DEEPCOLLEGES · OPS · v3.2 SCHOOLS·INDEXED 50 SOURCES IPEDS · CDS · SCORECARD LAST·SYNC 2026.04.28
CAMPUS · BERKELEY, CA · PUBLIC

UC Berkeley

University of California-Berkeley
11.7%
ACCEPT
01Acceptance 02Tuition 03Transfer 04ROI 05AP Credit 06Majors 07Housing 08International
54
FIT
REACH
UC Berkeley is a reach for most applicants.
Score reflects acceptance odds × cost × outcome quality.
ACCEPTANCE
11.7%
of 125,910 applicants
SALARY · 10-YR
across all majors
01

UC Berkeley at a Glance

11.7%
Acceptance Rate
48,230
Total Enrollment
27.0%
Pell Grant Rate

UC Berkeley Rankings

Ranking2025Year
US News National Universities #20 2025
QS World University Rankings #12 2025
THE World University Rankings #8 2025
ARWU (Shanghai) #5 2024
US News Best Public Universities #1 2025

UC Berkeley Overview

University of California-Berkeley is a public university in Berkeley, CA with 48,230 students. Its 11.7% acceptance rate places it among America's most selective universities. The most popular majors are Social Sciences, Computer Science, and Engineering.

Full NameUniversity of California-Berkeley
LocationBerkeley, CA 94720
TypePublic
Websiteberkeley.edu/
Total Enrollment48,230
Undergrad Enrollment34,306
Female Students55.4%

International Students at UC Berkeley: By the Numbers

12.9%
International Undergrads
4,436
International Undergrad Count
4,433
International Graduate Students
18.4%
International (All Students)

Cost of Attending UC Berkeley as an International Student

International students typically pay out-of-state tuition rates. Here's the full cost picture.

Room & Board$22,692/yr
Estimated 4-Year Total$90,768
Note for public universities: UC Berkeley is a public institution. International students pay out-of-state tuition, which is significantly higher than in-state rates. Financial aid for international students at public universities is limited.

How to Apply to UC Berkeley as an International Student

1
Meet English Proficiency Requirements
Most schools require TOEFL (typically 100+ iBT) or IELTS (7.0+). Some accept Duolingo English Test.
2
Submit Standardized Tests
3
Prepare Financial Documentation
You'll need proof of funds to cover tuition and living expenses.
4
Apply for F-1 Student Visa
After admission, UC Berkeley will issue a Form I-20. Use this to apply for an F-1 visa at your nearest U.S. embassy. Start the process 3-4 months before your program begins.

UC Berkeley Student Body Diversity

Diversity breakdown of UC Berkeley's undergraduate student body.

White
20.2%
Black/African American
2.1%
Hispanic/Latino
20.6%
Asian
34.7%
International
12.9%

UC Berkeley Programs & Graduate Salary

Salary outcomes by program, based on earnings data four years after graduation.

ProgramUS RankUC Berkeley SalaryNational MedianPremium
Computer Science #1 $117,450 $75,000 +57%
Engineering #3 $112,752 $72,000 +57%
Mathematics & Statistics $97,092 $62,000 +57%
Business #7 $79,750 $55,000 +45%
Health Professions $75,400 $52,000 +45%
Physical Sciences #2 $75,168 $48,000 +57%
Architecture $69,600 $48,000 +45%
Social Sciences #3 $65,250 $45,000 +45%
Legal Professions $65,250 $45,000 +45%
Biological Sciences #5 $60,900 $42,000 +45%
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies $60,900 $42,000 +45%
Natural Resources & Conservation $58,000 $40,000 +45%
Communication & Journalism $58,000 $40,000 +45%
History $58,000 $40,000 +45%
Foreign Languages & Linguistics $55,100 $38,000 +45%
Area/Ethnic/Cultural Studies $55,100 $38,000 +45%
Philosophy & Religious Studies $55,100 $38,000 +45%
Public Administration & Social Services $55,100 $38,000 +45%
Psychology $52,200 $36,000 +45%
English Language & Literature $52,200 $36,000 +45%
Visual & Performing Arts $49,300 $34,000 +45%

Popular Majors at UC Berkeley

Percentage of degrees awarded by field.

Social Sciences
18.2%
Computer Science
16.4%
Engineering
11.0%
Biological Sciences
9.5%
Multidisciplinary
5.0%
Mathematics/Statistics
4.6%
Natural Resources
4.5%
Business/Marketing
4.1%
Psychology
3.7%
Physical Sciences
3.3%
Visual/Performing Arts
3.0%
English/Literature
2.7%
Communication
2.5%
Legal Studies
2.2%

Student Demographics

White
20.2%
Black/African American
2.1%
Hispanic/Latino
20.6%
Asian
34.7%
International
12.9%

How to Get Into UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley is a Reach school for nearly all applicants. Beyond grades and scores, UC Berkeley wants to see intellectual curiosity, leadership, and a clear sense of purpose in your application. Have 2-3 realistic backup schools — even perfect-on-paper students get denied here.

11.7%
Acceptance Rate
125,910
Total Applicants

What UC Berkeley Values Most in Applicants

Admission factor importance from the Common Data Set — what the school officially says matters.

FactorImportance
Academic Gpa Very Important
Rigor Of Secondary School Record Very Important
Class Rank Considered
Standardized Test Scores Considered
Application Essay Very Important
Recommendation Not Considered
Extracurricular Activities Very Important
Talent Ability Very Important
Character Personal Qualities Very Important
First Generation Important
Alumni Relation Not Considered
Interview Not Considered
Work Experience Important
Volunteer Work Important

UC Berkeley Application Deadlines & Requirements

Key dates for the UC Berkeley UC admission cycle. Mark these on your calendar — missing a deadline means waiting another year.

DeadlineDate
Regular DecisionNov 30
Financial Aid (FAFSA/CSS)Mar 2
UC System: All University of California campuses share the same application deadline. Submit one UC Application for all UC schools.

Financial Aid & Student Debt

27.0%
Pell Grant Recipients
Students from low-income families

Frequently Asked Questions About UC Berkeley

What is UC Berkeley's acceptance rate?
UC Berkeley has an acceptance rate of 11.7%, making it extremely selective. This rate reflects freshman applicants for the most recent admissions cycle.
What are the most popular majors at UC Berkeley?
The most popular majors at UC Berkeley by degrees awarded are: Social Sciences (18.2%), Computer Science (16.4%), Engineering (11.0%), Biological Sciences (9.5%), Multidisciplinary (5.0%). These percentages reflect undergraduate degrees conferred in the most recent reporting year.
Can I transfer to UC Berkeley?
UC Berkeley accepts transfer students, though the process is highly selective. Transfer applicants typically need a strong college GPA (3.5+), relevant coursework, and compelling reasons for transferring. The transfer acceptance rate is generally lower than freshman admission at selective schools.
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More About UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley Acceptance Rate UC Berkeley Tuition & Cost Transfer to UC Berkeley UC Berkeley Salary & ROI UC Berkeley AP Credit Best Majors at UC Berkeley UC Berkeley Housing International at UC Berkeley

Other Colleges in CA

Caltech
3.1% accept · Pasadena
Stanford University
3.9% accept · Stanford
UCLA
9.0% accept · Los Angeles
USC
10.0% accept · Los Angeles
UC San Diego
24.5% accept · La Jolla
UC Irvine
25.6% accept · Irvine

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, IPEDS. UC Berkeley is not affiliated with DeepColleges.