University of California, Berkeley

University of California, Berkeley Overview

University of California, Berkeley is a public school in the city of Berkeley, California. UC Berkeley was founded in 1868 and the school now enrolls around 45,435 students per year, which includes 32,143 undergraduates. UC Berkeley ensures on-campus housing for students. Most students live in off campus housing.

📆 Mark your calendar! November 30, 2023 is the final deadline to submit an application for the Fall 2023 semester. Regular decision applicants for Fall 2023 should find out if they have been admitted by March 31.

Student Activities at UC Berkeley

Are you interested in music or performing? At UC Berkeley you can join a campus band, sing in a chorus, or perform with one of the school'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.

Interested in Greek life? UC Berkeley has both 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.

Is UC Berkeley a Good School?

The definition of a "good school" can mean different things for different people. Admissions criteria, acceptance rate and average GPA are good indicators of how selective an institution is.

Let's take a closer look at these areas to get a clearer sense of what UC Berkeley offers and if the school might be the right college for you.

2022 Acceptance Rate for University of California, Berkeley

The acceptance rate at UC Berkeley is 14%. Last year, 109,597 students applied to UC Berkeley and 15,852 were admitted.

Retention and Graduation Rates at UC Berkeley

Retention refers to the number of students that stay enrolled at a school over time. Retention measures how satisfied students are with their school experience, and if they have the support necessary to succeed in college.

Approximately 96% of first-year, full-time undergrads who start at UC Berkeleyreturn for their sophomore year. Around 93% of students who started at UC Berkeley earn their Bachelor's degrees within six years. The average six-year graduation rate for U.S. colleges and universities is 61% for public schools, and 67% for private, non-profit schools.

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 78.5% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $27,708 a year.

Graduates in the class of 2022 had an average of $17,511 in student loans per borrower. For context, compare this number with the average national debt, which is around $36,000 per borrower.

The 2023-2024 FAFSA Opened on October 1st, 2022

Some aid is awarded 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! No one should ever pay to fill out 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, does UC Berkeley seem like a good fit? Remember, a school that is perfect 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.

Still Looking for Schools?

To learn more about UC Berkeley, choose from the options below:

Admissions

Student Life

Academics

Tuition & Aid

UC Berkeley Community Forums

Then use the college admissions predictor to take a data science look at your chances of getting into some of the top schools in the U.S.

Where is University of California, Berkeley Located?

UC Berkeley is located in the urban setting of Berkeley, California, in the suburbs of San Francisco.

If you are interested in seeing UC Berkeley for yourself, be sure to 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 Colleges and Universities in California?

See a full list of colleges in California and save your favorites to your college list.