UC Berkeley
UC Berkeley at a Glance
UC Berkeley Rankings
| Ranking | 2025 | Year |
|---|---|---|
| US News National Universities | #20 | 2025 |
| QS World University Rankings | #12 | 2025 |
| THE World University Rankings | #8 | 2025 |
| ARWU (Shanghai) | #5 | 2024 |
| US News Best Public Universities | #1 | 2025 |
Show 10-Year US News Ranking History
| 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #20 | #20 | #21 | #22 | #22 | #22 | #22 | #20 | #15 | #20 |
US News National Universities: #20 (2016) → #20 (2025) — unchanged
UC Berkeley Overview
University of California-Berkeley is a public university in Berkeley, CA with 48,230 students. Its 11.7% acceptance rate places it among America's most selective universities. The most popular majors are Social Sciences, Computer Science, and Engineering.
| Full Name | University of California-Berkeley |
| Location | Berkeley, CA 94720 |
| Type | Public |
| Website | berkeley.edu/ |
| Total Enrollment | 48,230 |
| Undergrad Enrollment | 34,306 |
| Female Students | 55.4% |
Is UC Berkeley a Reach, Match, or Safety?
With an acceptance rate of 11.7%, UC Berkeley is a Reach for most applicants. You'll need a standout application — strong GPA, meaningful extracurriculars, and compelling essays — to have realistic odds here.
| Your Profile | UC Berkeley Is... | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Above-average GPA + strong application | Match | Apply — worth the effort |
| Average GPA, some strengths | Reach | Apply, but have 2-3 backup schools |
| Below-average GPA | Hard Reach | Consider similar schools with higher acceptance rates |
Popular Majors at UC Berkeley
The most popular fields of study, ranked by the number of degrees awarded.
Student Demographics
How to Get Into UC Berkeley
UC Berkeley is a Reach school for nearly all applicants. Beyond grades and scores, UC Berkeley wants to see intellectual curiosity, leadership, and a clear sense of purpose in your application. Have 2-3 realistic backup schools — even perfect-on-paper students get denied here.
What UC Berkeley Values Most in Applicants
Admission factor importance from the Common Data Set — what the school officially says matters.
| Factor | Importance |
|---|---|
| Academic Gpa | Very Important |
| Rigor Of Secondary School Record | Very Important |
| Class Rank | Considered |
| Standardized Test Scores | Considered |
| Application Essay | Very Important |
| Recommendation | Not Considered |
| Extracurricular Activities | Very Important |
| Talent Ability | Very Important |
| Character Personal Qualities | Very Important |
| First Generation | Important |
| Alumni Relation | Not Considered |
| Interview | Not Considered |
| Work Experience | Important |
| Volunteer Work | Important |
UC Berkeley Application Deadlines & Requirements
Key dates for the UC Berkeley UC admission cycle. Mark these on your calendar — missing a deadline means waiting another year.
| Deadline | Date |
|---|---|
| Regular Decision | Nov 30 |
| Financial Aid (FAFSA/CSS) | Mar 2 |
Frequently Asked Questions About UC Berkeley
More About UC Berkeley
Other Colleges in CA
Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, IPEDS. UC Berkeley is not affiliated with DeepColleges.