UC Berkeley Admission Requirements
Chances of getting into University of California Berkeley
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Elite | |
| Applicant Competition | Very High |
How hard is it to get into UC Berkeley and can I get accepted? The school has a 15% acceptance rate ranking it #9 in California for lowest rate of acceptance. Last year, 13,301 out of 89,607 applicants were admitted making UC Berkeley a very highly competitive school to get into with a low chance of acceptance for typical applicants. Academically, it has exceptionally high requirements for admission test scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 8 percent. University of California Berkeley typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students. Only 45% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school. Most incoming freshmen graduated in the top quarter of their high school class.
Can you get in?
Find out which students are getting accepted at UC Berkeley, which are not, and how your GPA, SAT, or ACT scores compare.
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UC Berkeley SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
Applicants Submitting SAT
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 650 |
| SAT Math 25th | 670 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1320 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 740 |
| SAT Math 75th | 790 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1530 |
| Average SAT Score | 1430 |
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to University of California Berkeley?
University of California Berkeley typically requires applicants to be in the top 10 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1320 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 1210. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1430 out of 1600. The school ranks #6 in California for highest average SAT composite score. A competitive SAT score is critical as 79 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2018 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1530 and Above | Good | >23% |
| 1425 to 1530 | Avg + | 15%-23% |
| 1320 to 1425 | Avg - | 9%-15% |
| 1215 to 1320 | Reach | 6%-9% |
| Less than 1215 | Low | <6% |
UC Berkeley ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
Applicants Submitting ACT
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 29 |
| ACT Math 25th | 28 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 31 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 35 |
| ACT Math 75th | 35 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 35 |
| Average ACT Score | 33 |
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into UC Berkeley?
Admission data indicates that UC Berkeley regularly accepts students with ACT's of 31 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 5 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 29 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 33 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 35 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #3 in California for highest average ACT composite score. 50 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to University of California Berkeley.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2018 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 35 and Above | Good | >23% |
| 33 to 35 | Avg + | 15%-23% |
| 31 to 33 | Avg - | 9%-15% |
| 29 to 31 | Reach | 6%-9% |
| Less than 29 | Low | <6% |
Explore University of California Berkeley
UC Berkeley GPA
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
Typical High School Grades
You will need exceptionally good grades to get into University of California Berkeley. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at University of California Berkeley was 3.86 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily A- students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #13 in California for highest average GPA. Meeting these GPA requirements alone is not enough to gain admission as UC Berkeley is a very selective school.
| High School GPA | Freshmen Within Range | Competitiveness |
|---|---|---|
| 3.75+ | 83% | Good |
| 3.50 to 3.75 | 11% | Reach |
| 3.25 to 3.50 | 3% | Reach |
| 3.00 to 3.25 | 2% | Reach |
| 2.75 to 3.00 | 1% | Reach |
| 2.50 to 2.75 | N/A% | Low |
| 2.25 to 2.50 | N/A% | Low |
| 2.00 to 2.25 | N/A% | Low |
GPA Data Source, Wintergreen Orchard House
High School Class Rank
98% of University of California Berkeley freshman were in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 98% |
| Top 25% of class | 100% |
| Top 50% of class | 0% |
| Bottom 50% of class | 0% |
| Bottom 25% of class | 0% |
Applying
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 46,055 | 43,552 | 89,607 |
| Accepted | 7,716 | 5,585 | 13,301 |
| Acceptance Rate | 17% | 13% | 15% |
| Enrolled | 3,350 | 2,662 | 6,012 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 43% | 48% | 45% |
Fall 2020 Application Deadline
Applications were Due
Days left to Apply
The application deadline for Fall 2020 has passed. Applications were due on Nov 30, 2019.
Admission Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to University of California Berkeley and what student information is used for admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| High School GPA | Required |
| High School Class Rank | Neither required nor recommended |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Required |
| Recommendations | Neither required nor recommended |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Neither required nor recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | No |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Other Colleges to Consider
| Subject | Percent of Class |
|---|---|
| C |
University of California Los AngelesLos Angeles, California |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=110635 IPEDS survey data for University of California Berkeley.
FAQs
Does University of California Berkeley prefer SAT or ACT?
79% of students submit their SAT scores to UC Berkeley. 50% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into University of California Berkeley?
15% of those who apply are granted admission to UC Berkeley. Admission competition is very high and the college has elite admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for University of California Berkeley?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1320 and 1530. 79% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for University of California Berkeley?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 31 and 35. 50% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.
