University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley is the flagship campus of the University of California system, a public research university across the bay from San Francisco renowned for its strength in the sciences, engineering, and computer science. Admission is highly competitive — roughly 11% of about 124,000 applicants are admitted — and like all UC campuses, Berkeley is test-free, evaluating applications without SAT or ACT scores. Enrolled first-years report an average high school GPA around 3.9, and in-state students benefit from one of the strongest public-university values in the country. The figures below are drawn directly from Berkeley's official Common Data Set.
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UC Berkeley admissions statistics
Acceptance Rate
Overall acceptance rate, plus the in-state and out-of-state admit rates the school reports separately.
Admit rate by residency
% admittedEarly Admissions
UC Berkeley does not offer an Early Decision or Early Action plan; all applicants apply through Regular Decision.
Standardized Tests
UC Berkeley is test-free — SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admissions.
SAT / ACT scores are not used
UC Berkeley does not review SAT or ACT scores for admission, even if you submit them. Applicants are evaluated on GPA, coursework, essays, and activities instead.
Admissions Factors
How UC Berkeley weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of Attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from UC Berkeley's Common Data Set. Only tuition changes with residency.
Out-of-state students pay $37,602 more — entirely in tuition. Room, board, and other costs are identical regardless of residency.
Financial Aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Major Distribution
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student Diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Student-Faculty Ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus Life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by Gender
Since some students did not report gender, totals may not fully reflect the student body.
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Frequently asked questions about UC Berkeley admissions
Is it hard to get into UC Berkeley?＋
Yes — UC Berkeley is highly selective, admitting about 11% of applicants in the most recent cycle. Roughly 124,000 students applied, around 13,714 were admitted, and about 6,272 enrolled as first-years. Because Berkeley is test-free, the rigor of your coursework and your academic GPA carry the most weight in a holistic review.
What is UC Berkeley's out-of-state acceptance rate?＋
Out-of-state applicants face steeper odds than California residents. In Fall 2025, domestic non-residents were admitted at 10.3% (3,117 admitted out of 30,172 who applied), compared to 13.6% for California residents (9,852 out of 72,685). International applicants had the lowest rate at 5.8% (1,391 out of 23,973). State residency is listed as a considered factor, and roughly 87% of enrolled undergraduates are California residents.
What GPA do you need to get into UC Berkeley?＋
Admitted first-year students at UC Berkeley report an average high school GPA of about 3.9 on a 4.0 scale. There is no published hard cutoff, but because Berkeley does not use test scores, your academic GPA and the rigor of your high school record — both rated very important — are the strongest signals in your file.
Does UC Berkeley require the SAT or ACT?＋
No. Like all University of California campuses, Berkeley is test-blind and does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if you submit them. Standardized test scores are listed as not considered, so your application is reviewed entirely without them.
How much does UC Berkeley cost in-state vs. out-of-state?＋
Annual tuition and required fees are about $17,721 for California residents and $55,323 for out-of-state and international students. On-campus food and housing add roughly $24,558. About 42% of first-years receive need-based aid, with an average package near $37,119, and Berkeley meets about 90% of demonstrated need.
Does the application essay matter at UC Berkeley?＋
Yes — the application essay is rated very important at UC Berkeley, on par with academic GPA and the rigor of your course load. Since Berkeley is test-free and does not look at SAT or ACT scores, your Personal Insight responses are one of the few places to set yourself apart, making a specific, well-revised essay especially valuable.
What are the most popular majors at UC Berkeley?＋
Computer and information sciences are the single most popular field at about 17% of bachelor's degrees, tied with the sciences, followed closely by the social sciences and liberal arts. Engineering accounts for roughly 12%, reflecting Berkeley's strength across both its College of Letters & Science and College of Engineering.
Does UC Berkeley have Early Decision or Early Action?＋
No. UC Berkeley offers neither Early Decision nor Early Action — there is no binding or restrictive early round. All applicants apply in a single regular cycle through the UC application, so there is no early-admission path that improves your odds.
Source: University of California, Berkeley Common Data Set 2024-2025. Figures transcribed 2026-06-06. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with UC Berkeley. Banner photo by brainchildvn, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).