University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, California · Public · 33,068 undergraduates · berkeley.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test blind
Scores aren't considered
Admit rate
11%
of 126,864 applicants
Annual cost (2027-28)
$58,160Est.Estimate
$100,290 out of state
Your chances and merit aid at University of California-Berkeley
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
11% of applicants admitted
Reach
It admits only 11% of applicants, so it's a reach for everyone.
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$100,290
a year in 2027-28, from a $100,290 sticker price (out of state)
What to do with your 1200
Scores aren't considered here
This college doesn't consider SAT or ACT scores, even if you send them.
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test blind
SAT and ACT scores aren't considered for admission, even if you send them.
- You can type your scores into the application; official reports come later.
Source: First-Year Policies - Office of Undergraduate Admissions · Checked October 16, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov30Regular Decision · November 30, 2026The standard deadline.
Who gets in
11%
of applicants were admitted: 14,524 of 126,864 for fall 2025.
Wait list
9,102 students were offered a spot; 0 were later admitted.
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 3.90
- 4.040%
- 3.75 to 3.9950%
- 3.50 to 3.748.1%
- 3.25 to 3.491.4%
- 3.00 to 3.240.3%
- 2.50 to 2.990.2%
- Below 2.500.1%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$58,160
a year, in state
$100,290
a year, out of state (tuition $57,170)
- Tuition (in state)$15,040
- Fees$4,510
- Food and housing$27,560
- Books and supplies$1,420
- Transportation and other$9,630
University of California-Berkeley published $54,924 in state for 2025-26. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24 (in-state students), by family income.
- $0 to $30,000$5,110
- $30,001 to $48,000$5,391
- $48,001 to $75,000$9,606
- $75,001 to $110,000$16,064
- Over $110,000$37,451
Financial aid
88%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$36,226
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
3.5%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $16,030 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Not required. Only the FAFSA is needed.
- Aid priority date: 3/2
- Send your aid forms by this date to be first in line for the college's grant money.
- Aid deadline: 3/2
- The last day to send aid forms.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
37 of 37
Earn credit with a score of 3
37 exams
A 3-credit course is worth
about $1,500Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition for in-state students
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 3 | 5 |
| 3-D Art and Design | 3 | 5 |
| African American Studies | 3 | 3 |
| Art History | 3 | 5 |
| Biology | 3 | 5 |
| Calculus AB | 3 | 3 |
| Calculus BC | 3 | 5 |
| Chemistry | 3 | 5 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 3 | 5 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 3 | 3 |
| Computer Science A | 3 | 5 |
| Computer Science Principles | 3 | 5 |
| Drawing | 3 | 5 |
| English Language and Composition | 3 | 5 |
| English Literature and Composition | 3 | 5 |
| Environmental Science | 3 | 3 |
| European History | 3 | 5 |
| French Language and Culture | 3 | 5 |
| German Language and Culture | 3 | 5 |
| Human Geography | 3 | 3 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 3 | 5 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 3 | 5 |
| Latin | 3 | 5 |
| Macroeconomics | 3 | 3 |
| Microeconomics | 3 | 3 |
| Music Theory | 3 | 5 |
| Physics 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Physics 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 3 | 3 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 3 | 3 |
| Psychology | 3 | 3 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 3 | 5 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 3 | 5 |
| Statistics | 3 | 3 |
| United States Government and Politics | 3 | 3 |
| United States History | 3 | 5 |
| World History: Modern | 3 | 5 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
94%
Come back for a second year
97%
Typical earnings
$100,212
a year, 10 years after starting here
- University of California-Berkeley$228,465
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 45 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with University of California-Berkeley. The University of California-Berkeley logo is a trademark of the college.