UC Berkeley vs. Rutgers

Deciding between University of California Berkeley and Rutgers University New Brunswick? 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
Rutgers University New Brunswick

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UC Berkeley Berkeley, CA
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Setting
  • UC Berkeley Midsize City
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UC Berkeley 45,882
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Type
  • UC Berkeley Public 4 Year
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UC Berkeley #65
  • Rutgers #114
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UC Berkeley -
  • Rutgers -
  • Status
  • UC Berkeley Non-profit
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UC Berkeley
  • Rutgers

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UC Berkeley $16,347
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UC Berkeley $50,547
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Room & Board
  • UC Berkeley $23,750
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Average Net Price
  • UC Berkeley $16,538
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UC Berkeley $29,608
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UC Berkeley 53%
  • Rutgers 50%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UC Berkeley 124,242
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Admitted
  • UC Berkeley 13,639
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UC Berkeley 11%
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • UC Berkeley 46%
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UC Berkeley 1420
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • UC Berkeley 32
  • Rutgers 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UC Berkeley 3.87
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UC Berkeley A
  • Rutgers B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UC Berkeley Elite
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UC Berkeley Very High
  • Rutgers Low
  • ACT Range
  • UC Berkeley 30/35
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • UC Berkeley 1310/1530
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UC Berkeley Test-free
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026
  • Rutgers

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UC Berkeley 18:1
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UC Berkeley
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Biology (13%)
    • Engineering (10%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (5%)
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UC Berkeley 90%
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UC Berkeley $74,700
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UC Berkeley 79%
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UC Berkeley $14,200
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UC Berkeley $146
  • Rutgers $229

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UC Berkeley 46%
  • Rutgers 46%
  • % Women
  • UC Berkeley 54%
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UC Berkeley Very High
  • Rutgers Very High
  • HBCU
  • UC Berkeley No
  • Rutgers No
  • % White
  • UC Berkeley 27%
  • Rutgers 42%
  • % Asian
  • UC Berkeley 35%
  • Rutgers 26%
  • % Black
  • UC Berkeley 2%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UC Berkeley 14%
  • Rutgers 13%
  • % Native American
  • UC Berkeley 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UC Berkeley 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UC Berkeley 5%
  • Rutgers 3%
  • % International
  • UC Berkeley 14%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UC Berkeley 3%
  • Rutgers 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UC Berkeley 84%
  • Rutgers 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UC Berkeley 9%
  • Rutgers 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Berkeley in Berkeley, CA with Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than UC Berkeley based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 45,882 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Berkeley is located in Berkeley, CA (Midsize City setting); Rutgers University New Brunswick is in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting).
  • University of California Berkeley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Berkeley 18:1; Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1.

UC Berkeley vs. Rutgers Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Berkeley or Rutgers? 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 Rutgers ($16,538 vs. $20,522).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 33.8% lower than at University of California Berkeley ($15,714 vs. $23,750).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is 9.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Berkeley (about $1,582 more per year; $17,929.00 vs. $16,347.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 35% higher at UC Berkeley than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $13,106 more per year; $50,547.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Berkeley than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (53% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Berkeley students is 76.8% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($29,608 vs. $16,742).

UC Berkeley vs. Rutgers Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Berkeley or Rutgers? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Rutgers and UC Berkeley.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Berkeley (1420) is 10 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming UC Berkeley students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Berkeley 1310/1530; Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Berkeley 30/35; Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Berkeley - Test-free; Rutgers - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UC Berkeley students have a 0.57 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than UC Berkeley (11%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46% at UC Berkeley vs. 20.5% at Rutgers.

UC Berkeley vs. Rutgers Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Berkeley and Rutgers? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of California Berkeley's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from University of California Berkeley earn a median of about $8,500 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,700 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Berkeley graduates have a $8,015 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($14,200 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, UC Berkeley graduates have an estimated $83 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($146 vs. $229).
  • More UC Berkeley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 68%)

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.