Is UVA or UC Berkeley more difficult for out-of-state applicants to get into?

Question

I’m a high school senior applying from outside both Virginia and California, and I’m trying to understand which school is generally more difficult for out-of-state applicants. I’m mainly interested in how each university approaches nonresident admissions, rather than comparing a specific year’s acceptance rate.

Accepted Answer

For most out-of-state applicants, UC Berkeley is typically the more difficult admit. It draws an exceptionally large national and international applicant pool, uses the UC comprehensive-review process without SAT/ACT scores, and has limited room for nonresident enrollment under University of California and state constraints.

UVA is also very selective for non-Virginia residents. An out-of-state applicant is competing for a comparatively limited portion of the class, but UVA’s review can give more weight to the full academic record, recommendations, activities, and application writing.

Berkeley may feel especially challenging for students applying to high-demand academic areas such as engineering, computer science, business-related pathways, or biology. UVA may be the more realistic of the two for an out-of-state student whose record shows strong sustained involvement, thoughtful teacher support, and a clear academic fit, not just top grades. Both should be treated as reaches unless the applicant’s academic preparation is outstanding in the context of their high school.

Is UVA or UC Berkeley more difficult for out-of-state applicants to get into?

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