Is USC or UC Berkeley harder to get into?

UC Berkeley is typically harder to get into overall. Berkeley draws an enormous applicant pool, especially from California students, and its most in-demand colleges and majors can be extremely selective. It also does not consider demonstrated interest.

One concrete difference is how admission is structured. At Berkeley, selectivity can vary a lot by college or intended major, especially in areas like engineering, computer science, and business-related paths. That means a student who might look competitive for Berkeley in one division could be much less competitive in another, which makes the school feel tougher in practice.

USC is also very selective, but its process is a bit different. USC is a private university with a more individualized review that can give weight to factors like fit with a specific school, academic interests, talent, and the strength of the overall application package. It is still a reach for most applicants, but in a straight overall comparison, Berkeley is more often viewed as the tougher admit.

A small caveat is that for certain applicants or programs, USC can feel just as hard or even harder. Highly sought-after USC programs such as film, business, or merit scholarship consideration can be exceptionally competitive. But if you want the simplest answer to the broad question, Berkeley usually has the edge in selectivity.