University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, California · Public · 11.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 97/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
UC Berkeley scores a 97 (Exceptional Value), the top tier under our methodology, as a flagship public research university with 33,068 undergraduates in Berkeley, CA. The numbers are hard to argue with: 3.4-year payback period, $57,600 average 6-year earnings (rising to a median $92,446 at 10 years), 92.8% completion rate, and median debt of $13,000. The in-state/out-of-state tuition split is the central financial story here: California residents pay $16,347 in tuition and an average net price of $13,481. Out-of-state students pay $50,547 in tuition - a delta of $34,200 over in-state - and closer to private university economics. Berkeley's program breadth spans engineering, computer science, business (Haas), economics, natural sciences, and the social sciences. Computer Science (994 graduates, $149,866 at year one, $204,379 at four years) and Electrical Engineering (480 graduates, $137,295 at year one, $200,543 at four years) are the flagship programs by earnings. Business Administration via Haas (428 graduates, $90,008 at year one, $144,599 at four years) rounds out the top earners. Admissions at 11.0% is not a safety school threshold - Berkeley has become a highly selective university in practice, and applicants should plan accordingly.
Graduates recoup their total investment in just 3.4 years. The median across the schools we score is about 12 years.
University of California-Berkeley
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $16,347/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $50,547/yr |
| Average net price | $13,481/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $53,924 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $92,446 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $57,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $13,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $138 |
| Estimated payback period | 3.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 92.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 33,068 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $16,347/year ($50,547/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $13,481/year, or roughly $53,924 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $5,311/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $34,529/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $13,000, which works out to about $138 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($57,600) and comes to 0.23, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $5,311 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $6,501 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $9,693 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,074 |
| $110,001+ | $34,529 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $5,311 per year net price. The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $6,501. California's Cal Grant program layers on top of federal Pell grants, making Berkeley nearly free for low-income California residents who gain admission. Even for out-of-state low-income students, Berkeley's aid programs reduce cost substantially. A low-income in-state student pays $5,311/year for a school with a 3.4-year payback period and median 10-year earnings of $92,446.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $9,693 per year; the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $15,074. These represent extraordinary value for California residents - less than $40,000 total in net price over four years for families earning up to $75k, and roughly $60,000 over four years for the upper-middle bracket.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $34,529 per year - roughly $138,000 over four years for California residents. Against median 10-year earnings of $92,446 and a 3.4-year payback period, Berkeley at $34,529/year is financially sound for virtually any high-earning major. Out-of-state students at $50,547 in tuition see a different picture: total costs approach $200,000 over four years, which requires the higher-earning majors (CS, EE, business) to justify on strict ROI terms.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of California-Berkeley with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | $204,379 | A |
| Economics | $135,050 | A |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $66,577 | B+ |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $88,030 | A |
| Electrical Engineering | $200,543 | A |
| Natural Resources Conservation | $78,624 | B+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $144,599 | A |
| International Relations | $75,128 | B+ |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $64,904 | B |
| Sociology | $71,363 | B+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
Berkeley CS has 994 graduates, with $149,866 median earnings at one year and $204,379 at four years (ROI grade A, debt-to-earnings 0.093). Median debt of $13,900 against $149k year-one earnings produces a very low debt-to-earnings ratio. Berkeley CS feeds directly into Silicon Valley's technology sector - Google, Meta, Apple, and virtually every major technology employer recruit on campus.
Electrical Engineering
Berkeley Electrical Engineering (480 graduates) earns $137,295 at year one and $200,543 at four years (ROI grade A, DTE 0.105). These are near-CS earnings from a discipline that spans semiconductor design, hardware systems, and signal processing - sectors where Berkeley's physical proximity to Silicon Valley creates direct recruiting pipelines. Median debt of $14,437 is low given the earnings. The four-year figure ($200k) reflects EE graduates who move into senior engineering, management, or startup roles within their first few years out. The California in-state cost is roughly $13-16k per year in net price.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Median debt of $12,195 is lower than CS, which is unusual - Haas students tend to come from higher-income families and borrow less. The four-year figure ($144k) reflects consulting, finance, and tech-adjacent business roles that Haas places into via recruiting relationships with Bay Area and national firms. Haas admits roughly 250-300 students per year as a semi-selective internal program; not all Berkeley freshmen who intend to study business will be admitted.
Economics
Berkeley economics (909 graduates, $80,446 at year one, $135,050 at four years, ROI grade A, DTE 0.162) is the second-largest program at Berkeley by graduate count. 909 annual graduates is a large cohort that enters finance, consulting, technology, and policy roles. The four-year figure ($135k) reflects how quickly Berkeley economics graduates advance into high-compensation roles in the Bay Area and nationally. Median debt is $13,000. At in-state net prices of $5,311-$15,074 depending on family income, Berkeley economics is a clear value proposition for California residents.
Statistics
Statistics at Berkeley (122 graduates, $83,227 at year one, $133,986 at four years, ROI grade A, DTE 0.194) reflects the growing demand for quantitative analysts in technology, finance, and data science. Year-one earnings of $83k from a statistics degree at a California in-state net price of ~$13k represent an exceptional ratio.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 82.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 84.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 80.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 81.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of California-Berkeley’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 11.0% |
| Enrollment | 33,068 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 28.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $21,246 |
Berkeley admits 11.0% of applicants campus-wide, but admit rates for Computer Science and Engineering are materially lower - students should research division-specific rates carefully. Transfer admissions from California community colleges is a structured pathway: Berkeley receives thousands of transfer applicants annually and accepts a meaningful share through the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program for students at participating California community colleges.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of California-Berkeley (this school) | 97 | $13,481 | $92,446 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus | 97 | $12,116 | $102,772 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 96 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | 95 | $13,138 | $83,648 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | 94 | $11,655 | $72,200 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | 75 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See University of California-Berkeley side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
Berkeley does not report SAT/ACT score ranges in the Scorecard data. Admitted students in technical programs (CS, EECS, engineering) face the most competitive internal admissions, while social science and humanities admits come from a broader range. Students who thrive here are typically self-directed, comfortable in large lecture environments, and prepared to compete for research opportunities, internships, and selective programs within a 33,000-student undergraduate body.
Transfer Pathways
California CC students can apply for Transfer Admission Guarantee agreements with specific TAG-eligible majors. The Assist.org articulation database maps CC courses to Berkeley requirements. Roughly one-third of Berkeley's undergraduate enrollment consists of transfer students. For California residents who do not gain freshman admission, a CC-to-Berkeley transfer is a viable and relatively well-structured pathway, particularly in less impacted majors. CS and Engineering do not participate in TAG and remain highly competitive for transfers.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
If you're asking whether University of California-Berkeley is worth it, the short answer is yes - it's one of the strongest money decisions in higher education. Four years here run about $53,924 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $92,446 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 3.4 years, well ahead of most schools.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 92.8% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
On debt, you can breathe a little easier here. Median debt of $13,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $57,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.23: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
University of California-Berkeley: Common Questions
Is University of California-Berkeley worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of California-Berkeley pays off. It scores 97/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $13,481 a year after aid ($53,924 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $92,446 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 3.4 years to earn back.
How much does University of California-Berkeley cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $13,481 a year, or roughly $53,924 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of California-Berkeley graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $92,446 ten years after enrolling, roughly $50,646 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of California-Berkeley?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 3.4 years for University of California-Berkeley. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of California-Berkeley graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $13,000, against average earnings of $57,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.23. In our view that is very manageable: well under 1.0, the point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-Berkeley?
The six-year graduation rate is 92.8%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.