About the University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley, a public research university, is regarded as one of the most prestigious state universities in the US. The 4-year, coeducational college is a primarily residential college offering bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. The university is located in San Francisco’s Bay Area, where it is home to about 27,000 undergraduate students and 10,000 postgraduate students.
A brief history
Part of the University of California group, UC Berkeley was founded in 1868. Its creation aligned with the California gold rush and symbolised a desire to provide opportunity to following generations.
General information
Berkeley has 14 schools and colleges, including a number of graduate and professional schools, such as the School of Optometry and the Graduate School of Journalism.
Quick facts about UC Berkeley
- Undergrad degree: 4 year liberal arts
- Public or Private: Public
- Setting: Urban
- Residential Status: Primarily on campus
- Number of Undergraduates: 30,853 (approx)
- Number of Freshman: 6,538 (approx)
- Acceptance Rate: 11.6%
11.6%
1350 - 1540
30 - 35
3.89-4.00
UC Berkeley FAQ
What is Berkeley's QS World University Ranking?
#28
What is the median starting salary of Berkeley graduates?
$76,500 AUD
What percentage of Berkeley's students are international students?
16.2%
What percentage of UC Berkeley students live on campus?
27%
How hard is it to get into Berkeley?
Very! Berkeley’s acceptance rate is below 17% and close to 9% for international applicants.
How many undergraduate fields of study does Berkeley have?
50
What is Berkeley's Student-Faculty Ratio?
17.8:1
How many varsity sports teams are there at Berkeley?
27
What's the easiest way to get into Berkeley?
There is no easy way to get into UC Berkeley! But starting early and seeking guidance from resources like Crimson can increase your chances by 400%
The 6 most popular majors
19% Economics
The economics department at Berkeley is well-known for the excellence of its teaching and advising, with a strong reputation for producing innovative Ph.D. graduates.
12% Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
At the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at UC Berkeley, top-ranked programs attract stellar students and professors who pioneer the frontier of information sciences
6% Political Science
The Political Science major is concerned with exploring the exercise of power in its myriad forms and consequences.
6% Business
Haas Business School offers the knowledge and understanding of the business landscape and the tools to succeed within it. The degree program is highly customisable to suit different interests.
5% Environmental Science
The Environmental Science, Policy, and Management Department’s Environmental Sciences major is a top-rated, interdisciplinary program that deals with the impact of human activities on natural systems.
5% Cognitive Science
Cognitive Science is an interdisciplinary field of inquiry that is concerned with the acquisition, representation, and use of knowledge by individual minds, brains, and machines.
Virtual tour of the University of California, Berkeley
Notable alumni
Berkeley faculty have won 19 Nobel prizes, mostly in physics, chemistry and economics. Recent winners include Saul Perlmutter, who won the 2011 Prize for Physics for leading a team that discovered the accelerating expansion of the universe, suggesting the existence of a form of dark energy that comprises 75 per cent of the universe; and George Akerlof, who won the 2001 Prize for Economics for demonstrating how markets malfunction when buyers and sellers have access to different information.
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166
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152
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57
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76
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