University of California at Berkeley

School Overview: Acceptance Rate, Tuition, and More

Berkeley, CA

$11,442

Avg in-state tuition

$41,196

Avg out-of-state tuition

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About University of California at Berkeley

School Type: Public

Status: Non-profit

Accreditation: Regional

Religious Affiliation: N/A While the student experience is largely unaffected at most schools with religious affiliations, some schools place more of an emphasis on religion. Learn how religious affiliations may impact students' experience.

The city of Berkeley is home to the University of California, Berkeley, which educates roughly 43,000 students a year. The selective public research university has an acceptance rate of 16% and a graduation rate of 93%. Berkeley features more than 350 programs in 130 departments, including 20-plus online programs. Academics and researchers at the school enjoy access to one of the top public research university libraries in the country and more than 80 research units.

BestColleges.com

Rankings

Learn more about how this school compares to other schools with rankings by BestColleges.

Admissions Breakdown

Acceptance Rate Insight

This school has a competitive acceptance rate.

This school is a little more selective about its students. Competitive acceptance schools welcome 15-50% of all applicants.

17% of students were accepted during the 2020-2021 school year. Sometimes schools with midrange acceptance rates have higher standards of entry but are still accessible to many students who apply.

Retention Rate Insight

Students remain enrolled in this school at a higher rate than other schools.

This typically means students are happy with their school selection and wish to continue their education there.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

96% of full-time students stayed to continue their studies the following academic year. These students started in Fall 2019 and returned in Fall 2020.

Graduation Rate Insight

Students graduate from this school at a higher rate than other schools.

This is typically an indication of a school's quality and means most students finish their degree in a timely manner.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

92% of students graduated out of all full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2014. Keep in mind many students who enroll are not typically first-time students, as most are adult learners. Therefore, the number of first-time students is traditionally low.

Application Considerations

Test scores Required

High school transcript Required

High school rank Not required or recommended

Letter of recommendation Considered (not required)

High school GPA Required

Open admission No

Completion of college prep program Not required or recommended

Test of English as a foreign language (TOEFL) Required

Transfer Credit Policy

Dual enrollment Implied no

Credit for qualified life experience* Implied no

Advance placement (AP) credits Yes

*This can include previous jobs, trainings, licenses/credentials, or seminars. You may need to complete an exam or provide a portfolio to earn credit.

SAT & ACT

Students who attend this school typically have higher standardized test scores than students at other schools.

While test scores can be an important aspect of college applications, schools determine admission based on several factors, and these test scores are only a suggested range.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

ACT 25th-75th Percentile 30-35

SAT 25th-75th Percentile 1310-1530

Learning Environment

Student Body Stats

This school has a student body of more than 15,000 students.

Learn more about how we determine school awards

42k

Students enrolled

97%

Online student enrollment

19:1

Student to faculty ratio

Ways Students Can Learn

Online Check Bold
On-campus Check Bold
Hybrid The program is a combination of on-campus and online learning and varies per program. Check Bold
International Online classes are available for students around the world. Check Bold

Demographics

Asian

31%

White

25%

Hispanic

16%

Non-U.S. Citizen

16%

Two or more races

6%

Unknown

3%

Black

2%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0%

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%

Female student population

52%

Socio-economic diversity

21% of students received an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

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Online Programs

Offers Online Programs

Yes

Online Programs

2

Total Online Enrollment

41,164

Student Location Breakout

Percent of Programs Online

99% On-campus

1% Online

Types of Online Programs Offered

Certificates X Bold Not offered

Associate X Bold Not offered

Bachelor's X Bold Not offered

Graduate Certificate X Bold Not offered

Master's Check Bold 2% online

Doctorate X Bold Not offered

Student Charges

Tuition and Required Fees

Student Level In-state Out-of-state
Undergraduate $11,442 $41,196
Graduate $11,442 $26,544

Cost of Undergraduate Attendance

Costs based on full-time, first-time degree or certificate-seeking undergraduates for the 2020–2021 academic year.

Costs to Consider Price
Books and supplies $1,091
On-campus room and board $20,530
On-campus other expenses $5,595
Off-campus (not with family) room and board $15,638
Off-campus (not with family) other expenses $5,874
Off-campus (with family) other expenses $14,084

Total Undergraduate Cost

Total cost by category In-state Out-of-state
On-campus $38,658 $68,412
Off-campus without family $34,045 $63,799
Off-campus with family $26,617 $56,371

Financial Breakdown

Students Receiving Aid

Federal Grant Aid

32%

State Grant Aid

29%

Institution Grant Aid

48%

Pell Grant

21%

Average Aid Awarded

Federal Grant Aid $4,224
State Grant Aid $11,277
Institution Grant Aid $11,350
Pell Grant Aid $4,798

Financial Outlook

$13k

Average student debt after graduation

$58k

Average salary 6 years after starting school

Varsity Athletic Teams

NCAA Division I-FBS

of the overall student body is a member of an athletic team.

Participation

Men Women
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Beach Volleyball
  • Field Hockey
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Gymnastics
  • Lacrosse
  • Other Sports
  • Rowing
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming Diving
  • Tennis
  • Volleyball
  • Water Polo
  • All Track Combined

Degrees Awarded by Program

Degrees given for the 2020-2021 academic year.

1

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, And Related Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

2

Architecture And Related Services

BA

MA

DOC

3

Area, Ethnic, Cultural, And Gender Studies

BA

MA

DOC

4

Biological And Biomedical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

5

Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

6

Communication, Journalism, And Related Programs

BA

MA

DOC

7

Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services

BA

MA

DOC

8

Education

BA

MA

DOC

9

Engineering

BA

MA

DOC

10

English Language And Literature/Letters

BA

MA

DOC

11

Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics

BA

MA

DOC

12

Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

13

History

BA

MA

DOC

14

Legal Professions And Studies

BA

MA

DOC

15

Mathematics And Statistics

BA

MA

DOC

16

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies

BA

MA

DOC

17

Natural Resources And Conservation

BA

MA

DOC

18

Philosophy And Religious Studies

BA

MA

DOC

19

Physical Sciences

BA

MA

DOC

20

Psychology

BA

MA

DOC

21

Public Administration And Social Service Professions

BA

MA

DOC