Berkeley, CA · 33.1k students
Trajecta score
+2.5 since '20Ranked #16 of 2,375
5-year trend
82.1 · #16
2020
83.0 · #17
2021
83.0 · #15
2022
83.7 · #17
2023
84.6 · #15
2024
Academic Profile
89/ 100
Career Outcomes
86/ 100
Student Success
92/ 100
Affordability
83/ 100
Academic Investment
95/ 100
Access & Equity
56/ 100
Academic Profile
89
Career Outcomes
86
Student Success
92
Affordability
83
Academic Investment
95
Access & Equity
56
AI Fit Analysis
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Cost / Net Price
$46k / $13k
SAT Avg
—
Retention
97%
Grad Rate
93%
Admissions
Finances
Tuition
In-State Tuition
$16,347
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$50,547
per year
Out-of-state premium: +$34,200/yr
Aid & Debt
Pell Grant Share
29%
undergraduates receiving Pell
Federal Loan Share
17%
students borrowing
Median Debt
among completers
$13,000
Admissions Factors
Self-reported by the school in its Common Data Set (section C7) — the school's own statement of which application factors matter in its admissions decisions.
3.90
average high school GPA of enrolled freshmen (unweighted) · 100% reporting
Source: Common Data Set 2024-2025, what University of California-Berkeley reports weighing in admissions.
| Factor | Very Important | Important | Considered | Not Considered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rigor of secondary school record | Rigor of secondary school record: Very Important | |||
| Class rank | Class rank: Not Considered | |||
| Academic GPA | Academic GPA: Very Important | |||
| Standardized test scores | Standardized test scores: Considered | |||
| Application essay | Application essay: Very Important | |||
| Recommendation(s) | Recommendation(s): Considered | |||
| Interview | Interview: Not Considered | |||
| Extracurricular activities | Extracurricular activities: Important | |||
| Talent/ability | Talent/ability: Considered | |||
| Character/personal qualities | Character/personal qualities: Important | |||
| First generation | First generation: Considered | |||
| Alumni/ae relation | Alumni/ae relation: Not Considered | |||
| Geographical residence | Geographical residence: Not Considered | |||
| State residency | State residency: Considered | |||
| Religious affiliation/commitment | Religious affiliation/commitment: Not Considered | |||
| Volunteer work | Volunteer work: Important | |||
| Work experience | Work experience: Important | |||
| Level of applicant's interest | Level of applicant's interest: Not Considered |
Supplemental Essays · 2026-27
school's admissions site ↗University of California-Berkeley requires no supplemental essays (2026-27, per the school's official site) — only the personal statement applies.
Drafting these? Write them with AI feedback in Trajecta →
Methodology
The Trajecta Score (0–100) blends six dimensions of public college data into one comparable number, then nudges it by how much data each school reports. Selectivity tiers are separate — they’re based purely on a school’s admission rate.
Read the full methodologyMedian earnings 10 years out, earnings vs. a high-school grad, and loan repayment.
Admission selectivity and the incoming class’s SAT / ACT scores.
Average net price after aid and the typical debt of graduates.
Graduation rate and first-year retention.
Instructional spending and faculty salaries per student.
Share of Pell-grant students and reliance on federal loans.
Data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard and IPEDS. Figures are the most recent reported and may lag a year or two. This tool is read-only and not personalized — inside the Trajecta app, scores are tailored to your profile as a fit score.
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