How many applications does UC Berkeley receive each year?
I’ve seen a bunch of different numbers floating around online about UC Berkeley’s application volume, and now I’m kind of confused. Is it like 80,000, 100,000, or some other crazy number?
I’m a current junior stressing out about applying next fall, and it feels a little overwhelming knowing so many people are trying for the same spots. Does anyone know the official numbers for recent years?
Also, does anyone know how these application numbers have been trending post-pandemic? Are more people applying now, or did the numbers calm down after 2021? I’m just trying to get a sense of how competitive it really is at this point.
I’m a current junior stressing out about applying next fall, and it feels a little overwhelming knowing so many people are trying for the same spots. Does anyone know the official numbers for recent years?
Also, does anyone know how these application numbers have been trending post-pandemic? Are more people applying now, or did the numbers calm down after 2021? I’m just trying to get a sense of how competitive it really is at this point.
4 months ago
•
101 views
Kathy Jayanth
• 4 months ago
Advisor
UC Berkeley’s application numbers are definitely impressive and can look a bit intimidating at first glance. For fall 2023, Berkeley received around 125,900 freshman applications. This number shifts slightly from year to year, but it’s been hovering around 120,000 to 130,000 for the past couple of cycles.
A few years ago, Berkeley’s numbers were closer to the 80,000–90,000 range. The spike happened during and after the pandemic, particularly in fall 2021, when the number of applicants jumped (a similar pattern was seen across many top public universities). The shift to test-optional definitely contributed, making more students feel like it was worth applying.
Since 2021, applications to UC Berkeley have stayed high, not dropping back to pre-pandemic levels. So, if you’re applying for fall 2025, you can expect the competitive landscape to be very similar: well over 100,000 total applications for around 15,000 offers of admission (and about 6,500 students enrolling).
For a quick comparison: The freshman application total for Fall 2021 was about 112,800, Fall 2022 was around 128,200, and Fall 2023 was 125,900. This shows that, while there’s a bit of fluctuation, the numbers have remained quite high and steady post-pandemic.
It can feel overwhelming, but keep in mind that part of what drives these large numbers is that the UC application makes it easy to apply to multiple campuses at once, so many applicants apply to several UCs rather than just one.
If you’d like to see the most recent data directly from the university, UC publishes statistics every year—just search for “UC systemwide application statistics.” But for planning purposes, assuming Berkeley gets close to 120,000–130,000 applicants for each entering class is a safe bet for now.
A few years ago, Berkeley’s numbers were closer to the 80,000–90,000 range. The spike happened during and after the pandemic, particularly in fall 2021, when the number of applicants jumped (a similar pattern was seen across many top public universities). The shift to test-optional definitely contributed, making more students feel like it was worth applying.
Since 2021, applications to UC Berkeley have stayed high, not dropping back to pre-pandemic levels. So, if you’re applying for fall 2025, you can expect the competitive landscape to be very similar: well over 100,000 total applications for around 15,000 offers of admission (and about 6,500 students enrolling).
For a quick comparison: The freshman application total for Fall 2021 was about 112,800, Fall 2022 was around 128,200, and Fall 2023 was 125,900. This shows that, while there’s a bit of fluctuation, the numbers have remained quite high and steady post-pandemic.
It can feel overwhelming, but keep in mind that part of what drives these large numbers is that the UC application makes it easy to apply to multiple campuses at once, so many applicants apply to several UCs rather than just one.
If you’d like to see the most recent data directly from the university, UC publishes statistics every year—just search for “UC systemwide application statistics.” But for planning purposes, assuming Berkeley gets close to 120,000–130,000 applicants for each entering class is a safe bet for now.
Kathy Jayanth
Berkeley, CA
UC Berkeley | Economics & Slavic Studies
Experience
5 years
Rating