as I did if it wasn’t for her.”"
Weidong
U of Virginia
"“University Bridge helped me with every aspect of the transfer process: building and adjusting my class schedule, helping with the transfer essay and professor recommendations, completing the application form, and everything else! Their support took the stress and complexity out of transferring. Without their help I’d have been lost.”"