CAMPUS · BERKELEY, CA · PUBLIC

UC Berkeley

University of California-Berkeley

11.7%

01Acceptance 02Tuition 03Transfer 04ROI 05AP Credit 06Majors 07Housing 08International

Sticker Price vs What You Actually Pay

27% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating UC Berkeley enrolls a meaningful share of lower-income students.

Full Cost Breakdown

Room & Board	$22,692
Total Cost of Attendance	$45,619

What You'll Actually Pay (Net Price by Income)

After financial aid, the real cost depends on your family's income. These are average net prices for students receiving aid.

Family Income	Annual Net Price	4-Year Total
$0-30k	$5,311	$21,244
$30-48k	$6,501	$26,004
$48-75k	$9,693	$38,772
$75-110k	$15,074	$60,296
$110k+	$34,529	$138,116

Financial Aid & Student Debt at UC Berkeley

27.0%

Pell Grant Recipients

$13,000

Median Debt at Graduation

Is UC Berkeley Worth the Cost? (ROI Analysis)

$92,446

Median Earnings (10yr)

$13,000

Median Debt

7.1x

Earnings-to-Debt Ratio

A ratio above 2x generally means the investment pays off. UC Berkeley — 7.1x ratio is excellent — graduates earn well relative to their debt burden.

UC Berkeley True Cost by Family Income

27% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating UC Berkeley enrolls a meaningful share of lower-income students.

Family Income	Annual Net Price	4-Year Total
$0-30k	$5,311	$21,244
$30-48k	$6,501	$26,004
$48-75k	$9,693	$38,772
$75-110k	$15,074	$60,296
$110k+	$34,529	$138,116

Cost Breakdown

Room & Board	$22,692
Total Cost of Attendance	$45,619

Financial Aid & Student Debt

27.0%

Pell Grant Recipients

Students from low-income families

$13,000

Median Debt at Graduation

Federal loans only

$74,919

Median Earnings (6yr)

6 years after enrollment

UC Berkeley Tuition & Cost FAQs

How much does UC Berkeley actually cost per year?

UC Berkeley's sticker price (cost of attendance) is $45,619/yr — that includes tuition, room and board, and fees. After financial aid, the average family pays just $14,222/yr, a 69% discount off sticker price.

Does UC Berkeley offer good financial aid?

27% of UC Berkeley students receive Pell Grants (federal need-based aid). Most US colleges including UC Berkeley also award institutional grants on top of federal aid — apply via FAFSA, plus the CSS Profile if UC Berkeley requires it.

What income bracket pays the least at UC Berkeley?

Families earning under $30,000/yr typically pay around $5,311/yr at UC Berkeley after financial aid, while families earning over $110,000/yr pay closer to $34,529/yr. The full breakdown by income bracket is in the True Cost table above.

Is UC Berkeley worth the cost?

UC Berkeley graduates earn a median of $92,446 10 years post-graduation. Against a 4-year sticker cost of about $182,476 (less for most families with aid), grads typically recoup the investment within several years of work.