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.