How much does it cost to apply to UC Berkeley?

For Fall 2024 admissions, the application fee for UC Berkeley—and for all University of California (UC) campuses—is $80 per campus if you’re a U.S. resident or a permanent resident. If you’re an international or non-immigrant applicant, the fee is $95 per campus. So, if you want to apply to multiple UCs, you multiply the fee by the number of campuses you select. For example, applying to three UCs would be $240 (3 x $80) for U.S. applicants.

There isn’t an extra fee for out-of-state applicants beyond the $95 application fee if you’re classified as international/non-immigrant. However, keep in mind that tuition and other costs will be much higher for out-of-state students if you’re admitted, but that comes after the application stage.

You should definitely look into a UC application fee waiver if the fees are a concern. The UC application system lets you request a fee waiver while you fill out your application. If you qualify, you can apply to up to four UC campuses for free—as long as you meet the low-income eligibility requirements set by the UC.

If you’ve used fee waivers for other schools (ACT/SAT fee waivers, free/reduced lunch, etc.), there’s a good chance you’ll qualify for the UC fee waiver. The system will ask you some financial questions and let you know if you qualify, right as you apply. If you need to apply to more than four UCs, you'll have to pay the $80 fee for each additional campus beyond those first four.

Example: Let’s say you’re a California student whose family qualifies for free/reduced lunch. You could use the UC fee waiver to apply to UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Davis, and UC San Diego for free, but if you add UC Santa Barbara, you’d pay $80 just for that one.

If you don’t qualify for a waiver but are still struggling financially, you can try contacting UC Application Center support to see if they can help on a case-by-case basis—it’s rare, but sometimes possible. Private school fees may differ, and many have separate fee waiver processes, so plan out your application budget in advance if you’re applying broadly.

Let me know if you need more info or help navigating the fee waiver process!