Information Guide
The University of California, Berkeley is the University of California system's most selective campus. In the fall 2026 cycle, UC Berkeley admitted about 10.5% of first-year applicants: 13,967 of 133,128 applicants, according to the University of California Office of the President's preliminary data. This guide explains how that UC Berkeley acceptance rate is calculated, how it differs by applicant type, what admitted students look like academically, and what the 2026-27 application timeline and costs are.
Data as of October 31, 2026. Fall 2026 figures are preliminary. This article covers undergraduate admission only.
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For the fall 2026 entering class, UC Berkeley's first-year acceptance rate was 10.5%. The calculation is admitted applicants divided by total applicants: 13,967 ÷ 133,128 × 100 = 10.5%.
Three terms are easy to confuse:
Berkeley's own counts vary slightly by date. Berkeley News reported 13,982 first-year offers in July 2026. Both figures round to about 10.5%. Berkeley's admissions profile rounds it to 11%.
Source: UC Office of the President preliminary fall 2026 data, admission offers as of June 17, 2026; Berkeley News, July 29, 2026.
| Entering class | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance rate |
| Fall 2026 (preliminary) | 133,128 | 13,967 | 10.5% |
| Fall 2025 | 126,864 | 14,524 | 11.4% |
| Fall 2024 | 124,245 | 13,714 | 11.0% |
| Fall 2023 | 125,916 | 14,769 | 11.7% |
| Fall 2022 | 128,226 | 14,614 | 11.4% |
Rates calculated from first-year applicant and admit counts. Fall 2022–2025 come from Berkeley's Common Data Sets; fall 2026 is preliminary UC data. Berkeley's news releases report slightly different counts for some years because of timing.
Applications rose about 5% in fall 2026, while Berkeley offered about 500 fewer seats. Berkeley says the reduction in offers reflected "a modest reduction in available enrollment seats." That combination pushed the rate to the lowest of the five years shown.
First-year: 10.5% for fall 2026 (above).
Transfer: Berkeley admitted 5,284 transfer students for fall 2026. UC lists 26,216 transfer applicants, which works out to roughly 20%. Admitted transfers averaged a 3.8 GPA. California residents made up 82% of the admitted transfer class, and over 93% came from California community colleges. Transfer and first-year admission are separate processes; don't compare the two rates as if they measured the same pool.
Sources: Berkeley News, July 29, 2026; UC Office of the President Table 1a, fall 2026.
| First-year applicants, fall 2026 | Applicants | Admitted | Rate |
| California residents | 76,201 | 9,445 | 12.4% |
| Out-of-state U.S. | 31,707 | 3,155 | 10.0% |
| International | 25,220 | 1,367 | 5.4% |
California residents had the highest rate, and international applicants had the lowest. Nearly 10% of the admitted first-year class is international, from more than 72 countries. These figures are preliminary, and Berkeley doesn't publish acceptance rates by major, so treat any major-level rate you see online as an estimate.
Berkeley is part of the University of California's single application, which covers all nine undergraduate campuses. Meeting UC's minimum eligibility requirements is the starting point, not a guarantee of admission. ⚑ Those requirements include completing the 15-course A–G subject pattern and earning a minimum GPA in those courses (3.0 for California residents, 3.4 for nonresidents). ⚑ The application also includes a set of Personal Insight Questions. Confirm the current course pattern, GPA minimums and question format at admission.universityofcalifornia.edu.
Testing: UC does not consider SAT or ACT scores when making admission decisions. UC has said there is no change to requirements for fall 2027 applicants.
International applicants: Berkeley and UC set English proficiency and credential requirements that depend on your school system. Check Berkeley's international admissions page for current minimums rather than relying on third-party score tables.
There is no GPA cutoff for admission. Berkeley's admitted fall 2026 first-years had an average 3.93 unweighted and 4.52 weighted GPA, and 97% had a weighted GPA of at least 4.0. These describe the admitted class, not a minimum. Some admitted students have lower GPAs, and many high-GPA applicants are denied.
Source: Berkeley News, July 29, 2026.
UC campuses use comprehensive review, which means no single factor decides an application. Berkeley considers academic performance and course rigor, the Personal Insight Questions, activities and leadership, personal achievements, and the context of each applicant's circumstances. Intended major can also matter. Berkeley says applicants should choose a major carefully, and some programs are more competitive than others. Because grades are uniformly high among admitted students, the other parts of the application carry real weight.
For fall 2027 entry:
Berkeley does not offer early action or early decision. Check the UC admissions site for the current cycle before you apply.
International applicants applied in large numbers: 25,220 first-year applications for fall 2026, with 1,367 admitted (5.4%). Applicants educated outside the U.S. follow the same UC application, but transcripts, credentials and English proficiency are evaluated against country-specific guidance. For nonresident tuition and the full budget, see the cost section below. Berkeley's financial aid office lists scholarship opportunities for international students; confirm eligibility and amounts on its international students page. Need-based federal and state aid is generally limited to U.S. citizens and eligible noncitizens, so ⚑ confirm your own eligibility.
For new undergraduates starting in 2026-27, Berkeley estimates tuition and fees at $18,214 and these total budgets, which include housing, food, books, transportation and personal expenses:
| Living arrangement | Estimated total cost of attendance |
| Residence hall | $54,674 |
| On-campus apartment | $56,334 |
| Off-campus apartment | $49,692 |
| Living with relatives | $39,428 |
New out-of-state and international students pay an additional $39,270 in Nonresident Supplemental Tuition on top of the figures above. Tuition-only figures differ from the full cost of attendance, and actual costs depend on your residency, housing and program. All amounts are Berkeley's estimates and may change. California families with lower incomes may qualify for significant aid; ⚑ UC's Blue and Gold plan covers tuition for most California families earning up to $100,000, so confirm the current threshold.
Source: UC Berkeley Financial Aid and Scholarships, Student Budgets (2026-27).
If you're comparing off-campus options, use Acolyte Living's cost of living calculator to model your own budget.
What is the latest UC Berkeley acceptance rate? 10.5% for first-year applicants in fall 2026 (13,967 of 133,128), per preliminary UC data.
Is UC Berkeley difficult to get into? Yes. Roughly one in ten first-year applicants was admitted, and admitted students averaged a 3.93 unweighted GPA.
What GPA do you need to get into UC Berkeley? There is no cutoff. The admitted fall 2026 class averaged 3.93 unweighted and 4.52 weighted.
What is the UC Berkeley transfer acceptance rate? About 20% for fall 2026 (5,284 admitted from about 26,200 applicants).
Does UC Berkeley accept international students? Yes. In fall 2026, 1,367 of 25,220 international first-year applicants were admitted (5.4%).
Does UC Berkeley require SAT or ACT scores? No. UC doesn't consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions.
What are the UC Berkeley application deadlines? The fall 2027 application is open October 1 to November 30, 2026.
How much does it cost to attend UC Berkeley? New undergraduates in 2026-27 face estimated total budgets of about $39,400 to $56,300 depending on housing, plus $39,270 in nonresident tuition if you're from out of state or abroad.
Does UC Berkeley offer financial aid to international students? Berkeley lists scholarship opportunities for international students. Eligibility for federal and state aid is limited, so check Berkeley's international students aid page.
What makes an application competitive at UC Berkeley? Very strong grades in rigorous courses, plus the context, achievements and writing that comprehensive review rewards.
UC Berkeley admitted about 10.5% of first-year applicants for fall 2026, making it one of the most competitive public universities in the country. Strong grades are the baseline, not the differentiator, and rates vary by residency and by first-year versus transfer path. Review the current requirements on Berkeley's and UC's official pages before you apply.
If you're planning to study in Berkeley, explore student accommodation in Berkeley, California or see our guide to student housing near UC Berkeley. Acolyte Living is not affiliated with UC Berkeley or the University of California.
