University of California-Berkeley

The University of California-Berkeley is a public university located in Berkeley, California, with an enrollment of approximately 33,068 students. Admission is highly selective: UC Berkeley accepts 11% of applicants, meaning the large majority of those who apply are not admitted. Among those who enroll, the institution has a strong record of persistence — 96.8% of first-year students return for a second year, and 92.8% of students ultimately graduate.

UC Berkeley offers programs across a wide range of fields. For career-focused students, relevant areas of study include biomedical engineering, environmental engineering, urban planning, and pre-law pathways for those pursuing careers as lawyers.

Published tuition is $16,347 per year for California residents and $50,547 per year for out-of-state students. The average annual net price — the estimated total cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, and living expenses, after grant and scholarship aid is applied — is $13,481. This figure reflects what students actually pay on average after aid, and for many students it comes in below published tuition. Approximately 28.6% of enrolled students receive Pell Grants, a federal aid program for lower-income students. Only 16.8% of all students take out federal loans, and among those who borrowed and completed a credential, the median federal loan debt was $13,000. Of borrowers entering repayment, 80.2% are making progress in reducing their loan balance within three years.

Median earnings for students who enrolled at UC Berkeley — measured ten years after enrollment and calculated across all federally-aided students who enrolled, including those who did not complete a degree — stand at $92,446 per year. Because this figure includes non-completers as well as graduates, earnings outcomes for those who complete a credential may differ.

Overall, UC Berkeley's data profile reflects a highly selective public institution with strong completion and retention rates, relatively contained average net costs, low rates of student borrowing, and favorable post-enrollment earnings. Prospective students, particularly those from out of state, should review both published tuition figures and their potential net price carefully, as costs vary significantly based on residency and individual financial circumstances.