Top 5 Tech Clubs at UCLA (2025)

Computer Science at UCLA is fast-paced and project-driven. Students build products and tackle real-world problems through code. The most competitive CS clubs offer technical training, structured projects, and direct access to mentorship.

These are the organizations where students ship apps, launch startups, and earn internships at top tech companies all while joining alumni pipelines to top companies like Google, Meta, and Apple.

How the Rankings Work

We assessed each club using three core pillars. These pillars reflect not just where members end up, but how their clubs prepare them to get there.

1. Career Outcomes: We looked at internship and full-time placements in software engineering, research, and startups. The best clubs don't just help students land roles; they give members the experience and confidence to succeed.
2. Member Development: The top CS clubs build real engineers through technical mentorship and applied experience. From collaborative projects to hackathons, these organizations replicate the workflows and standards of top tech teams.
3. Reputation: Some clubs at UCLA carry serious weight with recruiters, alumni, and peers. We evaluated each organization's professional presence, internal culture, and how often they're recognized as reliable pipelines into competitive tech roles.

Bruin AI

BruinAI is UCLA’s premier undergraduate organization for applied artificial intelligence, known for its rigorous training and high-impact technical projects. Members rotate through semester-long teams, building models in areas like NLP and computer vision. With strong mentorship and hands-on research, BruinAI develops talent that goes on to intern and work at top companies.

What Makes Bruin AI Stand Out

• Career Outcomes: BruinAI has built a reputation as a top feeder into competitive machine learning and software roles. Recent members have interned or gone full-time at companies such as Amazon, Salesforce, and IBM, as well as other leading AI-focused teams. Whether students are aiming for top research labs or applied ML roles, BruinAI equips them with the project experience that sets them apart in interviews and on the job.
• Club Structure: BruinAI trains members across three core verticals, Artificial Intelligence, Web Development, and Business Strategy, offering a full-stack view of how AI is built and applied. New members start with a rigorous curriculum that covers technical fundamentals and how AI drives product decisions. From there, students join internal or client-facing project teams to build real AI applications. The club also hosts weekly workshops, mentorship events, and career talks to help students sharpen both their technical and strategic edge in the workplace.
• Impact: BruinAI’s impact comes from applying AI in the real world. The club has partnered with companies such as Boston Consulting Group, Cisco, and Windsurf to build real solutions and provide students with exposure to clients and paid opportunities. Members also benefit from technical support from Amazon Web Services, enabling them to deploy scalable models in production. From hosting one of the largest AI conferences, SAIRS, to Demo Day presentations to building tools tackling wildfire relief or misinformation, BruinAI helps students ship work that matters.

Explore Bruin AI: https://bruinai.org/#/

Product Space

Product Space is UCLA’s leading community for students interested in the intersection of technology and business. Known for its hands-on learning, Product Space gives members real experience in launching features and solving user problems. Workshops and speaker events further teach members how to collaborate cross-functionally. For students targeting roles at the heart of tech, Product Space is a high-signal launchpad.

What Sets Product Space Apart

• Career Outcomes: Product Space alumni have gone on to land product, strategy, and design roles at top tech companies like Meta, Google, Adobe, and Amazon. The club’s emphasis on real product thinking helps members stand out in competitive job markets. With strong alumni support and practical experience on project teams, Product Space consistently sends students into top internships and full-time roles.
• Club Structure: Product Space runs a cohort-based model that simulates real-world product teams. First, new members are placed into sprint groups where they collaborate on client projects or internal product builds. Additional weekly workshops teach core technical design topics, such as roadmapping and product-market fit. Beyond the technical, Product Space emphasizes community and pairs members with alumni mentors to create a supportive environment. Whether you're new to computer science or recruiting for APM roles, Product Space helps members learn by doing.
• Impact: Product Space bridges the gap between classroom theory and real-world product experience. The club has collaborated with companies like Amazon, Adobe, and Waymo, giving members the opportunity to work on product challenges and receive feedback from top industry professionals. These experiences help students understand what it takes to ship features in high-stakes environments while building portfolios that stand out in recruiting. With Demo Days, speaker events, and alumni now working in roles across tech, Product Space continues to be a key player in UCLA’s product ecosystem.

Explore UCLA Product Space: https://productspaceatucla.org/

Nova

Nova for Good is UCLA’s leading product and engineering organization focused on social impact. Built around the belief that technology should serve people, Nova gives students the chance to develop and ship real tools for nonprofits and public-interest groups. Members work in tight-knit, interdisciplinary teams to build polished full-stack applications that solve meaningful problems.

What Makes Nova a Top Tech Club

• Career Outcomes: Nova alumni have landed roles at top companies like Google, Paramount, and Jane Street, spanning engineering, product, and design. The club’s focus on building full-stack, impact-driven projects gives members real technical depth and standout portfolios. Many Nova members credit the club’s collaborative engineering environment and mentorship for preparing them not just to land interviews, but to contribute meaningfully once they get the job. Whether targeting Big Tech, startups, or mission-driven organizations, Nova has helped Bruins break into tech.
• Club Structure: Nova runs on a “learn by doing” model. Members are placed into interdisciplinary teams consisting of engineers, designers, and product leads, and spend each quarter building real tools for nonprofit clients. Rather than extensive prior experience, Nova looks for curiosity and a genuine desire to use tech for good. Learning happens on the job, with team leads and peers offering ongoing mentorship and feedback. Beyond project work, Nova also connects with nonprofits through outreach and occasional field trips to understand the communities they serve.
• Impact: Nova was founded on the belief that small, well-built tools can drive real change. The club partners with nonprofits to design and ship full-stack products. Some of those projects have included a client system for Alzheimer’s San Diego, a pollution tracker for L.A. Waterkeeper, and a volunteer logistics app for Project Ropa. Nova’s teams work on projects focused on web design, mobile app development, and data science to solve real-world problems across topics like homelessness, education, and mental health.

Explore Nova: https://www.novaforgood.org/

ACM

ACM at UCLA is the largest computer science organization in all of Southern California. With nine subcommittees, ACM gives students the chance to explore and grow in any area of tech. Members get hands-on experience through technical workshops and projects that bring the CS community together. Whether you're looking to break into Big Tech, contribute to open source, or just find your niche in computer science, ACM is where many Bruins start.

How ACM Helps Bruins Break Into Tech

• Career Outcomes: ACM has helped hundreds of Bruins launch careers at top tech companies like Google and Meta. While not a pre-professional club in the traditional sense, ACM gives members a serious edge by helping them build skills early.
• Club Structure: ACM is built around nine committees, each offering a different entry point into computer science. ACM AI hosts hands-on ML workshops; ACM Hack's project-based dev teams build tools used by UCLA students; Cyber hosts CTFs and security training; ICPC competes in international coding competitions; Design teaches Figma and UX/UI; and Teach LA lets members teach Python to local students. Most committees hold weekly meetings with clear learning paths and mentorship. Members often start in one team and branch out, gaining experience across the tech stack. For many Bruins, ACM is where they learn enough to land their first internships, ship real code, or recruit into more selective organizations.
• Impact: Few student organizations at UCLA match the scale, longevity, or influence of ACM. Founded in 1975, ACM has become the backbone of UCLA’s CS community, launching sub-organizations such as Teach LA and hosting major events including Hack on the Hill, Hack2Impact, and the Tech Gala. Its members lead technical workshops, compete in global competitions, and contribute to open-source and AI research.

Explore ACM: https://www.uclaacm.com/

Blueprint

Blueprint at UCLA is a student-led organization that builds pro-bono tech solutions for nonprofits. Focused on social impact and engineering excellence, the club pairs student developers and product thinkers with mission-driven partners to create tools that make a real difference.

Why Blueprint Is a Launchpad for Tech Careers

• Career Outcomes: Blueprint alumni have landed software engineering roles at Google, SpaceX, Amazon, and other top-tier tech companies. By building full-stack products for real nonprofits, members gain experience from scoping features with clients to writing production-ready code. Working in cross-functional teams with PMs and designers, students learn how to collaborate, iterate, and ship tools that solve real problems.
• Club Structure: At Blueprint, students join small, cross-functional teams to build full-stack tools for nonprofits over the course of a quarter. Members work closely with clients to define needs and ship high-quality products. The club emphasizes innovation and community, selecting projects that create meaningful impact and give members space to grow technically and personally. Beyond project teams, Blueprint runs workshops and social events that help members stay connected and continuously learn.
• Impact: Blueprint drives real-world social impact by building open-source tools for nonprofits. Members have created a client management system for End Overdose to support nationwide naloxone distribution and developed an interactive platform for United Way to help small businesses access local resources. Every project gives students the chance to build meaningful technology while making a measurable difference.

Explore Blueprint: https://lablueprint.org/

How to Get Into Top Tech Clubs at UCLA

These clubs are extremely selective so to get in:

1. Engage with the club’s work before applying: Instead of just attending info sessions, read past project case studies, explore GitHub repos, and attend public demos or tech talks. Showing that you’ve taken time to understand a club’s tech stack or unique approach demonstrates genuine interest. When you talk to members, reference specific things they’ve built or technologies they use. It’s not just about enthusiasm; it’s about doing your homework.
2. Show you’re already building: Top tech clubs want members who are proactive and committed to growth. Before interviews, try building a small personal project, contributing to open source, or learning the basics of the stack the club uses. Whether it is a GitHub repo, a design portfolio, or just a clear interest, showing that you are already putting in the work makes it clear that you will be a strong contributor from day one.

How to Get Your Club Featured

The Leland Rankings highlight student organizations shaping the next generation of business leaders.

If you believe your tech club deserves recognition reach out and tell us why!