Does UC Berkeley offer merit scholarships for out-of-state applicants?

Question

I'm an out-of-state student looking really closely at UC Berkeley as a potential school, but I'm kind of worried about the tuition costs if I do get in. I've heard that Berkeley doesn't really offer much merit-based aid, especially for students who aren't California residents.

Can anyone clarify if there are any significant merit scholarships available to out-of-state students, or if it's mostly need-based aid and in-state benefits? It would help a lot to know if I should expect to pay full tuition or if it's even worth applying for merit aid at all.

Accepted Answer

UC Berkeley focuses mainly on need-based aid for California residents, so out-of-state students generally won’t qualify for major institutional scholarships or in-state tuition. A few merit awards exist, like the Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholarship, but they’re rare for non-residents and relatively small ($2,500/year). Most out-of-state students should plan to pay the full tuition, about $48,400/year before housing and fees.

I was able to secure over $25,000 in scholarships on top of my financial aid by asking my major’s department about opportunities. Many departments have funding sources that aren’t well advertised. Look for niche scholarships and keep developing your interests—they often make you eligible for awards others overlook.

Non-resident grant aid is limited and not guaranteed, so many students turn to outside scholarships from private organizations, hometown groups, or national competitions. If generous merit aid is a priority, consider other universities that offer strong packages to out-of-state students. At Berkeley, you’ll likely need to combine financial aid with external scholarships to make it affordable.