Berkeley: What the Numbers Actually Say
The oldest University of California campus keeps the odd habit of being judged like a private school and funded like a public one. Judged that way, it holds up strangely well: graduate earnings within reach of the Ivy League, a graduation rate most privates would take, and an admissions filing that rewards something almost nobody else rewards — the job you held and the hours you volunteered.
Berkeley admitted 11.4% of 126,864 applicants. The average net price after aid is $13,481, the median graduate leaves owing $13,000, and ten years after enrolling the median student earns $92,446 — more than at 96.9% of American colleges.
At a glance
| University of California, Berkeley | US median | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Berkeley, CA | |
| Undergraduates | 33,513 | |
| Acceptance rate | 11.4% | |
| Applicants / admits | 126,864 / 14,524 | |
| Student–faculty ratio | 18.2:1 | |
| Average net price after aid | $13,481 | $20,150 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $92,446 | $53,038 |
| Median debt at graduation | $13,000 | $23,000 |
US medians are across every college reporting the figure to the College Scorecard — roughly 1,700 for net price and 1,800 for earnings.
Admissions: what Berkeley says it weighs
Berkeley drew 126,864 applications and admitted 14,524 — 11.4%. There is no early round and nothing binding; every application arrives through the University of California system.
| Application factor | University of California, Berkeley says | How common that is |
|---|---|---|
| Academic GPA | Very important | 91% of schools say the same |
| Application Essay | Very important | 34% of schools say the same |
| Rigor of secondary school record | Very important | 87% of schools say the same |
| Character/personal qualities | Important | only 22% of schools say the same |
| Extracurricular activities | Important | 29% of schools say the same |
| Recommendation(s) | Important | 28% of schools say the same |
| Standardized test scores | Important | 37% of schools say the same |
| State residency | Important | only 4% of schools say the same |
| Talent/ability | Important | only 24% of schools say the same |
| Volunteer work | Important | only 7% of schools say the same |
| Work experience | Important | only 6% of schools say the same |
| Alumni/ae relation | Considered | 40% of schools say the same |
| Class rank | Considered | only 18% of schools say the same |
| First generation | Considered | 65% of schools say the same |
| Geographical residence | Considered | 34% of schools say the same |
| Interview | Considered | 41% of schools say the same |
| Level of applicant's interest | Considered | 45% of schools say the same |
| Religious affiliation/commitment | Not considered | 89% of schools say the same |
The school’s own ratings from its Common Data Set filing, set against the 362 filings in our dataset. Bold rows are ratings fewer than a quarter of schools share — the places this school’s process is genuinely unusual. Declared weight is not submission policy; requirements change year to year and should be checked directly.
Three bold rows appear on almost no other filing in the country. Berkeley rates work experience important — 6% of schools do — and volunteer work important, which 7% do. State residency is rated important too, which only 4% of schools declare and which reflects its mandate as California’s public flagship. The reading: responsibility carried outside the classroom counts here in a way it simply does not at most selective schools.
Cost: public pricing, by income
The average net price after aid is $13,481 — cheaper than 78.9% of American colleges. Berkeley reports meeting 88.4% of demonstrated need, with an average first-year need-based award of $36,226.
| Family income | University of California, Berkeley | US median |
|---|---|---|
| Under $30,000 | $5,311 / year | $15,238 |
| $30,000 – $48,000 | $6,501 / year | $15,431 |
| $48,000 – $75,000 | $9,693 / year | $17,510 |
| $75,000 – $110,000 | $15,074 / year | $21,308 |
| Over $110,000 | $34,529 / year | $25,893 |
Average net price actually paid by aided US students at each income level, from the College Scorecard. Sticker price is what almost nobody at these income levels pays.
These averages blend California residents with far higher-paying out-of-state students — about one first-year in five comes from outside California — so they overstate the typical in-state price and understate the out-of-state one.
26.1% of students borrow, and the median graduate leaves owing $13,000 — lower than roughly nine in ten US colleges.
Outcomes
Median earnings, 10 years after entry · US median $53,038
Earnings of students from the lowest-income third · US median $42,600
Average net price after aid · US median $20,150
Median debt at graduation · US median $23,000
Bar length is the share of US colleges this school beats on each measure; the tick marks the national median. Price and debt are inverted, so a longer bar is always the better outcome. Source: College Scorecard.
The earnings figure is the public-university benchmark: a median $92,446 ten years after entry, the highest of any public school on this site and within a few thousand dollars of several Ivies. Berkeley posts it while enrolling 28.6% of undergraduates on Pell Grants and 34.6% first-generation students.
97% of first-years return and 93.7% graduate within six years, across 33,513 undergraduates on an 18.2:1 student–faculty ratio. 90% of first-years live on campus, and Greek life is small — 3.2% of men and 7.1% of women.
How University of California, Berkeley compares
Frequently asked questions
What is Berkeley’s acceptance rate?
11.4%. Berkeley received 126,864 applications and admitted 14,524 students. UCLA, for comparison, admits a smaller share from a larger pool — most applicants apply to both on one UC application.
How much does Berkeley actually cost?
An average $13,481 a year after aid. A California family earning under $30,000 pays about $5,311; from $75,000 to $110,000, about $15,074. Out-of-state students pay substantially more than these blended averages show.
Do Berkeley graduates earn more?
The most of any public university on this site: a median $92,446 ten years after enrolling, higher than at 96.9% of US colleges and within a few thousand dollars of several Ivy League schools.
Does work experience really matter at Berkeley?
By its own filing, yes — Berkeley rates work experience important, a weight only 6% of schools declare, and volunteer work at 7%. A part-time job or real responsibility outside school counts here more than almost anywhere.
Is Berkeley harder to get into than UCLA?
Statistically, no. Berkeley admits 11.4% of applicants while UCLA admits 9.4% from a larger pool. Both read the same University of California application, and most students simply apply to both campuses.
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