Public · Mostly bachelor's degrees · Midsize city

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, California. 33,068 undergraduates. Admits 11% of applicants.

94%Graduation rate39 pts above the national median for similar colleges (54%)
$14,538Average net price per year27% below the national median for similar colleges ($19,899)
$100,212Median earnings 10 years after starting70% above the national median for similar colleges ($58,912)
$12,416Median debt at graduation43% below the national median for similar colleges ($21,609)
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($12,416) equals 12% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($100,212). That is a light load relative to pay.

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$5,110
$30,000–$48,000$5,391
$48,001–$75,000$9,606
$75,001–$110,000$16,064
Over $110,000$37,451

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $17,198 in-state, $54,800 out-of-state.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate94%54%
Return for second year97%76%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$79,931$49,318
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$100,212$58,912
Median debt at graduation$12,416$21,609

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly bachelor's degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

218 programs reported
ProgramGraduates / yrMedian earnings, 1 yrMedian earnings, 5 yrsMedian debt
Computer Science890$161,143$228,465$13,750
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering510$154,713$224,040$13,608
Business Administration, Management and Operations425$94,811$159,620$10,656
Statistics114$84,849$156,494$16,448
Cognitive Science245$62,757$151,004$13,200
Economics677$88,608$148,703$11,275
Applied Mathematics201$85,411$137,853$13,444
Biomedical/Medical Engineering124$74,075$125,731$13,180
Chemical Engineering120$89,950$122,455$17,417
Mechanical Engineering213$95,340$121,029$11,175
Civil Engineering112$84,461$115,685$11,817
Physics112—$115,578$15,000
Social Sciences, Other162$66,107$107,565$12,078
Mathematics102$59,448$101,998$13,955
Chemistry135$57,704$98,220$11,000
Operations Research57$95,812—$8,857
Computer and Information Sciences, General841$95,731—$12,666
Communication and Media Studies258$52,119$95,154$11,000
Public Health186$57,363$95,133$11,000
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences747$49,561$93,159$12,114
Astronomy and Astrophysics51$43,091$89,714$19,750
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences13—$88,471—
Architecture109$60,494$87,387$13,078
Nutrition Sciences95$42,425$87,149$12,000
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies39$57,788$86,050$12,500
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services77$28,857$85,634$14,035
Urban Studies/Affairs26$70,981$84,891—
Political Science and Government403$50,634$84,336$12,365
Natural Resources Conservation and Research451$56,111$81,665$12,000
Non-Professional Legal Studies205$51,139$81,284$13,250
Biology, General160$39,853$81,134$12,000
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other77$56,541$79,885$15,000
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution0—$79,776—
Psychology, General0—$75,822—
Sociology273$48,113$75,575$10,313
Research and Experimental Psychology359$43,881$73,891$11,065
Area Studies60$56,036$73,279$15,616
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics66$48,575$73,231$8,000
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies110$47,245$70,758$11,000
Social Work68$51,615$70,493$9,543
Film/Video and Photographic Arts101$35,898$68,814$13,377
History133$43,803$67,764$11,744
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft36$43,297$63,236$9,647
English Language and Literature, General223$37,602$60,604$13,000
Anthropology79$37,802$60,178$12,500
Environmental Design25$56,599——
International/Globalization Studies58$55,375—$14,952
Philosophy91$37,999$52,953$12,891
Landscape Architecture25$50,801——
Music58$49,985—$8,141
Fine and Studio Arts118$34,406$48,518$10,900
Forestry6———
Natural Resources and Conservation, Other1———
Engineering Physics12———
Engineering Science23———
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering13———
Nuclear Engineering12———
Engineering, Other9———
East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics26———
Slavic, Baltic and Albanian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics1———
Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics1———
Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics6———
Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics1———
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other1———
Botany/Plant Biology23———
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology80——$15,000
Classical and Ancient Studies26——$12,500
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology1———
Materials Sciences28———
Dance10———

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

Getting in

11%Admission rate
18:1Students per faculty member
32%Undergraduates with a Pell Grant

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Quick answers

How much does University of California-Berkeley cost per year?
The average net price at University of California-Berkeley, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $14,538 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do University of California-Berkeley graduates earn?
Former University of California-Berkeley students earn a median of $100,212 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-Berkeley?
94% of University of California-Berkeley students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do University of California-Berkeley graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from University of California-Berkeley is $12,416. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.