UC Berkeley: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, California · Public · Highly selective · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-blind
- 126,864
- Applicants
- 14,524
- Admitted11%
- 6,687
- Enrolled
- 46%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Highly selective11% admittedRanked #20 (tie) in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #2 (tie), Business Programs #3, Computer Science #4, Psychology Programs #2 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by University of California-Berkeley (see the source), read on 2026-09-06. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.
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UC Berkeley is a public university in Berkeley, California that admits about 11% of applicants, making it a highly selective school. The average family pays about $13,481 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Computer Science, Economics and Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 94% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 22.9 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
UC Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, California and one of the highly selective schools in the country. For the most recent reporting cycle, UC Berkeley admits between 1 in 10 and 1 in 4 applicants, with an overall admission rate of 11%. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $13,481 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What parents should know about UC Berkeley right now
UC Berkeley remains one of the most sought-after public universities in the country. For the fall 2024 entering class, Berkeley admitted 13,714 students out of 124,245 applicants, an 11 percent admit rate, with enrolled freshmen averaging an unweighted 3.90 GPA. Parents should know Berkeley has been test-blind since 2021, meaning SAT and ACT scores are not considered at all in the review. Roughly 27 percent of admitted students receive federal Pell Grants, and Berkeley participates in California's Middle Class Scholarship, which can offset costs for in-state families with incomes and assets below state-set thresholds, provided the FAFSA or California Dream Act application is filed by the March 2 deadline. Academically, Berkeley is organized into 15 schools and colleges with more than 350 degree programs, anchored by the Haas School of Business, the College of Engineering, and a graduate school portfolio that includes top-ranked computer science, chemistry, and economics. Federal research funding has topped $1 billion in recent years, and the campus library system is the sixth largest by volume in the United States. Recent campus life has been shaped by spring 2024 protests related to the Gaza conflict and a 2025 federal civil-rights review focused on antisemitism allegations, both of which prompted updated student-conduct guidance. Families weighing Berkeley should plan around its size, the test-blind policy, and the structured timing of California-specific aid applications.
What GPA does my child need for UC Berkeley?
90% of enrolled students at UC Berkeley had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.9, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
Compare UC Berkeley with the other schools on your list
Open UC Berkeley in College Search to set it beside up to three other colleges on cost, admission odds and outcomes, and save it to a shortlist when you are ready.
What does UC Berkeley weight in admissions?
UC Berkeley reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
3- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
- Application essay
Important
4- Extracurricular activities
- Character/personal qualities
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Considered
5- Standardized test scores
- Recommendations
- Talent/ability
- First generation status
- State residency
Not Considered
6- Class rank
- Interview
- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores UC Berkeley typically admits
Many applicants to schools in this tier submit test scores, though the policy varies by year, so check the latest test-optional status before deciding.
- • Test-blind: UC Berkeley does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if submitted.
- • UC is test-free: SAT/ACT not used anywhere in admission. Submitted scores used only for placement or credit after admission.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on UC Berkeley's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
How much does UC Berkeley actually cost?
Published tuition is $16,347 for in-state students and $50,547 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $23,750 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $13,481 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 29% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $14,202 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $53,472 |
| Room and board | $25,962 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $13,481 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 88% |
| Average need-based grant | $36,226 |
| Average merit award, no financial need233 first-year students received one | $16,030 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 26% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $18,653 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $80 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for UC Berkeley
| Regular deadline | 2026-11-30 |
| Notification date | 2026-03-31 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
Will my child graduate from UC Berkeley?
These predict outcomes at UC Berkeley better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at UC Berkeley
The most popular undergraduate programs at UC Berkeley, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Computer Science, Economics and Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences. Across all programs, UC Berkeley confers roughly 4,914 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Computer Science program report a median income of about $225,140 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 848 | $225,140 |
| Economics | 799 | $125,636 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 767 | $70,181 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | 669 | n/a |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 528 | $240,462 |
| Political Science and Government | 464 | $78,026 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 430 | $89,932 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 409 | $145,003 |
Is UC Berkeley safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), UC Berkeley disclosed 756 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 22.9 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 119 violent offenses and 59 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at UC Berkeley?
About 30% of undergraduates at UC Berkeley live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 3% of men join a fraternity and 7% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in California parents ask about
- University of California-Los Angeles9% acceptance
- University of Southern California10% acceptance
- University of California-Davis42% acceptance
- University of California-Irvine29% acceptance
- University of California-San Diego27% acceptance
- University of California-Santa Barbara33% acceptance
- University of California-Santa Cruz66% acceptance
- University of California-Riverside76% acceptance
Next steps for UC Berkeley
Common questions parents ask about UC Berkeley
What GPA do I need for UC Berkeley?
90% of enrolled students at UC Berkeley had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.9, according to its 2025-2026 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does UC Berkeley typically admit?
UC Berkeley is test-blind: SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admission decisions, even if you submit them. There is no score range because scores are not read.
How much does UC Berkeley actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at UC Berkeley after grants and scholarships is $13,481 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $16,347 and $50,547 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is UC Berkeley realistic for my child?
UC Berkeley admits 11% of applicants, so the transcript and course rigour carry the decision, with no published score band to place against. Then check the $13,481 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at UC Berkeley?
UC Berkeley accepts about 11% of applicants out of roughly 126,864 who apply each year. That makes it a highly selective school.
Is UC Berkeley test-optional?
UC Berkeley is test-blind for Fall 2027 applicants: it does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if you submit them.
What is the graduation rate at UC Berkeley?
About 94% of students at UC Berkeley graduate within six years, and 81% finish in four years. 97% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does UC Berkeley look for in applicants?
UC Berkeley rates course rigor, GPA and the application essay as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is UC Berkeley a public or private school, and where is it located?
UC Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, California.
What are the most popular majors at UC Berkeley?
The largest undergraduate majors at UC Berkeley by annual graduates are Computer Science, Economics and Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences. The school awards about 4,914 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is UC Berkeley safe? What is its campus crime rate?
UC Berkeley reported 756 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 22.9 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at UC Berkeley?
At UC Berkeley, 30% of undergraduates live on campus, 3% of men are in fraternities, 7% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by University of California-Berkeley, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers