A
Excellent
Score: 83/100
Overall (traditional)
A+
Outcome Rating
95/100 · earnings-weighted

University of California-Berkeley

4-Year Public
📍 Berkeley, California 94720
University of California-Berkeley campus, Berkeley, CA
University of California-Berkeley campus, Berkeley, CA. Photo: Gku, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
Outcomes
A+
96/100
Affordability
C+
59/100
Resources
B+
75/100
Experience
A
88/100
Prestige
A+
95/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

45,699
Total Enrollment
93%
Graduation Rate
97%
Retention Rate
18.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
12%
Acceptance Rate
$16,997
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near University of California-Berkeley ▼

4% of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.

The campus ZIP (94720) has no residential market, so these figures average 12 nearby ZIP codes within 3 miles of campus (94704, 94709, 94703, 94705, 94702, 94707…).

Avg Home Value
$1,326,012
Avg Monthly Rent
$3,008
1-Year Change
+4.7%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at University of California-Berkeley, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$92,446
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$74,919
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$13,000
Median debt at graduation
92.8%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
28.6%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 14% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 95th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (CA wage index 1.21). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at University of California-Berkeley

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Computer Science$149,866$204,379+91%#9 of 349#10$13,750
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$137,295$200,543+99%#2 of 258#2$13,674
Business Administration, Management and Operations$90,008$144,599+112%#4 of 1176#6$11,300
Operations Research$88,685$138,883+13%———
Economics$80,446$135,050+63%#14 of 368#22$12,650
Statistics$83,227$133,986+45%#4 of 50#6$15,400
Chemical Engineering$81,553$121,027+23%#3 of 158#32$18,155
Cognitive Science$64,559$120,193+47%#4 of 19#5$14,589
Mechanical Engineering$88,497$119,371+30%#5 of 318#16$13,000
Applied Mathematics$71,814$118,414+29%#7 of 45#7$14,500
Biomedical/Medical Engineering$73,348$110,597+18%#9 of 118#28$14,896
Civil Engineering$78,142$108,548+25%#1 of 233#8$14,342
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology$50,706$103,546+65%#1 of 49#1$14,455
Social Sciences$61,109$101,138+78%#1 of 35#1$15,000
Physics$50,219$96,043+25%#13 of 107#28$15,000
Astronomy and Astrophysics$54,746$90,943+33%——$19,500
Computer and Information Sciences$88,030————$13,550
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies$45,461$87,791+58%#8 of 207#11$14,500
Chemistry$59,576$82,386+27%#11 of 209#34$11,077
Mathematics$46,674$80,654+16%#82 of 309#122$18,500
Nutrition Sciences$35,161$79,391+32%#1 of 53#3$14,177
Biology$36,642$79,163+38%#27 of 841#68$13,000
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$47,338$78,624+43%#4 of 265#9$12,817
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services$25,059$76,724+53%#4 of 90#3$14,000
Architecture$50,917$76,679+15%#7 of 78#33$15,000
Public Health$48,351$76,572+30%#13 of 215#29$11,708
Urban Studies/Affairs$58,171$76,125+22%#3 of 30#6$15,000
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics$40,818$75,715+38%#14 of 225#23$11,593
Communication and Media Studies$43,696$75,612+34%#21 of 660#46$11,100
Political Science and Government$45,418$75,128+19%#65 of 565#133$13,000
Sociology$40,774$71,363+36%#12 of 462#21$13,000
Film/Video and Photographic Arts$29,011$70,963+62%#2 of 144#2$15,000
Non-Professional Legal Studies$43,886$70,636+14%#10 of 39#11$13,000
Area Studies$50,728$70,366+24%#10 of 70#17$14,839
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies$44,553$69,373+43%#5 of 137#17$13,000
Social Work$44,906$67,393+30%#8 of 420#26$13,000
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies$34,559$67,291+30%#3 of 103#5$15,076
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences$43,270$66,577+-0%#20 of 35#26$13,450
International/Globalization Studies$46,660$66,522+11%#19 of 87#32$15,636
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution—$65,269+3%#4 of 6#4—
Research and Experimental Psychology$34,450$64,904+17%#25 of 82#31$12,280
History$28,849$64,755+28%#35 of 459#61$13,034
Anthropology$28,661$64,359+38%#8 of 188#12$12,572
Philosophy$36,355$63,326+16%#24 of 86#36$13,345
Psychology—$62,835+24%#57 of 1027#158—
English Language and Literature$27,462$60,187+24%#55 of 576#96$12,979
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$22,610$55,555+40%#4 of 255#14$15,012
Fine and Studio Arts$20,368$51,699+25%#41 of 423#86$12,464
Landscape Architecture$43,413—————
Music$14,166————$12,800

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The University of California-Berkeley Town Property Report

  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 94608 (3.8% cap, Emeryville)

Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield, and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.

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🏆 Where University of California-Berkeley Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

🥇
Computer and Information Sciences, Other
of 25 schools
🥇
Public Health, General
of 100 schools
🥈
Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology
of 36 schools
🥈
Information Science/Studies
of 100 schools
🥉
Computer Science
of 100 schools
🥉
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
of 100 schools
#4
Mechanical Engineering
of 100 schools
#5
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics
of 100 schools
#10
Management Science
of 100 schools
#11
Business Administration and Management, General
of 100 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $11,834 $42,611
Total Cost (On-Campus) $45,053 $75,830

Financial Aid

61%
Receive Any Aid
24%
Receive Pell Grants
21%
Take Out Loans
$16,997
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$5,895
$30,001 - $48,000$7,751
$48,001 - $75,000$11,424
$75,001 - $110,000$18,713
$110,001+$35,154

Student Demographics

45,699
Total Students
54%
Women
93%
Traditional Age (18-24)
4%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 22%
Hispanic 19%
Black 3%
Asian 31%
Two or More 6%
Non-Resident 17%

🏠 Living Arrangements

On Campus 94%
Off-Campus (Renters) 4%
With Family 2%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~1,965 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 77%
Hybrid (Some Online) 19%
Fully Online 4%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 93%
25-64 (Adult) 5%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at University of California-Berkeley?
University of California-Berkeley has an acceptance rate of 12%. This makes it a highly selective institution where admission is very competitive.
How much does it cost to attend University of California-Berkeley?
Tuition at University of California-Berkeley is $11,834 for in-state students and $42,611 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $16,997.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-Berkeley?
The graduation rate at University of California-Berkeley is 93%. This is considered an excellent graduation rate, indicating strong student success and support systems.
Is University of California-Berkeley a good school?
University of California-Berkeley has a Repit College Score of 83/100 (Grade: A). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (A+): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (C+): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (B+): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (A): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (A+): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend University of California-Berkeley?
University of California-Berkeley has a total enrollment of 45,699 students. Most students (93%) are traditional college-age (18-24).
Is there rental demand near University of California-Berkeley?
Yes! Approximately 4% of students at University of California-Berkeley live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 1,965 students who need rental housing near campus.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for University of California-Berkeley — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to University of California-Berkeley

Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.

A+
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · 46,678 students
A
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · 42,376 students
A
University of California-Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA · 26,068 students
A
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA · 36,582 students
B+
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA · 22,485 students
B+
University of California-Davis
Davis, CA · 39,707 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology