University Of California, Berkeley: Ranking, Courses Fee, Admission Process & Acceptance Rate
Table of Contents
University of California, Berkeley is a global institute of excellence. UC Berkeley was ranked as the top University for producing startups in the 2024 PitchBook Rankings. It is known for pushing the boundaries of knowledge, challenging convention, and expanding opportunities to build a better tomorrow. This global institute was once home to popular figures like Gregory Peck, Chris Pine, Steve Wozniak, etc. Keep reading to learn all about UK Berkeley’s rankings, acceptance rate, courses and fees, admission process, and more.
Highlights Table
University | University of California |
Location | Berkeley |
QS Ranking 2025 | #12 |
Acceptance Rate | 11.3% |
Campus Size | 1,232 acres |
Intakes | Fall, Winter, and Spring |
Notable Alumni | Gregory Peck, Chris Pine, Steve Wozniak, Brenda Song, Daniel Kahneman, Alex Morgan |
Official Website | https://www.berkeley.edu/ |
About The University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley, commonly referred to as UC Berkeley, is a public research university in Berkeley, CA, USA. It was established in 1853 as the Contra Costa Academy, a private boys’ school. In 1855, the school was chartered as the College of California and was later merged with the state of California’s Agricultural, Mining, and Mechanical Arts College to form the University of California in 1868. UC Berkeley is affiliated with the Association of American Universities (AAU), International Alliance of Research Universities, Universities Research Association (URA), University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Association of Pacific Rim Universities, and Space Grant.
University of California Berkeley Rankings
The University of California Berkeley has constantly secured top rankings in multiple fields. It has been ranked #12 in the QS World University Rankings 2025. In 2024, it was ranked #10 with an overall score of 90.4. Other global ranking organizations like the Times Higher Education (THE), US News Education, Forbes, etc. Have also listed UC Berkeley among the top universities in the world. Here are some of the major University of California Berkeley rankings 2025.
Organization | Rankings |
QS Rankings | #12 |
Times Higher Education (THE) | #9 |
US News Education | #15 |
Forbes | #5 |
Financial Times MBA Rankings | #4 |
University of California Acceptance Rate
The University of California Berkeley has a low acceptance rate, which makes the admission process very selective. UC Berkeley has an acceptance rate of 11.3% only, meaning out of 100 applicants, only 11 or 12 will be accepted by the University.
UC Berkeley is one of the most prestigious universities in the world, and it receives over 130,000 applications annually. Out of these, only the best of the best are admitted as the university prioritizes maintaining small class sizes and providing personalized education, thus limiting the number of students they can accept each year. The table below highlights all the details of the University of California Berkeley’s acceptance rate.
Categories | Acceptance Rate |
California Residents | 15% |
University of California Berkeley Acceptance Rate Out of State (Non-residents) | 8% |
International Students | 5% |
Total | 11.3% |
The University of California Admission Process
UC Berkeley has three annual intakes: Fall, Winter and Spring. The applications for the same begin on August 1 and applicants can submit their applications between October 1 to December 2. The University of California Berkeley’s admission process involves the following stages:
Apply Online
- Fill out the UC application form for any of the nine campuses at:- https://apply.universityofcalifornia.edu/my-application/login.
- Make sure to enter accurate details in the application form to avoid any rejection.
- Do not submit any transcripts and supporting documents like supporting documents such as awards, photographs, poetry, etc.
- Enter all the details and cross-check them before submitting the form.
Application Fee and Fee Waivers
- The University of California’s application fee is $80 for residents, and $95 for international and non-immigrant applicants.
- Students can also apply for fee waivers. This option is only available for those in search of financial support.
- Application fee waivers are only available for permanent US residents, eligible for AB540 benefits.
- Applicant’s family size and annual income will be measured before offering fee waivers.
Application Process
- UC Berkeley has an easy two-step process: fulfilling requirements and selection.
- Only applications with strong academic, and non-academic/ curricular activities are considered for admission.
- Applicants must possess all the course-specific requirements too before filling out the application form. Course-specific requirements are available on the university website.
University of California Courses & Fees
UC Berkeley has 1,500 faculty members and is home to over 45,000 students in 300 degree programs. The University offers multiple undergraduate, postgraduate, research, and foundational programs in fields like Social and Behavioral Sciences, Arts and Literature, Humanities and Environment, etc. Here’s a table highlighting some of the most popular courses available at the University of California.
University of California Courses
Aerospace Engineering (AERO ENG) | Agricultural and Resource Economics | American Studies |
Anthropology (ANTHRO) | Architecture | Asian Studies |
Astronomy | Bengali (BANGLA) | Bioengineering |
Biology | Business Administration, Master (MBA) | Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering (CHM ENG) |
Civil & Environmental Engineering (CIV ENG) | Cognitive Science (COG SCI) | Data Science, Undergraduate |
Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS) | Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS) | English |
European Studies (EUST) | Gender and Women’s Studies (GWS) | Health and Medical Sciences (HMEDSCI) |
Hindi | History | Industrial Engineering and Operations Research (IND ENG) |
Journalism | Materials Science and Engineering (MAT SCI) | Mathematics and Physical Sciences (MPS) |
Mechanical Engineering (MEC ENG) | Neuroscience | Nuclear Engineering |
Psychology (PSYCH) | Public Affairs (PUB AFF) | Science and Technology Studies (STS) |
Study of Religion | Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies (THEATER) | Vision Science (VIS SCI) |
University of California Berkeley Fee
UC Berkeley’s fees include campus fees, tuition fees, student service fees, and other charges. The sum of these fees is automatically added to the student’s account and is reflected on monthly utility bills. The tuition fee for local students is $14,395, and $44,467 for domestic students. For international students, the tuition fee at UC Berkeley is $54,835.
Take a look at the table below to understand UC Berkeley’s tuition fees and other expenses.
Fees & Tuition (2 Semesters) | Undergraduate | Graduate |
Resident Tuition + Fees | $20,635 | $22,568 |
Non-resident Supplemental Tuition | $34,200 | $15,102 |
Total All Fees and Tuition | $54,835 | $37,670 |
Living Expenses
Here is the estimated amount of the living expenses for the 9-month academic year at the University of California, Berkeley.
Living Expenses for a 9-Month Academic Year | Undergraduate | Graduate |
Housing, Meals, Books, Supplies, and Personal Expenses | $2,400/month $21,600/academic year | $2,800/month $25,200academic year |
Total Annual Budget | $76,435 | $62,870 |
*Note – The above-listed tuition fee and academic expenses are as per UC Berkeley’s 2024-25 academic cycle. Students must check the University website for further updates.
Conclusion
The University of California, Berkeley is one of the most prestigious universities in the world. This century-old university has grown from a faculty of 40 members to 1,500 and was once home to some of the successful businesspersons, bureaucrats, politicians, and inventors. We have listed all the details about UC Berkeley’s rankings, acceptance rate, admission process, and courses and tuition fees. Students can follow University Living for more details on UC Berkeley or other top universities.