UC Berkeley is the world's top-ranked public university and one of the most competitive universities globally. Its overall undergraduate acceptance rate of approximately 11–14% is higher than elite private universities — but acceptance rates for the most sought-after majors are dramatically lower.
UC Berkeley Overall Acceptance Rate (2025–2026)
| Admissions Cycle | Applications | Admitted | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 entry (Fall 2024) | ~125,000 | ~14,300 | ~11.4% |
| 2023 entry | ~128,000 | ~14,600 | ~11.4% |
| 2022 entry | ~128,000 | ~14,900 | ~11.6% |
| 2020 entry | ~87,400 | ~13,000 | ~14.8% |
Berkeley's applicant pool has grown significantly while admitted class size has remained relatively stable — compressing the acceptance rate from nearly 15% to ~11%.
UC Berkeley Acceptance Rate by Major
UC Berkeley's College of Letters and Science admits students by intended major — and acceptance rates vary dramatically:
College of Engineering (EECS and CS — Most Competitive)
| Major | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|
| Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) | ~3–5% |
| Computer Science (L&S) | ~3–5% |
| Mechanical Engineering | ~8–10% |
| Civil Engineering | ~10–14% |
| Chemical Engineering | ~8–12% |
| Industrial Engineering (IEOR) | ~8–12% |
EECS at Berkeley is one of the most competitive undergraduate programmes in the world — rivalling Ivy League acceptance rates.
College of Letters and Science (L&S)
| Major | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|
| Economics | ~7–10% |
| Data Science | ~5–8% |
| Cognitive Science | ~8–12% |
| Applied Mathematics | ~8–12% |
| Business Administration (Haas) | Haas is junior transfer only — see below |
| Political Science | ~15–20% |
| History | ~20–25% |
| English | ~20–25% |
| Psychology | ~12–18% |
Haas School of Business (Junior Transfer — Unique System)
Berkeley's Haas School does not admit freshmen directly — students transfer from community colleges or apply as Berkeley juniors:
| Transfer Type | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|
| Junior transfer to Haas | ~7–9% |
| Community college to Haas | ~7–9% |
This is one of the most distinctive aspects of Berkeley's system — the Haas path requires either strong CC performance or two years of Berkeley coursework before applying.
UC Berkeley Graduate Acceptance Rates
| Programme | Est. Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|
| Haas School of Business (MBA) | ~7–9% |
| Goldman School of Public Policy (MPP) | ~15–20% |
| Berkeley Law (LLM) | ~20–25% |
| PhD Computer Science (EECS) | ~2–5% |
| PhD Economics | ~5–8% |
| PhD Political Science | ~5–8% |
| PhD Chemistry | ~10–15% |
| PhD History | ~8–12% |
| School of Education (MA/PhD) | ~20–30% |
Berkeley's EECS PhD is widely considered one of the two or three most competitive graduate programmes in the world — alongside MIT EECS and Stanford CS.
What Admitted Berkeley Students Look Like
Academic Profile (Freshmen)
| Metric | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| GPA (weighted) | 4.10 – 4.25 (middle 50%) |
| GPA (unweighted) | 3.85 – 4.0 |
| SAT | 1310 – 1510 (middle 50%) |
| ACT | 29 – 35 (middle 50%) |
Berkeley's UC Application uses a holistic review — grades are the primary factor, but personal insight essays, activities, and awards all contribute.
For EECS and CS Specifically
| Metric | Typical for Admitted CS/EECS Students |
|---|---|
| GPA (weighted) | 4.30+ |
| SAT | 1520–1580 |
| AP CS, AP Calculus BC | 5 |
| Competition / Research | AMC/AIME participation, hackathons, personal projects |
The UC Personal Insight Questions (PIQs)
Berkeley evaluates applicants through 8 PIQ (Personal Insight Questions) of which students answer 4. These 350-word essays carry significant weight:
Common PIQs:
- What leadership role have you taken and what was the outcome?
- What have you done to make your school or community better?
- What is the most significant challenge you have faced?
- Describe a creative solution you developed to a problem.
Vague, generic responses fail. Specific, personal narratives succeed.
International Students at Berkeley
Berkeley's undergraduate class is approximately 15–17% international students. The minimum TOEFL for international undergraduate applicants is 80 iBT — a hard requirement.
For graduate school, international students make up a large share — particularly in STEM (often 50%+ in EECS and Engineering).
TOEFL and IELTS for UC Berkeley
| Programme | TOEFL Min | IELTS Min | Competitive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | 80 iBT | 8.0 | 100–120 TOEFL |
| Graduate Division | 90 iBT | 7.0 | 100–120 TOEFL |
| Haas MBA | No min | No min | 109–120 TOEFL |
| Berkeley Law (LLM) | 80 iBT | 6.5 | 100–120 TOEFL |
| Goldman School (MPP) | 90 iBT | 7.0 | 107–120 TOEFL |
Berkeley's undergraduate TOEFL minimum of 80 is a hard requirement — applicants who cannot demonstrate this score will not receive an admissions offer regardless of academic strength.
How to Improve Your Berkeley Application
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Write outstanding PIQs — Berkeley's holistic review gives substantial weight to these essays. Specific, detailed responses beat generic achievement summaries.
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For EECS/CS: demonstrate you have built things — Berkeley CS and EECS admit students who have programming projects, hackathon experience, or research involvement. A high GPA alone is insufficient.
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For Haas: start at a strong community college — the junior transfer path to Haas via community college is a genuine alternative to freshman admission. Community college to Haas transfers are well-represented in Haas cohorts.
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Demonstrate the 80 TOEFL minimum for international undergrads — this is non-negotiable. Plan ahead and take TOEFL early enough to allow a retake if needed.
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IELTS 8.0 for undergrad; 7.0+ for grad — competitive graduate applicants score significantly above the 90 TOEFL / 7.0 IELTS graduate minimum.
Prepare for TOEFL with Gabble — UC Berkeley requires TOEFL 80 minimum for undergrad; competitive graduate applications need 100+. Or prepare for IELTS for the 8.0 undergraduate equivalent.