#20 in the world · QS 2027

University of California, Berkeley

The University of California's founding campus: a large public research university on San Francisco Bay.

Berkeley, California, United States Public research university Founded 1868 Official website

See my chances at UC Berkeley Admissions office

Acceptance rate: 11%; Fall 2026 first-year admits (enrollment estimate as of August 2026)
Students: 46,658; 33,513 undergraduates
Student–faculty: 19.4:1; ratio
Tuition: $57,484; 2026-27
Founded: 1868

About UC Berkeley

Berkeley was founded in 1868 as the first campus of the University of California. It is a big public university: about 33,500 undergraduates and 13,100 graduate students in fall 2025, around 400 degree programs and 14.6 million library volumes. Berkeley alumni and faculty hold about 60 Nobel Prizes, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, managed by the University of California, sits in the hills above campus; 16 chemical elements were discovered at Berkeley.

Undergraduates apply to one of the undergraduate colleges, including the College of Letters and Science (the largest), the College of Engineering, the College of Chemistry, the College of Environmental Design, the Rausser College of Natural Resources and the new College of Computing, Data Science, and Society. The Haas School of Business and the Goldman School of Public Policy are among its professional schools. Classes can be large in introductory subjects, and the student-faculty ratio is about 19 to 1, so students who seek out office hours, research and smaller seminars get the most out of it.

Berkeley suits independent, self-motivated students who want top-tier academics at public-university prices (if they are California residents) and a politically engaged campus with a long activist history. Admission does not use SAT or ACT scores.

Fiat lux

“Let there be light” — university motto

Why students choose UC Berkeley

California residents pay $18,214 in tuition and fees in 2026-27, and most California families earning up to $100,000 have tuition covered under the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan.

Research access through Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and a campus where 16 chemical elements were discovered.

The College of Computing, Data Science, and Society and the College of Engineering sit at the centre of the Bay Area tech economy.

A test-free admissions process: SAT and ACT scores are not considered.

Admissions

Fall 2026 first-year admits (enrollment estimate as of August 2026)

About 1 in 10 applicants is admitted

13,992 admitted from 133,157 applicants

Berkeley's student profile rounds the fall 2026 first-year admit rate to 11%. For fall 2025 the Common Data Set reports 14,524 admits from 126,864 applicants. Admission is considerably more competitive for nonresidents and in high-demand majors.

Testing Not used: Berkeley is test-free and does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission; submitted scores may be used for placement after admission.

Grades Middle 50% of fall 2026 first-year admits: unweighted GPA 3.90-4.00, weighted GPA 4.36-4.72.

Typical entry requirements

UC A-G subject requirements	Completion of the University of California's required high-school course pattern; grades are self-reported on the UC application and verified after admission.
English language	IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 90 For international applicants without three years of English-medium instruction: TOEFL 90 (4.5 on the new scale), IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 115, or qualifying AP/IB English, ACT English 24 or SAT Writing and Language 31. Scores due by January 31.

Deadlines

UC application filing period Non-binding Next deadline · In 55 days

November 30, 2026

Filing period October 1 to November 30, 2026 for fall 2027. Decisions at the end of March; Statement of Intent to Register due May 1.

There is no early round; all first-year applicants file during the single UC filing period.

How to apply

University of California application (one application for all UC campuses); four of eight Personal Insight Questions at up to 350 words each; self-reported grades and activities; no SAT/ACT; no transcripts or recommendations at application, though selected applicants may be invited to submit up to two letters of recommendation by January 10.

What admissions looks for

Holistic review in which no one piece of information is weighted more heavily than another.
Academic achievement in rigorous coursework, including grades, course rigor and AP/IB results, read in the context of your school.
Personal qualities such as leadership, motivation and character, and exemplary, sustained achievement in any field.
Applicants most likely to contribute to Berkeley's intellectual and cultural community, and ultimately to California, the nation and the world.

Tips for applying to UC Berkeley

1 The Personal Insight Questions carry a lot of weight in a test-free, transcript-free review: answer four of eight in up to 350 words each, with concrete examples.
2 Report grades carefully: they are self-reported and verified after admission, and discrepancies can lead to a rescinded offer.
3 If you are invited to submit letters of recommendation, do it: they are optional but highly recommended and due January 10.
4 Out-of-state and international applicants should budget for Nonresident Supplemental Tuition of $39,270 a year on top of standard tuition and fees.

What are your chances?

Costs & financial aid

2026-27 · figures in USD

California residents (tuition and fees) Tuition $18,214

+ residence hall housing ($16,640) and meal plan ($7,000) $23,640 ≈ $41,854 per year

Nonresidents: tuition and fees plus $39,270 Nonresident Supplemental Tuition Tuition $57,484

+ residence hall housing ($16,640) and meal plan ($7,000) $23,640 ≈ $81,124 per year

Tuition Residence hall housing ($16,640) and meal plan ($7,000)

Official cost of attendance $54,674

Financial aid

Under the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan, most California families earning up to $100,000 receive enough grants and scholarships to cover UC tuition, and tuition is fixed for up to six years from entry. Need-based aid is aimed mainly at California residents; Berkeley lists a limited set of scholarship opportunities for international students.

$93,944
Total cost of attendance, nonresidents (2026-27): UC tuition typically covered (Blue and Gold)
California families earning up to $100,000: 29%
Undergraduates receiving Pell Grants

Academics

Academic calendar: Semesters

Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS)

The program where Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt studied.

Chemistry

Berkeley has its own College of Chemistry, and 16 chemical elements were discovered at the university.

Data Science

Taught through the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society, one of Berkeley's newest colleges.

Haas School of Business

Berkeley's business school, offering an undergraduate business program.

English

Alumni include the writer Joan Didion (B.A. 1956).

Research

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, managed by the University of California.
16 chemical elements discovered at Berkeley.
UC Berkeley libraries with more than 14.6 million volumes.

Schools & faculties

College of Letters and Science
College of Engineering
College of Chemistry
College of Computing, Data Science, and Society
College of Environmental Design
Rausser College of Natural Resources
Haas School of Business
Goldman School of Public Policy
School of Information
School of Law
School of Public Health
School of Education

Graduation rate

94%

First-year students who return

97%

Student life

Berkeley's campus is centred on Sather Tower (the Campanile), Sproul Plaza and Memorial Glade, and student life spills into the city streets around it. The campus is famous for its activism, dating to the Free Speech Movement of 1964, and more than 300 community organizations involve Berkeley students. Cal teams compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference and have won 104 national championships, and the Big Game against Stanford is the biggest football date of the year.

The Big Game, the football rivalry with Stanford.
Sather Tower, the Campanile, at the centre of campus.
The legacy of the 1964 Free Speech Movement at Sproul Plaza.
104 national championships won by Cal teams; NCAA Division I in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Location

Berkeley is a lively, compact city on the east side of San Francisco Bay, known for its food, bookstores and politics. BART trains from Downtown Berkeley reach San Francisco in about 25 minutes, and Silicon Valley is within reach for internships. The hills behind campus have hiking trails and views of the Golden Gate. Housing in the Bay Area is expensive and competitive, so plan early.

Nearest airport: Oakland International Airport (OAK); San Francisco International Airport (SFO) for international flights

Notable alumni

SW
Steve Wozniak

Apple co-founder; EECS degree, completed 1986 and awarded 1987
GM
Gordon Moore

Intel co-founder and author of Moore's law; bachelor's degree in chemistry 1950
EW
Earl Warren

Chief Justice of the United States; B.A. and Bachelor of Laws (1914)
JD
Joan Didion

Writer; B.A. in English 1956
ES
Eric Schmidt

Former CEO of Google; M.S. 1979 and Ph.D. 1982 in EECS
GP
Gregory Peck

Academy Award-winning actor; studied at Berkeley, leaving one course short of a degree

Frequently asked questions

What is UC Berkeley's acceptance rate?

Berkeley admitted 13,992 of 133,157 first-year applicants for fall 2026, about 10.5% (Berkeley's student profile rounds this to 11%). Rates are lower for nonresidents and competitive majors.

Does UC Berkeley require the SAT or ACT?

No. Berkeley is test-free and does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions.

When is the UC Berkeley application deadline?

The UC application must be submitted between October 1 and November 30, 2026 for fall 2027 entry. There is no early action or early decision.

How much does UC Berkeley cost for out-of-state and international students?

For 2026-27, nonresidents living on campus have an estimated cost of attendance of $93,944, including $39,270 in Nonresident Supplemental Tuition. California residents' cost is $54,674.

What GPA do you need for UC Berkeley?

The middle 50% of fall 2026 admits had unweighted GPAs of 3.90-4.00 and weighted GPAs of 4.36-4.72.

Sources & methodology

Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.