Overview of University of California at Berkeley (Berkeley)

The University of California Berkeley is a large public institution that is highly selective. The institution has a large selection of undergraduate and graduate degree programs for students to select from. A robust student/faculty ratio backs students, and professors take a personalized approach to the teaching and learning process. Outside of the classroom, students will find plenty of opportunities to engage with the campus community via the university’s many clubs and organizations.

Enrollment

• Total Enrollment: 42,501 (30,853 undergraduates)
• Gender Breakdown: 47 percent male/53 percent female
• 96 percent full-time

Cost of Attendance Information

• Tuition and Fees: $14,184 (in-state); $43,176 (out-of-state)
• Books: $870
• Room and Board: $18,754
• Other Expenses: $5,148
• Total Cost: $38,956 (in-state); $67,948 (out-of-state)

Financial Aid Information

• Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 60 percent
• Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
  • Grants: 49 percent
  • Loans: 21 percent

• Average Amount of Aid
  • Grants: $18,993
  • Loans: $5,627

Academic Programs Offered

• Most Popular Majors: Social Sciences; Engineering; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies; and Natural Resources and Conservation

Retention and Graduation

• First-Year Student Retention (full-time students): 97 percent
• 4-Year Graduation Rate: 74 percent
• 6-Year Graduation Rate: 91 percent

NCAA Athletic Programs

• Men’s Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Crew-Rowing, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Rugby, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Water Polo
• Women’s Sports: Baseball, Basketball, Crew-Rowing, Field Hockey, Golf, Gymnastics, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Volleyball, Water Polo
• The California Golden Bears play in the NCAA Division I Pacific-12 Conference (Pac-12).

Overview of University of California at Berkeley (Berkeley) Admissions

University of California, Davis, has an extremely selective admissions procedure. Students whose SAT/ACT scores and GPA are within the institution’s requirements have a good chance of being admitted. Applicants must complete an online application and send test scores from either the SAT or ACT and high school transcripts. Glowing recommendation letters can bolster your application, along with being involved with student organizations and attempting a challenging course load. Students with unique talents and accomplishments can still receive strong consideration even if their GPAs are outside of the admissions offices mean range. After applying, students will receive a message from an admissions counselor about the application process’s next steps. Interested students should check out the university’s website, which has helpful tips and contact information for the admissions offices.

Admissions Data                        

For students who entered the University of California Berkeley in the 2018-19 academic year, the university had an acceptance rate of 15%. For every 15 students who gained admission, 85 students received rejection letters.

SAT Requirements and Scores

50% of Berkeley’s students scored between a 650 and 740 on the exam’s evidence-based reading portion. This means 25% of students got a 650 or lower, and the top 25% scored a 740 or higher. The math test scores were even higher, with the middle 50% scoring between 670 and 790. The bottom 25% got a 670 or lower, while the top 25% scored either a 790 or perfect 800. The most competitive applicants have a cumulative SAT score of 1450 or higher.

ACT Requirements and Scores

Compared to all test-takers nationally, Berkeley students tend to be in the top 5%. The middle 50% of Berkeley’s students scored between 31 and 35 on the exam. This means 25% of applicants scored a 31 or lower, while 25% scored a 35 or higher on the upper end. The most competitive applicants will be in this top quartile.

GPA and Class Rank

The mean high school GPA of all first-year students enrolled at Berkeley in the 2018-19 academic year was 3.91. 97.4% of all students had GPAs of 3.50 or higher. This suggests that you will be competitive for admission only if most of your grades are in the “A” range. Class rank numbers are also extremely high. 98% of students were in the top 10% of their high school class, and 100% were in the top 25%.

Safety Net Schools: Easy to Gain Admission

If past admission data predicts that you would be a competitive candidate for Berkeley, it should be easy to gain admissions to the schools below. If Berkeley is currently out of your reach, then you are sure to be a competitive candidate for the schools below.

Binghamton University, University of California, Santa Barbara, University of Texas at Dallas, Stony Brook University, University of Connecticut, Rochester Institute of Technology, University of California, Davis

Same Tier: Just As Hard to Gain Admission

If you’re a competitive candidate for Berkeley, you should have an equal chance of gaining admissions at these schools.

University of Michigan, Emory University, Boston College, Boston University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Villanova University

Reach Institutions: Gaining Admissions Will be More of a Challenge

These schools are more challenging to gain admission into than Berkeley. If you improve your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, then you’ll be a competitive candidate for these schools.

Brown University, Cornell University, Amherst College, University of Notre Dame, Tufts University, Northeastern University, Georgia Institute of Technology

Applying to Berkeley

Application Deadline: November 30

Undergraduate Admissions Website:

https://admissions.berkeley.edu/

Undergraduate Application Link(s):

https://admissions.berkeley.edu/freshman-applicant-checklist

Graduate Admissions Website:

https://grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/apply/

Graduate Application Link(s):

https://gradapp.berkeley.edu/apply/