UC Berkeley vs. Harvard

Deciding between University of California Berkeley and Harvard University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of California Berkeley
Harvard University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UC Berkeley Berkeley, CA
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Setting
  • UC Berkeley Midsize City
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • UC Berkeley 45,882
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Type
  • UC Berkeley Public 4 Year
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UC Berkeley #65
  • Harvard #4
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UC Berkeley -
  • Harvard -
  • Status
  • UC Berkeley Non-profit
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UC Berkeley
  • Harvard

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UC Berkeley $16,347
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UC Berkeley $50,547
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Room & Board
  • UC Berkeley $23,750
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Average Net Price
  • UC Berkeley $16,538
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UC Berkeley $29,608
  • Harvard $68,015
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UC Berkeley 53%
  • Harvard 56%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UC Berkeley 124,242
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Admitted
  • UC Berkeley 13,639
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UC Berkeley 11%
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UC Berkeley 46%
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UC Berkeley 1420
  • Harvard 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • UC Berkeley 32
  • Harvard 35
  • Average High School GPA
  • UC Berkeley 3.87
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UC Berkeley A
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UC Berkeley Elite
  • Harvard Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UC Berkeley Very High
  • Harvard Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • UC Berkeley 30/35
  • Harvard 34/36
  • SAT Range
  • UC Berkeley 1310/1530
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UC Berkeley Test-free
  • Harvard Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UC Berkeley 18:1
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UC Berkeley
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (5%)
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UC Berkeley 90%
  • Harvard 97%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UC Berkeley $74,700
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UC Berkeley 79%
  • Harvard 70%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UC Berkeley $14,200
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UC Berkeley $146
  • Harvard $67

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UC Berkeley 46%
  • Harvard 46%
  • % Women
  • UC Berkeley 54%
  • Harvard 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UC Berkeley Very High
  • Harvard Very High
  • HBCU
  • UC Berkeley No
  • Harvard No
  • % White
  • UC Berkeley 27%
  • Harvard 44%
  • % Asian
  • UC Berkeley 35%
  • Harvard 19%
  • % Black
  • UC Berkeley 2%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UC Berkeley 14%
  • Harvard 10%
  • % Native American
  • UC Berkeley 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UC Berkeley 0%
  • Harvard 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UC Berkeley 5%
  • Harvard 6%
  • % International
  • UC Berkeley 14%
  • Harvard 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UC Berkeley 3%
  • Harvard 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UC Berkeley 84%
  • Harvard 14%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UC Berkeley 9%
  • Harvard 68%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UC Berkeley Yes
  • Harvard Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UC Berkeley No
  • Harvard Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • UC Berkeley Yes
  • Harvard Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UC Berkeley No
  • Harvard No
  • Daycare Facility
  • UC Berkeley Yes
  • Harvard Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Berkeley in Berkeley, CA with Harvard University in Cambridge, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Berkeley is larger than Harvard based on total student enrollment (45,882 students vs. 30,259 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Berkeley is located in Berkeley, CA (Midsize City setting); Harvard University is in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting).
  • University of California Berkeley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Berkeley 18:1; Harvard University 7:1.

UC Berkeley vs. Harvard Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Berkeley or Harvard? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Berkeley than Harvard ($16,538 vs. $17,525).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harvard University are 10.8% lower than at University of California Berkeley ($21,190 vs. $23,750).
  • Harvard University is 277.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Berkeley (about $45,329 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $16,347.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22% higher at Harvard than at University of California Berkeley (about $11,129 more per year; $61,676.00 vs. $50,547.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Harvard University than at University of California Berkeley (56% vs. 53%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 129.7% larger than aid received by University of California Berkeley students ($68,015 vs. $29,608).

UC Berkeley vs. Harvard Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Berkeley or Harvard? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Harvard and UC Berkeley.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 130 points higher than at UC Berkeley (1420).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (35 vs. 32 at UC Berkeley).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of California Berkeley 1310/1530; Harvard University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of California Berkeley 30/35; Harvard University 34/36.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Berkeley - Test-free; Harvard - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026; Harvard Jan 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman Harvard students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at UC Berkeley (3.87).
  • UC Berkeley has a higher acceptance rate (11%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46% at UC Berkeley vs. 83.6% at Harvard.

UC Berkeley vs. Harvard Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Berkeley and Harvard? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than University of California Berkeley's (90%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $62,000 more per year than UC Berkeley graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $74,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $7,700 lower median loan debt than UC Berkeley graduates ($6,500 vs. $14,200).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $79 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Berkeley graduates ($67 vs. $146).
  • More UC Berkeley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 70%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.