← Back to collegesUniversity of California-Berkeley, in Berkeley, CA, is a public very large school, enrolling around 33,068 students. It's highly selective, admitting about 11% of applicants. Its highest-earning reported major is Computer Science (Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services), where graduates report median earnings of $204,379/year four years out. Most students arrange their own housing since on-campus living isn't required.
Admissions
Admit rate11%
SAT rangeNot reported
ACT rangeNot reported
Undergrads33,068
Yield (admits who enroll)46%
Next deadlineSingle filing period
Cost & outcomes
Cost of attendance$45,619
4-year grad rate93%
Median earnings, 10yr out$92,446
From the US Dept of Education College Scorecard, most recent year reported. Not every school reports every field.
How University of California-Berkeley weighs your application
From University of California-Berkeley's own Common Data Set, 2024-25, Section C7 -- not a generic admissions checklist. What is a Common Data Set?
Academic factorsRigor of secondary school recordVery important
Class rankNot considered
Academic GPAVery important
Standardized test scoresConsidered
Application essayVery important
RecommendationsConsidered
Nonacademic factorsInterviewNot considered
Extracurricular activitiesImportant
Talent/abilityConsidered
Character/personal qualitiesImportant
First generationConsidered
Alumni relation (legacy)Not considered
Geographical residenceNot considered
State residencyConsidered
Religious affiliationNot considered
Volunteer workImportant
Work experienceImportant
Level of interest (demonstrated interest)Not considered
See full profile -- financial aid, campus life, and what University of California-Berkeley weighs in your application
Paying it back
Undergrads taking federal loans17%
Loan balance still growing, 3yrs out80%
"Still growing" means a borrower's payments aren't yet covering interest 3 years into repayment -- not a default rate. A high number here can mean real repayment difficulty, or just a lot of grads who deferred for graduate school, so read it alongside the school's typical outcomes above.
Majors & earnings
Architecture and Related Services Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender, and Group StudiesArea Studies$70,366/yr
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies$67,291/yr
Biological and Biomedical SciencesMicrobiological Sciences and Immunology$103,546/yr
Biology, General$79,163/yr
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences$66,577/yr
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support ServicesBusiness Administration, Management and Operations$144,599/yr
Communication, Journalism, and Related ProgramsCommunication and Media Studies$75,612/yr
Computer and Information Sciences and Support ServicesComputer Science$204,379/yr
EngineeringElectrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$200,543/yr
Operations Research$138,883/yr
Chemical Engineering$121,027/yr
Mechanical Engineering$119,371/yr
Biomedical/Medical Engineering$110,597/yr
Civil Engineering$108,548/yr
English Language and Literature/LettersRhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies$69,373/yr
English Language and Literature, General$60,187/yr
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and LinguisticsLinguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services$76,724/yr
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$75,715/yr
Health Professions and Related Programs Legal Professions and StudiesNon-Professional Legal Studies$70,636/yr
Mathematics and StatisticsStatistics$133,986/yr
Applied Mathematics$118,414/yr
Mathematics$80,654/yr
Multi/Interdisciplinary StudiesCognitive Science$120,193/yr
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other$87,791/yr
Nutrition Sciences$79,391/yr
International/Globalization Studies$66,522/yr
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution$65,269/yr
Natural Resources and ConservationNatural Resources Conservation and Research$78,624/yr
Philosophy and Religious Studies Physical SciencesPhysics$96,043/yr
Astronomy and Astrophysics$90,943/yr
Chemistry$82,386/yr
PsychologyResearch and Experimental Psychology$64,904/yr
Psychology, General$62,835/yr
Public Administration and Social Service Professions Social SciencesEconomics$135,050/yr
Social Sciences, Other$101,138/yr
Urban Studies/Affairs$76,125/yr
Political Science and Government$75,128/yr
Sociology$71,363/yr
Anthropology$64,359/yr
Visual and Performing ArtsFilm/Video and Photographic Arts$70,963/yr
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$55,555/yr
Fine and Studio Arts$51,699/yr
Median earnings 4 years after graduation, by major, from the US Dept of Education. Only shown where the school reports a real figure for that major -- most schools don't report every major they offer, especially smaller programs.
Campus life
On-campus housingYes
Required to live on campusNo
Dormitory capacity9,765
Typical room chargeNot reported
Typical board chargeNot reported
Room and board are shown separately from the cost of attendance above -- that total already includes them alongside tuition and fees, this just breaks out the living-cost portion.
What matters in your application
GPARequired
Class rankNot considered
RecommendationsConsidered, not required
From this school's own reporting to the US Dept of Education on what it formally requires, considers, or doesn't use when reviewing applications.
Frequently asked questions
What does University of California-Berkeley look for in applicants?
Per University of California-Berkeley's own Common Data Set (Section C7), it rates rigor of secondary school record, academic GPA, application essay as "very important" in admissions decisions -- its own stated top factors, not a generic guess.
What is University of California-Berkeley's acceptance rate?
University of California-Berkeley in Berkeley, CA admits approximately 11% of applicants, based on the US Dept of Education's most recently reported figures.
How much does University of California-Berkeley cost?
University of California-Berkeley's total cost of attendance is reported at $45,619 per year, including tuition, fees, and room and board.
Does University of California-Berkeley require students to live on campus?
No -- University of California-Berkeley doesn't require students to live in on-campus housing.