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University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley,
CA
•4-Year Public•
Acceptance Rate11%
Media (1)
About UC Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley is known for its academic excellence and is ranked among the top universities in the world. Students are drawn to UC Berkeley for the university’s rigorous academic programs, research opportunities, innovation, student culture and activism, and athletics. The campus’ proximity to both downtown Berkeley and San Francisco provides students with many off-campus opportunities.
Berkeley has over 130 academic departments and is particularly known for groundbreaking research in many fields. Their Computer Science program is one of the best in the world and offers students opportunities to collaborate with other academic departments and even with programs and companies outside of the university. Other highly-rated programs at UC-Berkeley include economics, political science, electrical engineering, molecular and cell biology, and business administration.
UC Berkeley’s 1,232 acre campus is located in the hills of Berkeley and offers unique views of the San Francisco Bay and surrounding areas. The university houses several renowned facilities and landmarks including the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, The Bancroft Library, the UC Botanical Garden, and Strawberry Creek.
UC Berkeley is a member of the Pac-12 Conference with 30 varsity Division 1 teams. The university has well-rounded athletic programs with most sports achieving success in tournaments and championships. Some of the most popular sports at UC Berkeley include water polo, rugby, swimming, softball, and tennis.
Did You Know?
The University of California, Berkeley is the birthplace of the Free Speech Movement, which was a student-led protest in 1964 that fought for the right to free speech and political activism on campus. UC_Berkeley was the birthplace of the Free Speech Movement, a student-led protest in 1964 that fought for the right to free speech and political activism on college campuses. Berkeley has a rich history of student activism, which is one reason the campus is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The CC Community on UC Berkeley
“I think the campus itself — the physical plant, the geography and the vibe — is one of Cal’s best features.”
University of California, Berkeley Overview
University of California, Berkeley is a public, state school in an urban setting in Berkeley, California. UC Berkeley was founded in 1868 and now enrolls around 42,244 students a year, including 30,980 undergrads. UC Berkeley provides on-campus housing for students. The majority of students live on campus, and first year-students are required to live in campus housing.
There are many ways for students to get involved at UC Berkeley! Love music or performing? Join a campus band, sing in a chorus, or perform with one of UC Berkeley's theater groups.
Interested in journalism or communications? UC Berkeley students can write for the campus newspaper, host a radio show or be a producer for the student-run television channel.
Excited for Greek life? UC Berkeley has fraternities and sororities.
Planning to play sports? UC Berkeley has many options for athletes. See them all and learn more about life at UC Berkeley on the Student Life page.
Learn more about life at UC Berkeley on the Student Life page.
Mark your calendar! The deadline to apply regular decision to UC Berkeley for Fall 2022 is November 30. Regular decision applicants for Fall 2022 should hear from UC Berkeley by March 31.
| 2021 UC Berkeley Facts At-A-Glance | |
|---|---|
| Academic Calendar | Semester |
| Overall Acceptance Rate | 17% |
| Early Decision Acceptance Rate | ED not offered |
| Early Action Acceptance Rate | EA not offered |
| Average GPA | 3.9 |
| Applicants Submitting SAT scores | 82.3% |
| In-State Tuition | $11,442 |
| Out-of-State | $41,196 |
| Percent of Need Met | 80% |
| Average First-Year Financial Aid Package | $25,994 |
Is UC Berkeley a Good School?
The definition of a "good school" is different for different people. Admissions difficulty and admitted student statistics can give you a sense of how competitive a university is, but they don't say much about the quality of the education or the student experience. There are a few statistics that can give you a good idea of how satisfied students are and how well a school supports its students.
Let's take a look at each of these factors to get a better idea of what UC Berkeley offers and if it might be the right college for you.
UC Berkeley Acceptance Rate 2021
UC Berkeley admitted 17% of all applicants in 2021. Out of 85,682 applications received in 2021, 14,950 students were offered admission.
Retention and Graduation Rates at UC Berkeley
Retention is the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. This is a way to get a sense of how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.
Out of all the first-year, full-time undergrads who start at UC Berkeley, around 96% are still enrolled their sophomore year. UC Berkeley's six-year graduation rate for undergrads is 92%. Compare this to the average six-year graduation rate for colleges and universities in the U.S., which is around 61% for public schools and 67% for private.
Job Outcomes for UC Berkeley Grads
Job placement rates after graduation and average starting salaries can all give important clues about the value of a degree from a specific school.
Check with UC Berkeley directly, for information on any information on starting salaries for recent grads.
Tuition and Financial Aid at UC Berkeley
Cost is another important factor when choose a college. Some colleges may have high tuition, but do a better job at meeting students' financial need. UC Berkeley meets 80% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. First-year students that attend UC Berkeley full-time are awarded $25,994 a year in financial aid, on average.
Graduates in the class of 2021 had an average of $18,468 in student loans per borrower. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.
The 2022-2023 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2021
Some aid is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so fill out the FAFSA early. Visit the FAFSA website to apply for student aid. Remember, the first F in FAFSA stands for FREE! You should never have to pay to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), so be very wary of anyone asking you for money.
Learn more about Tuition and Financial Aid at UC Berkeley. Based on this information, how does UC Berkeley sound? Remember, the best school for one person may be a terrible fit for someone else! So ask yourself: Is UC Berkeley a good school for you?
If University of California, Berkeley seems like a school you want to apply to, click the heart button to save it to your college list.
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Then use the college admissions predictor to take a data science look at your chances of getting accepted at some of the most selective colleges and universities in the U.S.
Where is UC Berkeley?
UC Berkeley is located in the urban setting of Berkeley, California, less than an hour from San Francisco.
If you want to see UC Berkeley for yourself, plan a visit. The best way to reach campus is to take Interstate 80 to Berkeley, or book a flight to the nearest airport, Oakland International.
You can also take a virtual campus tour to get a sense of what UC Berkeley and Berkeley are like without leaving home.
Considering Going to School in California?
See a full list of colleges in California and save your favorites to your college list.
College Info
UC Berkeley Application Deadline
First-Year Applications are Due
Nov 30
Transfer Applications are Due
Nov 30
The deadline for Fall first-year applications to UC Berkeley is Nov 30.
The deadline for Fall transfer applications to UC Berkeley is Nov 30.
Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs
UC Berkeley SAT Scores
Composite SAT Range
Not available
Math SAT Range
Not available
Reading SAT Range
Not available
UC Berkeley Tuition & Fees
Tuition & Fees
$38,501
In State$69,527
Out-of-State
Cost Breakdown
In State
Out-of-State
State Tuition
$11,928
$42,954
Fees
$3,031
$3,031
Housing
$22,402
$22,402
Books
$1,140
$1,140
Student Life
Wondering what life at UC Berkeley is like? There are approximately 45,745 students enrolled at UC Berkeley, including 32,831 undergraduate students and 12,914 graduate students. 94% percent of students attend school full-time, 85% percent are from CA and 15% percent of students are from other states.
94%
Full Time5%
Part Time85%
In State15%
Out-of-StateData Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved
Quick Facts
Total Enrollment
45,745
Campus Setting
Urban
Acceptance Rate
11%
Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline
Nov 30
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