UC Berkeley vs. UT Austin

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Berkeley in Berkeley, CA with The University of Texas at Austin in Austin, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The University of Texas at Austin is larger than UC Berkeley based on total student enrollment (53,864 students vs. 45,882 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Berkeley is located in Berkeley, CA (Midsize City setting); The University of Texas at Austin is in Austin, TX (Large City setting).
• University of California Berkeley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Texas at Austin is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Berkeley 18:1; The University of Texas at Austin 18:1.

UC Berkeley vs. UT Austin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Berkeley or UT Austin? 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 UT Austin ($16,538 vs. $17,942).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Texas at Austin are 37.6% lower than at University of California Berkeley ($14,828 vs. $23,750).
• University of California Berkeley is 39.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UT Austin (about $4,659 more per year; $16,347.00 vs. $11,688.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.6% higher at UC Berkeley than at The University of Texas at Austin (about $5,639 more per year; $50,547.00 vs. $44,908.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Berkeley than at The University of Texas at Austin (53% vs. 42%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Berkeley students is 116.4% larger than aid received by The University of Texas at Austin students ($29,608 vs. $13,681).

UC Berkeley vs. UT Austin Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Berkeley or UT Austin? 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 UT Austin and UC Berkeley.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Berkeley (1420) is 40 points higher than at UT Austin (1380).
• Incoming UC Berkeley students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 30 at UT Austin).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Berkeley 1310/1530; The University of Texas at Austin 1250/1510.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Berkeley 30/35; The University of Texas at Austin 27/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Berkeley - Test-free; UT Austin - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026; UT Austin Dec 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Berkeley students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at UT Austin (3.8).
• UT Austin has a higher acceptance rate (26.6%) than UC Berkeley (11%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46% at UC Berkeley vs. 47.4% at UT Austin.

UC Berkeley vs. UT Austin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Berkeley and UT Austin? 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 The University of Texas at Austin's (81%).
• Graduates from University of California Berkeley earn a median of about $6,100 more per year than UT Austin graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,700 vs. $68,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Berkeley graduates have a $8,050 lower median loan debt than UT Austin graduates ($14,200 vs. $22,250).
• Among borrowers, UC Berkeley graduates have an estimated $84 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UT Austin graduates ($146 vs. $230).
• More UC Berkeley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UT Austin students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 77%)

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.