University of California-Berkeley: Cost, Graduate Salary, Acceptance Rate and Return on Investment
University of California-Berkeley is a public college in Berkeley, CA. Students pay about $13,481 a year in net price, and the median graduate earns $92,446 ten years after enrolling. By our Degree-ROI measure the degree pays back in about 1.5 years and adds $390,536 over a decade, ranking it #19 of 918 (top 3%) by value added.
What is University of California-Berkeley's acceptance rate?
University of California-Berkeley has an acceptance rate of 11.0%, which makes it highly selective. It is a public institution in Berkeley, CA enrolling about 33,068 students, with a 92.9% graduation rate.
How much does University of California-Berkeley cost?
University of California-Berkeley costs about $13,481 per year in average net price, what a typical student actually pays after grants and scholarships. Over four years, including typical borrowing, that totals roughly $66,924. Published sticker cost of attendance is $45,619 per year.
How much do University of California-Berkeley graduates earn?
Ten years after enrolling, the median University of California-Berkeley student earns $92,446 per year. That is $45,746 more than the $46,700 that the typical worker with only a high-school diploma earns.
Is University of California-Berkeley worth it? Degree ROI and payback period
University of California-Berkeley pays back its roughly $66,924 cost in about 1.5 years, then keeps returning the earnings premium. Over the first decade the degree adds about $390,536 net of cost, a 6.84x return on the money invested. That ranks it #19 of 918 (top 3%) by value added. Its top-tier value is driven mainly by a low net price and strong graduate earnings.
Top 10% value
University of California-Berkeley graduation rate and student debt
92.9% of University of California-Berkeley students complete their degree, and the median graduate leaves with $13,000 in federal student debt. That debt is about 14% of one year of median graduate earnings.
University of California-Berkeley by the numbers (vs the typical college)
How University of California-Berkeley compares to the median four-year college in our snapshot. Percentile is its rank among the 918 colleges that report both earnings and cost (higher is better).
| Metric | This school | Median college | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg net price / yr | $13,481 | $20,299 | cheaper than 81% |
| Median earnings (10 yrs) | $92,446 | $54,768 | 96th |
| Graduation rate | 92.9% | 57.0% | 97th |
| Acceptance rate | 11.0% | 75.7% | more selective than 97% |
| 10-yr value added | $390,536 | -$28,192 | 98th |
| ROI multiple (per $1) | 6.84x | 0.73x | 99th |
| Payback period | 1.5 yrs | 8.8 yrs | faster than 99% |
Frequently asked
Is University of California-Berkeley worth the cost compared to other colleges?
By value added net of cost, University of California-Berkeley ranks #19 of 918 (top 3%) of the 918 four-year colleges we rank, and returns about 6.84x the money invested over a decade.
Is University of California-Berkeley expensive compared to other colleges?
Its $13,481 average net price is below the $20,299 median for the colleges in this snapshot, making it cheaper than 81% of them.
Do University of California-Berkeley graduates earn more than average?
Median earnings of $92,446 ten years out are above the $54,768 median, higher than 96% of the colleges here.
How hard is it to get into University of California-Berkeley compared to other colleges?
Its 11.0% acceptance rate is below the 75.7% median, making it more selective than 97% of the colleges in the snapshot.
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