UC Berkeley vs. La Sierra University

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Berkeley in Berkeley, CA with La Sierra University in Riverside, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

University of California Berkeley is larger than La Sierra University based on total student enrollment (45,882 students vs. 1,574 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Berkeley is located in Berkeley, CA (Midsize City setting); La Sierra University is in Riverside, CA (Large City setting).
• University of California Berkeley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. La Sierra University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Berkeley 18:1; La Sierra University 12:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at La Sierra University are 43.4% lower than at University of California Berkeley ($13,431 vs. $23,750).
• Out-of-state tuition is 34% higher at UC Berkeley than at La Sierra University (about $12,837 more per year; $50,547 vs. $37,710).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at La Sierra University than at University of California Berkeley (98% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Berkeley students is 7.1% larger than aid received by La Sierra University students ($29,608 vs. $27,646).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 9 points higher at UC Berkeley than at La Sierra University (32 vs. 23, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both UC Berkeley and La Sierra University.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at UC Berkeley average a 3.87 high school GPA, 0.33 higher than at La Sierra University (3.54).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46% at UC Berkeley vs. 13.3% at La Sierra University.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Berkeley graduates have a $15,800 lower median loan debt than La Sierra University graduates ($14,200 vs. $30,000).
• Among borrowers, UC Berkeley graduates have an estimated $164 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than La Sierra University graduates ($146 vs. $310).
• More UC Berkeley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former La Sierra University students, three years after graduation (79% vs. 52%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.