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University of California-Berkeley

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · City · 33,068 students
Nov 30 · Regular Decision · in 59 days
Checked Sep 2026 · admissions.berkeley.edu
$13,481
Average net priceYour net price
In-state · 2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
93%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
70% typical
$92,446
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$63,395 typical
11%
Acceptance rate
Applied for fall 2024
73% typical · not scored
Accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
About

As the flagship institution of the University of California system, UC Berkeley is a world-renowned public research powerhouse globally recognized for its top-ranked programs in engineering, computer science, business at the Haas School, and the physical sciences. The university is distinguished by its deep-rooted legacy of civic engagement as the birthplace of the Free Speech Movement, seamlessly paired with prime proximity to Silicon Valley’s innovation and startup ecosystem. Campus life is intellectually intense and socially vibrant, characterized by politically active students, spirited California Golden Bears traditions, and a pervasive culture of challenging the status quo.


Wikipedia:The University of California, Berkeley is a public land-grant research university in Berkeley, California, United States. Founded in 1868 and named after the Anglo-Irish philosopher and plantation owner George Berkeley, it is the state's first land-grant university and the founding campus of the University of California system.

Location
Berkeley, CA, 94720 · City campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
OAK · Oakland
11 mi away
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
These figures are federal data and may be out of date.
In-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$16,347$50,547
Housing & food (on campus)$23,750$23,750
Books & supplies$1,131$1,131
Cost of attendance$54,674$79,819 est.
Average net price$13,481Not published
Out-of-state prices
Tuition & fees$50,547
In-state: $16,347
Housing & food (on campus)$23,750
Books & supplies$1,131
Cost of attendance$79,819 est.
In-state: $54,674
Average net priceNot published
In-state: $13,481
est. = the in-state cost of attendance with out-of-state tuition swapped in; no out-of-state figure is published.
How it’s made up · in-state, 2026-27
University of California-Berkeley’s own figures for 2026-2027, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.
Tuition$18,214
Housing$16,640
Food$7,000
Books & supplies$1,342
Personal expenses$3,270
Transportation$754
Total published by the school$54,674
Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24
$0–30k
$5,311
$30–48k
$6,501
$48–75k
$9,693
$75–110k
$15,074
$110k+
$34,529
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
93%
Entered 2017–18
Within 4 yrs
80%
Back for yr 2
97%
Transferred
0%
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
94% graduated · 4% transferred · 2% left or unknown · none still enrolled
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$74,919
10 yrs after entry$92,446
Debt
Median at graduation$13,000
Monthly payment$138
Middle 50% owe$5.5k–$20.2k
90th percentile$27,000
Green marks a figure above the typical Doctoral University: 70% graduate within 6 yrs, $63,395 earned 10 yrs after entry.
Admissions
Getting in · applied for fall 2024
Admit rate
11%
Test policy
Test free
Checked Sep 2026
Application deadlines · first-year, fall 2027 entry
Regular Decision
Nov 30 2026
in 59 days
Not binding: the standard deadline.
Checked Sep 2026 · admissions.berkeley.edu · Confirm on the school's site before you apply.

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Essay prompts
From University of California-Berkeley (admission.universityofcalifornia.edu) · The page doesn't state a year · checked Sep 28, 2026
  • Choose four of eight
    • Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
      350 words max
    • Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
      350 words max
    • What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
      350 words max
    • Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
      350 words max
    • Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
      350 words max
    • Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
      350 words max
    • What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
      350 words max
    • Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?
      350 words max

Quoted from University of California-Berkeley's own page; answered in the UC Application. The application itself is the final word.

Student Body
Gender
Men 44%Women 56%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
18 : 1
Pell grant
29%
First-gen
35%
Family income
$31,227
Independent
19%
Veterans
0%
Age at entry
21.0
Part-time
5%
Race & ethnicity
White
20%
Hispanic
22%
Black
2%
Asian
35%
Two or more
7%
Non-resident
10%
Unknown
4%
Varsity sports
NCAA Division I-FBS · EADA 2024-25
  • Baseball
    Men's
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Beach Volleyball
    Women's
  • Field Hockey
    Women's
  • Football
    Men's
  • Golf
    Men's · Women's
  • Gymnastics
    Men's · Women's
  • Lacrosse
    Women's
  • Other Sports
    Men's
  • Rowing
    Men's · Women's
  • Soccer
    Men's · Women's
  • Softball
    Women's
  • Swimming and Diving (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Tennis
    Men's · Women's
  • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Volleyball
    Women's
  • Water Polo
    Men's · Women's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021
After 6 yrs
$74,919
After 10 yrs
$92,446
Computer Science994
Economics909
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences761
Computer and Information Sciences, General737
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering480
Natural Resources Conservation and Research464
Business Administration, Management and Operations428
Political Science and Government418
Research and Experimental Psychology390
Sociology294
Communication and Media Studies265
Applied Mathematics264
Cognitive Science257
English Language and Literature, General240
Non-Professional Legal Studies234
Public Health202
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$3.2B
Full-time faculty
70%
Faculty salary
$21,246/mo
Teaching spend
$23,741
per student
Federal loans
17%
Classification
Carnegie type
Doctoral University
Research activity
R1 — very high research
$1.1B research spending · 834 research doctorates a year
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, more selective admissions

Wondering if University of California-Berkeley is the right fit for you?

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