Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
University of California, Berkeley is a public national university located in Berkeley, California. University of California-Berkeley is very selective in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at University of California-Berkeley is in the top 5% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $80,364 10 years after enrolling, 12th in California, and in the top 5% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, University of California-Berkeley bachelor students earn 32% more than the national average. University of California-Berkeley is ranked 5th in California.
University of California, Berkeley’s median net annual cost of $16,032 and average years to graduate of 4.3 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at University of California-Berkeley sorted by number of graduates - Cellular Biology & Anatomical Science, Computer Science, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Poli Sci/Government, Natural Resource Conservation - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$16,032
Average years to graduate
4.3
Business Administration
Rank: #4
Economic score: 0.52
Applied Mathematics
Rank: #4
Economic score: 0.58
Cognitive Science
Rank: #2
Economic score: 1.02
Social Sciences, Other
Rank: #2
Economic score: 1.07
Comms & Media Studies
Rank: #7
Economic score: 1.38
Sociology
Rank: #13
Economic score: 1.76
Public Health
Rank: #13
Economic score: 2.29
Biology
Rank: #41
Economic score: 2.74
English Language & Lit
Rank: #31
Economic score: 3.18
Research&Experimental Psych
Rank: #37
Economic score: 15.88
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at University of California-Berkeley - Computer Systems Analysis, Public Health, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Public Policy Analysis, Natural Resource Conservation - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Business Administration
Rank: #4
Economic score: 0.12
Education
Rank: #38
Economic score: 0.36
Architecture
Rank: #12
Economic score: 0.58
Chemical Engineering
Rank: #7
Economic score: 0.61
The average student at University of California, Berkeley takes 4.3 years to graduate, with 94% graduating within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at University of California-Berkeley is 27% more than the state average and 26% more than the average for all national universities in the country.
At University of California-Berkeley, Pell Grant recipients represent 27% of the measured graduating class, 8% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at University of California-Berkeley graduates within 4.3 years.
University of California-Berkeley is in the top 25% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
University of California, Berkeley’s economic mobility score of 26.15 is calculated by adjusting the 0.44 economic score of lower-income students by the 27% pell grant recipients within the student body. University of California-Berkeley’s EMS of 26.15 ranks in the top 25% nationally.
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 25%
The average Title IV recipient at University of California, Berkeley pays $16,032 a year, $25,496 less than the $41,528 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $16,032
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At University of California-Berkeley, 52% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $16,032 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 16% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $7,202. This is 38% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$4,586
Pell grants
$5,374
State grants
$11,146
Institutional grants
$11,168
University of California, Berkeley's very selective admissions are indicated by their 14% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 112,843 applicants, of which 16,295 were admitted and 6,931 enrolled. University of California-Berkeley doesn't have a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed after a hard admissions deadline.
Full time
99%
83%
Female
55%
59%
First time
69%
59%
In-state
74%
68%
1st generation
35%
35%
White
22%
52%
Black
2%
14%
Hispanic
19%
15%
Asian
35%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
22%
12%