University of California Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)

Last updated: June 29, 2026 Source: College Scorecard

University of California-Berkeley (UC Berkeley) is a public research university in Berkeley, California, enrolling about 33,068 students. Admission is selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 10.98% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $92,446 among students who received federal aid.

Key Facts

  • 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $16,347
  • 2024 Average Net Price: $13,481 After Financial Aid
  • 2024 Acceptance Rate: 10.98% Selective
  • 2024 Enrolled Students: 33,068 95.5% Full-Time
  • 2024 Graduation Rate: 92.84%
  • Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
  • First-Generation Students: 34.6%
  • Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 3.2% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 13.8% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
  • Full-Time Faculty: 69.6%
  • Undergraduate Enrollment: 34,998
  • Applicants (IPEDS): 125,910
  • Room & Board: $23,750 annual estimate

University of California-Berkeley: what the data shows

Common questions about University of California-Berkeley, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.

Where is University of California-Berkeley?

University of California-Berkeley is located in Berkeley, CA (ZIP 94720).

NCES locale classification: Suburb.

Is University of California-Berkeley public or private?

University of California-Berkeley is a Public institution.

How much does University of California-Berkeley cost?

Published tuition: $16,347 in-state, $50,547 out-of-state.

Average net price after aid: $13,481.

Family income bandAvg. net price
Family income $0–$30,000$5,311
$30,001–$48,000$6,501
$48,001–$75,000$9,693
$75,001–$110,000$15,074
$110,001+$34,529

Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $65,388.

How hard is it to get into University of California-Berkeley?

Admission rate: 10.98%.

Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.

How big is University of California-Berkeley?

Total enrollment: 33,068 students.

Undergraduate enrollment: 34,998 students.

Graduate enrollment: 12,812 students.

About 95% enroll full-time in our extract.

What is the graduation rate at University of California-Berkeley?

150%-time completion rate: 92.84%.

First-year retention: 96.8%.

What do graduates of University of California-Berkeley earn?

Median earnings: $74,919 six years after entry; $92,446 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).

How much debt do students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers: $13,000.

28.64% of students receive Pell grants.

What is University of California-Berkeley known for?

Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:

See ROI & Programs for more.

Is University of California-Berkeley a good school?

We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 10.98%; completion rate 92.84%; median earnings $92,446 at 10 years; net price $13,481. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.

Tuition & Cost

Tuition Costs

$16,347
2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at University of California-Berkeley was $16,347.

Tuition comparison with similar institutions.

Average Net Price

$13,481
2024 Value

In 2024 University of California-Berkeley had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $13,481.

Average net price comparison with similar institutions.

Total Cost of Attendance

$53,924 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost

$13,481 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)

$65,388 4-Year In-State Tuition

$202,188 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition

$23,750 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)

$1,131 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)

$41,228 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)

$164,912 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)

4-year total cost breakdown for University of California-Berkeley.

Financial Aid by Income Level

28.64% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

16.83% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

Financial aid distribution by income level.

Student Loan Default Rate

0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)

The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at University of California-Berkeley was 0.00%.

Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.

Tuition tracker

Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for University of California-Berkeley in that year.

Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).

Year In-state tuition & fees Out-of-state tuition & fees Average net price
2013$12,864$35,742$13,769
2014$12,972$35,850$13,707
2015$13,431$38,139$13,197
2016$13,509$40,191$14,468
2017$14,170$42,184$15,430
2018$14,184$43,176$14,846
2019$14,253$44,007$15,329
2020$14,312$44,066$16,032
2021$14,226$43,980$15,240
2022$14,395$44,467$17,371
2023$14,850$45,627$14,979

Sticker tuition and net price over time

Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.

College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).

Net price by family income

Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).

Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.

Acceptance Rate & Admissions

Acceptance Rate

10.98% Acceptance Rate

125,910 Total Applicants

14,677 Students Admitted

6,641 First-Time Students Enrolled

45.25% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)

This institution is highly selective, accepting fewer than 3 in 10 applicants.

Acceptance rate compared to national average.

Test Scores

Test score data is not available for this institution.

Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.

Academic Requirements

GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.

Estimated GPA and test score ranges.

Enrollment & Student Demographics

University of California-Berkeley reported total enrollment of about 33,068 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 44% male and 56% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Asian (35.4%), Hispanic or Latino (22.1%), and White (19.8%). About 28.64% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 34.6% of students are first-generation college students.

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

95.5% Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at University of California-Berkeley in 2024 is 33,068 students.

Undergraduate enrollment is about 34,998 students. Graduate enrollment is about 12,812 students.

Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.

Retention Rate over Time

96.8%
2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.

Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is Asian at 35.4%.

Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).

College Scorecard student demographics.

Graduates & Outcomes

Time to Complete

79.91% 100% Completion Time

92.84% 150% Completion Time

In 2024, 79.91% of students graduating from University of California-Berkeley completed their program within 100% "normal time".

Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.

Completions by Sex (Top Programs)

  • Computer Science: 72% male / 28% female
  • Computer and Information Sciences, Other: 56% male / 44% female
  • Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology: 37% male / 63% female

IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).

Completions by Race & Ethnicity

Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: Asian.

Summed across program completion records in our extract.

ROI & Programs

Financial value and program information for University of California-Berkeley.

Return on Investment

$13,000 Median Student Debt

$92,446 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)

14.06% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio

1614.38% Return on Investment

1.4 years Estimated Payback Period

Financial value analysis for University of California-Berkeley.

Top Programs by Completions

10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 128 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).

1. Computer Science: 940 completions

2. Computer and Information Sciences, Other: 841 completions

3. Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology: 781 completions

4. Electrical and Electronics Engineering: 728 completions

5. Econometrics and Quantitative Economics: 707 completions

6. Information Science/Studies: 659 completions

7. Management Science: 583 completions

8. Public Health, General: 516 completions

9. Mechanical Engineering: 447 completions

Most popular programs at University of California-Berkeley.

Employment Outcomes

Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.

Earnings outcomes for University of California-Berkeley graduates.

Operations

Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for University of California-Berkeley from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).

Instructional Resources

  • Full-time faculty share: 69.6%
  • Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $21,246
  • Instructional expenditure per FTE: $23,741

Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.

Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.

About

University of California-Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, CA, classified as Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Computer Science, Computer and Information Sciences, Other, Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology. Enrollment is approximately 33,068 students. Student body composition includes Asian (35.4%), Hispanic or Latino (22.1%), White (19.8%). It is highly selective, with an admission rate of 10.98%. The 150%-time completion rate is 92.84%. Approximately 28.64% of students receive Pell Grants. About 34.6% of students are first-generation college students.

Institution Type

Public

Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity

Location

Berkeley, CA 94720

Region: Far West

Insights and Analysis

Exceptional Graduation Rate: With a 92.84% graduation rate, University of California-Berkeley demonstrates strong student retention and completion. This rate significantly exceeds the national average, indicating effective academic support and student services.

Strong Career Outcomes: University of California-Berkeley graduates report median earnings of $92,446 ten years after entry, placing them among the higher-earning college graduates nationally. This strong earnings potential reflects both the quality of education and the career opportunities available to graduates.

Diverse Program Offerings: With over 128 distinct degree programs, University of California-Berkeley provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is UC Berkeley located?

University of California-Berkeley is located in Berkeley, CA. The institution is also known as UC Berkeley.

What is UC Berkeley's acceptance rate?

The acceptance rate at University of California-Berkeley (UC Berkeley) is 11.0% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 125,910 applicants and 14,677 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.

How much does UC Berkeley cost?

Reported tuition is $16,347 and average net price is $13,481 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $23,750 annually.

What is the student body demographics at UC Berkeley?

University of California-Berkeley reports undergraduate enrollment of about 34,998 students, Asian (35.4%), Hispanic or Latino (22.1%) in federal College Scorecard data.

How many first-generation students attend UC Berkeley?

About 34.6% of students at University of California-Berkeley are first-generation college students.

What do graduates of University of California-Berkeley earn?

Median earnings are $74,919 six years after entry and $92,446 ten years after entry.

What is the graduation rate at University of California-Berkeley?

The 150%-time completion rate is 92.8% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.

How much debt do University of California-Berkeley students have?

Median federal loan debt among completers is $13,000.

Is University of California-Berkeley public or private?

University of California-Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, CA.

Is University of California-Berkeley an HBCU?

No. University of California-Berkeley is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.

Is University of California-Berkeley a tribal college?

No. University of California-Berkeley is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.

Is University of California-Berkeley a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?

Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, University of California-Berkeley does not meet that proxy (reported share 22.1%).

Data Sources

This page uses data from the following sources:

  • Berkeley, California city profile
  • Far West regional profile
  • All state profiles
  • Regional profiles
  • National benchmarks
  • School directory
  • All schools in California

    • Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.

    Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.

    Methodology

    Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.

    All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.