What is the current acceptance rate for UC Berkeley?
I'm a rising senior looking at UC Berkeley as one of my top choices, but I've heard it's really competitive to get in. I've tried searching for their latest acceptance rate, but I keep finding different numbers depending on the source.
For anyone who has applied recently or knows more about it, what was the rough acceptance rate this past year? Is it way harder for out-of-state or certain majors? My stats are decent but I'm nervous, so any info on how tough it really is would be helpful.
Also, is the acceptance rate different for the various colleges within Berkeley, like engineering vs. letters and science? Would love any insights!
For anyone who has applied recently or knows more about it, what was the rough acceptance rate this past year? Is it way harder for out-of-state or certain majors? My stats are decent but I'm nervous, so any info on how tough it really is would be helpful.
Also, is the acceptance rate different for the various colleges within Berkeley, like engineering vs. letters and science? Would love any insights!
6 months ago
•
103 views
Kathy Jayanth
• 6 months ago
Advisor
For the Fall 2023 admissions cycle, UC Berkeley's overall acceptance rate was about 11.6%. This figure reflects the continued rise in selectivity over the past few years. If you're applying as an out-of-state or international student, it is indeed even more competitive: the admission rate for non-California residents is lower, sometimes under 9% depending on the year, due partly to UC residency policies and high demand from in-state applicants.
The acceptance rate does vary dramatically by college and major. For example, the College of Letters & Science—the largest at Berkeley—has a slightly higher acceptance rate than more specialized colleges on campus. The College of Engineering, especially, is one of the most competitive divisions, with acceptance rates in some departments like Computer Science or Bioengineering dropping below 7%. On the other hand, less impacted majors may have marginally better odds. An example: applying to the College of Environmental Design or certain humanities may give you a slightly higher chance, though all Berkeley programs are highly selective.
The statistics change year to year, and within each college, some majors (like business at Haas) are significantly more difficult to get into. For instance, Computer Science in Letters & Science has a higher admit rate upfront than EECS in Engineering, but the requirements to "declare" CS later are very rigorous, so both are challenging in their own way.
If you have strong academics, unique extracurriculars, and compelling essays, you’ll still be a competitive applicant. It helps to apply to a major you’re genuinely interested in rather than trying to out-strategize the process, since Berkeley looks for authentic passion in applications. If you want more granular info, UC Berkeley usually posts detailed admitted student profiles on their admissions website.
In short: overall acceptance hovers around 11%, it gets tougher for out-of-state and some majors, and yes, different colleges within Berkeley have different selectivity. Take these stats as reference points, but remember they aren’t the only factors Berkeley considers!
The acceptance rate does vary dramatically by college and major. For example, the College of Letters & Science—the largest at Berkeley—has a slightly higher acceptance rate than more specialized colleges on campus. The College of Engineering, especially, is one of the most competitive divisions, with acceptance rates in some departments like Computer Science or Bioengineering dropping below 7%. On the other hand, less impacted majors may have marginally better odds. An example: applying to the College of Environmental Design or certain humanities may give you a slightly higher chance, though all Berkeley programs are highly selective.
The statistics change year to year, and within each college, some majors (like business at Haas) are significantly more difficult to get into. For instance, Computer Science in Letters & Science has a higher admit rate upfront than EECS in Engineering, but the requirements to "declare" CS later are very rigorous, so both are challenging in their own way.
If you have strong academics, unique extracurriculars, and compelling essays, you’ll still be a competitive applicant. It helps to apply to a major you’re genuinely interested in rather than trying to out-strategize the process, since Berkeley looks for authentic passion in applications. If you want more granular info, UC Berkeley usually posts detailed admitted student profiles on their admissions website.
In short: overall acceptance hovers around 11%, it gets tougher for out-of-state and some majors, and yes, different colleges within Berkeley have different selectivity. Take these stats as reference points, but remember they aren’t the only factors Berkeley considers!
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Kathy Jayanth
Berkeley, CA
UC Berkeley | Economics & Slavic Studies
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5 years
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