UC Professors Sound Alarm Over Freshmen Math Skills

More than 1,000 University of California professors say they are reteaching middle-school math to freshmen, while top leaders urge patience and more review.

Story Highlights

UC San Diego reported a sharp rise in freshmen needing remedial math, with about one in eight below middle-school level in 2025.
Over 1,400 UC faculty pushed to reinstate SAT or ACT scores, at least for science and engineering majors.
Governor Gavin Newsom said, “Show me the data,” and called faculty accounts anecdotal.
UC leaders launched a formal review and stressed support for math readiness rather than an immediate return to testing.

What Sparked The Fight: UCSD’s Data And Faculty Alarms

UC San Diego reported steep drops in entry-level math skills. The share of students needing remedial work rose from 0.5 percent in Fall 2020 to 11.8 percent in Fall 2025, roughly one in eight freshmen testing below middle-school level on placement measures. That finding lit a fuse across the system. Faculty at several campuses said they now spend class time on fractions and basic algebra. Many linked the trend to test-blind admissions, grade inflation, and pandemic learning loss.

As the warnings grew, professors organized. More than 1,400 University of California faculty, many in math and engineering, urged leaders to bring back standardized exams for applicants to science and technology majors. They argued high school grades alone hide big skill gaps and that a math score is a needed signal to flag risk before students arrive on campus. Their open letters asked for testing to resume by the 2027 cycle and for faculty oversight of readiness rules.

Newsom And UC Leadership Push Back With Review And Caution

Governor Gavin Newsom did not endorse a testing comeback. He asked for hard evidence, saying, “Show me the data,” and described the faculty stories as anecdotes that still need systemwide proof. His past veto message argued that test use can worsen inequality and does not best predict college success. University of California leaders also pressed pause. They launched a faculty-led review to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of using test scores again.

The review path signaled a broader posture. A University of California spokesperson said the system will focus on better instruction, collaboration, and support for math readiness rather than rushing to restore exams. Former University of California President Janet Napolitano added that the SAT is only a snapshot and not a cure for weak preparation. University of California planners said the study will look at tests alongside other measures, including the state’s own assessments.

What The Evidence Can And Cannot Answer Right Now

Some facts are clear. UC San Diego’s numbers show a large increase in students who struggle with basic math, and that burdens first-year courses. Faculty say grades alone may not reveal readiness. Research from the College Board reports that SAT Math adds useful prediction for first-year math performance beyond high school grade point average, which supports their case for an added signal in science and engineering fields. That is why peer schools revived testing after trying test-optional policies.

The SAT/ACT have nothing to do with math preparedness on UC campuses. GPA, retention and grad rates steady since UC went test free. Believe the data not the "vibes" of a loud sliver of faculty. Support don't just sort based on race and income.https://t.co/zPQ0xPLKFu

— FairTest (@FairTestOffice) August 19, 2026

Other claims remain unsettled. University of California leaders and the governor argue that the system needs broader data, not only campus snapshots or anecdotes, before tying declines mainly to test-blind admissions. A recent overview stressed that first-year grades and graduation measures did not collapse after testing ended, so the link is not simple. The current review seeks to weigh trade-offs: equity concerns, pandemic damage, high school variation, and the costs of placing unprepared students in advanced tracks.

Why This Matters To Families And Taxpayers

College is expensive. When freshmen arrive unready for college math, they lose time, drain campus support, and risk dropping out. Taxpayers fund remedial work that high schools should have covered. Parents on the right and left see a system that does not own results. Many fear leaders protect policies first and students last. The immediate choice is narrow but urgent: test-blind purity, or a targeted math screen for science and engineering majors to catch gaps before they grow.

What To Watch Next

Watch the University of California review timeline and scope. Look for campus-level placement data beyond UC San Diego to confirm or challenge the one-in-eight figure. Track whether the system pilots math-specific testing for science and engineering majors while improving tutoring and placement. Expect more pressure from faculty if fall cohorts struggle again. If leaders delay without clear fixes, the public frustration with elite institutions and their gatekeeping rules will only deepen.