How much is tuition at UC Berkeley for in-state and out-of-state students?
I’ve been trying to figure out what the actual cost of attending UC Berkeley is for both in-state and out-of-state students. I know tuition changes over the years and there are always extra fees, but it gets really confusing to calculate the total.
Can anyone break down what the tuition is for the 2024-2025 school year? I’m especially curious about the all-in yearly costs (including things like student fees), not just the base tuition number they put on the main website. I’m an out-of-state applicant but my cousin is in-state, so knowing both would be super helpful.
Also, does UC Berkeley ever give big scholarships to out-of-state students that help bring down tuition? Trying to figure out if applying is realistic for me.
Can anyone break down what the tuition is for the 2024-2025 school year? I’m especially curious about the all-in yearly costs (including things like student fees), not just the base tuition number they put on the main website. I’m an out-of-state applicant but my cousin is in-state, so knowing both would be super helpful.
Also, does UC Berkeley ever give big scholarships to out-of-state students that help bring down tuition? Trying to figure out if applying is realistic for me.
3 weeks ago
•
63 views
Kathy Jayanth
• 3 weeks ago
Advisor
For the 2024–2025 school year, tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are about $15,900 for California residents. Out-of-state students pay the same base tuition and fees but must also pay the Nonresident Supplemental Tuition of $32,574. That brings the total annual tuition and fees for nonresidents to about $48,500.
When you factor in living expenses, the numbers rise significantly. Housing and food cost around $20,000, books and supplies about $1,300, and personal expenses and transportation another $2,500 to $3,000. Altogether, the estimated annual cost of attendance is about $39,000 to $40,000 for in-state students and about $71,000 to $73,000 for out-of-state students.
Most financial aid from UC Berkeley is need-based and reserved for California residents. There are merit scholarships such as the Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholarship, but the number of out-of-state recipients is very small. Out-of-state students should not expect routine tuition discounts, although external scholarships can help. The Net Price Calculator on Berkeley’s website is the best way to get a personalized estimate.
From my own experience, the official cost is not always what you end up paying. My first year I barely received any aid, maybe a thousand dollars, and the dorms were extremely expensive. The next year, things improved. I moved into the co-op, which cut my housing costs by half, and I received more aid once my brother started university. My bill to the school dropped by 80 percent. In my last two years, I became very serious about scholarships. Although people had told me that scholarships do not make much of a difference, they changed everything for me. By hustling, applying, and writing strong essays, I was able to secure about $26,000 in scholarships. That allowed me to be completely financially independent from my family, which I know they appreciated.
The main lesson is that there is the listed price and then there is the real price. If you are not careful, the real price can end up being much higher, especially if you overspend on housing or personal expenses. On the other hand, if you are resourceful and intentional, you can cover a large portion of your costs through aid and scholarships. In fact, you can even set yourself up for financial independence after graduation.
This is where I believe I can help. Writing scholarship essays is a skill, and the same effort that goes into writing strong UC application essays can translate into securing financial support once you are admitted. When I work with students, I emphasize not just getting in, but also preparing them to thrive and stay financially secure once they are here
When you factor in living expenses, the numbers rise significantly. Housing and food cost around $20,000, books and supplies about $1,300, and personal expenses and transportation another $2,500 to $3,000. Altogether, the estimated annual cost of attendance is about $39,000 to $40,000 for in-state students and about $71,000 to $73,000 for out-of-state students.
Most financial aid from UC Berkeley is need-based and reserved for California residents. There are merit scholarships such as the Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholarship, but the number of out-of-state recipients is very small. Out-of-state students should not expect routine tuition discounts, although external scholarships can help. The Net Price Calculator on Berkeley’s website is the best way to get a personalized estimate.
From my own experience, the official cost is not always what you end up paying. My first year I barely received any aid, maybe a thousand dollars, and the dorms were extremely expensive. The next year, things improved. I moved into the co-op, which cut my housing costs by half, and I received more aid once my brother started university. My bill to the school dropped by 80 percent. In my last two years, I became very serious about scholarships. Although people had told me that scholarships do not make much of a difference, they changed everything for me. By hustling, applying, and writing strong essays, I was able to secure about $26,000 in scholarships. That allowed me to be completely financially independent from my family, which I know they appreciated.
The main lesson is that there is the listed price and then there is the real price. If you are not careful, the real price can end up being much higher, especially if you overspend on housing or personal expenses. On the other hand, if you are resourceful and intentional, you can cover a large portion of your costs through aid and scholarships. In fact, you can even set yourself up for financial independence after graduation.
This is where I believe I can help. Writing scholarship essays is a skill, and the same effort that goes into writing strong UC application essays can translate into securing financial support once you are admitted. When I work with students, I emphasize not just getting in, but also preparing them to thrive and stay financially secure once they are here
Kathy Jayanth
Berkeley, CA
UC Berkeley | Economics & Slavic Studies
Experience
5 years