UCLA Purchases Former Marymount California University Campus

RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CA — Marymount California University selected the University of California, Los Angeles as the buyer of its former campus and housing site in San Pedro, the university announced Tuesday.

“We chose UCLA because it has a long track record of educational excellence, and is perfectly suited to build upon the mission of teaching and community service we established here,” Marymount California University president Brian Marcotte said. “We are certain UCLA will be an outstanding steward of the campus for the city of Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro and the South Bay.”

The two properties were purchased for $80 million, and UCLA Chancellor Gene Block said the site may host academic programs as soon as next year. The land acquisition is the largest in UCLA history, totaling more than 35 acres between the campus and residential site.

After the announcement of MCU's closure in April, which Marcotte said was due to declining student enrollment, rising costs and the pandemic, the 54-year institution is passing on its seaside campus to UCLA.

“UCLA has been a crucial nexus of education, research and public service within Los Angeles for more than 100 years,” Block said in a statement to the UCLA community announcing the news. “As demand for our academic offerings continues to grow, this acquisition will allow us to expand student access in line with UC’s 2030 goals, strengthen our connections to the greater L.A. region, and deepen our institution’s research and public service impact.”

According to the statement, UCLA and the Academic Senate will establish a task force of faculty members and administrators to decide on how to use the property to expand access to education and keep in line with institutional goals.

Rancho Palos Verdes City Manage Ara Mihranian said she is excited to build a relationship between the university and the community to continue the tradition of partnership.

"We are excited about the addition of a top public university of such prestige and purpose as UCLA to our community," Mihranian said. "We look forward to being neighbors, to continuing that tradition of partnership, and to the myriad opportunities this acquisition will bring to the City, the Peninsula, and the South Bay."

The private Catholic school finished its last classes on Aug. 12, and said a final farewell to the campus with alumni and the community shortly after. Remaining students have been transferred or moved on to other opportunities, Marcotte said.

Going forward, Hope International University in Fullerton will serve as MCU's institution of record, which means it will be able to provide students with the paperwork and transfer information they need.

Staff and faculty were also offered support in starting new careers in new positions, and they were given recommendations. Though the process was "traumatic and emotional," according to Marcotte, he said the staff and faculty are doing well.