UC Berkeley vs. UT Dallas

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Berkeley is larger than UT Dallas based on total student enrollment (45,882 students vs. 29,886 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 Dallas is in Richardson, TX (Small City setting).
• University of California Berkeley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Texas at Dallas is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Berkeley 18:1; The University of Texas at Dallas 23:1.

UC Berkeley vs. UT Dallas Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Berkeley or UT Dallas? 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 The University of Texas at Dallas than UC Berkeley ($14,916 vs. $16,538).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Texas at Dallas are 39.2% lower than at University of California Berkeley ($14,430 vs. $23,750).
• University of California Berkeley is 11.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than UT Dallas (about $1,703 more per year; $16,347.00 vs. $14,644.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 25.9% higher at UC Berkeley than at The University of Texas at Dallas (about $10,403 more per year; $50,547.00 vs. $40,144.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Texas at Dallas than at University of California Berkeley (64% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Berkeley students is 98.6% larger than aid received by The University of Texas at Dallas students ($29,608 vs. $14,909).

UC Berkeley vs. UT Dallas Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Berkeley (1420) is 130 points higher than at UT Dallas (1290).
• Incoming UC Berkeley students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 28 at UT Dallas).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Berkeley 1310/1530; The University of Texas at Dallas 1160/1410.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Berkeley 30/35; The University of Texas at Dallas 24/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Berkeley - Test-free; UT Dallas - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026; UT Dallas May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UC Berkeley students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at UT Dallas (3.78).
• UT Dallas has a higher acceptance rate (65.1%) than UC Berkeley (11%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46% at UC Berkeley vs. 20.3% at UT Dallas.

UC Berkeley vs. UT Dallas Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Berkeley and UT Dallas? 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 Dallas's (61%).
• Graduates from University of California Berkeley earn a median of about $15,700 more per year than UT Dallas graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,700 vs. $59,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Berkeley graduates have a $4,550 lower median loan debt than UT Dallas graduates ($14,200 vs. $18,750).
• Among borrowers, UC Berkeley graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UT Dallas graduates ($146 vs. $193).
• More UC Berkeley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UT Dallas students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 64%)

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.