Admission requirements and costs at a glance
University of California, Berkeley is a public university in Berkeley, California, founded in 1868. It is a very large institution with roughly 33,000 undergraduates on an urban campus, a student-faculty ratio of 19:1 and a six-year graduation rate of about 94%.
Admission is highly selective: the university admits roughly one applicant in four or fewer, with a reported acceptance rate near 11%. Students who enrol typically present SAT scores in the 1330-1530 range or ACT results of 29-35. Those ranges describe the middle half of enrolled students, which means a quarter of them scored below the lower figure — a score outside the range does not by itself decide an application.
Published tuition is about $15,000 for residents of California and $49,000 for non-residents, a difference of $34,000 per year. Residency rules are set by the state and are applied strictly; read our guide to in-state and out-of-state tuition before assuming you can qualify after moving.
Test policy: Test-free (scores not considered). Sending SAT or ACT results will not help this application, because the scores are not part of the review at all.
The regular application deadline is November 30, and no early round is offered. The application fee is $80, and fee waivers are available for applicants with documented financial need.
University of California, Berkeley is institutionally accredited by WSCUC, which is what makes its credits transferable and its students eligible for federal financial aid. Our guide to accreditation in the United States explains how to verify this independently and why programme-level accreditation matters separately for licensed fields.
Key facts
| Location | Berkeley, California |
|---|---|
| Control | Public |
| Founded | 1868 |
| Campus setting | Urban |
| Undergraduates | 33,000 |
| Total enrolment | 45,000 |
| Acceptance rate | 11% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1330-1530 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 29-35 |
| Test policy | Test-free (scores not considered) |
| Tuition, in-state | $15,000 |
| Tuition, out-of-state | $49,000 |
| Application fee | $80 |
| Regular deadline | November 30 |
| Early deadline | Not offered |
| Graduation rate | 94% |
| Student-faculty ratio | 19:1 |
| Institutional accreditor | WSCUC |
Editorial estimates, reviewed 2026-09-20. Official source: https://www.berkeley.edu
Commonly chosen programmes
- Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences
- Economics
- Molecular & Cell Biology
- Data Science
Programme availability, prerequisites and internal admission standards differ from the university-wide figures above. Competitive majors such as computer science, engineering, nursing and business frequently admit a far smaller share of applicants than the institution as a whole, and some require a separate application after the first year.
How to apply
- Confirm the current deadline and test policy on the official admission page.
- Check the required secondary school coursework and whether your transcript meets it.
- Prepare the essay and any supplemental questions — see our essay guide.
- Ask for recommendation letters at least four weeks before the deadline.
- File the FAFSA from 1 October, and the CSS Profile if this university requires it.
- Track scholarship deadlines separately; they are often earlier than the admission deadline.
International applicants add English proficiency scores, certified translations of transcripts and a financial statement before the university can issue the Form I-20. Our international student guide covers the full sequence through the visa interview.
University of California, Berkeley: frequently asked questions
Is it hard to get into University of California, Berkeley?
University of California, Berkeley is highly selective, with a reported acceptance rate of around 11%. Enrolled students typically present SAT scores in the 1330-1530 range or ACT results of 29-35. Selectivity also varies by programme, so check the specific college or major you intend to apply to.
How much does University of California, Berkeley cost per year?
Published tuition is about $15,000 for state residents and $49,000 for non-residents. That figure excludes housing, food, books, fees and insurance, so the full cost of attendance is higher. Financial aid and scholarships frequently reduce what a family actually pays; use the university's net price calculator for a personal estimate.
Does University of California, Berkeley require the SAT or ACT?
Test-free (scores not considered). Test policies have changed repeatedly in recent admission cycles, so confirm the current requirement on the official admission page before registering for an exam.
What is the application deadline for University of California, Berkeley?
The regular deadline is November 30 and the early round is Not offered. The application fee is $80. Programme-specific deadlines for art, music, architecture and nursing are often earlier.