UC Berkeley vs. UCLA

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Los Angeles is larger than UC Berkeley based on total student enrollment (47,335 students vs. 45,882 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Berkeley is located in Berkeley, CA (Midsize City setting); University of California Los Angeles is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
• University of California Berkeley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Los Angeles is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Berkeley 18:1; University of California Los Angeles 20:1.

UC Berkeley vs. UCLA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Berkeley or UCLA? 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 Los Angeles than UC Berkeley ($14,512 vs. $16,538).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Los Angeles are 22.7% lower than at University of California Berkeley ($18,369 vs. $23,750).
• University of California Berkeley is 7.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCLA (about $1,144 more per year; $16,347.00 vs. $15,203.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.3% higher at UC Berkeley than at University of California Los Angeles (about $1,144 more per year; $50,547.00 vs. $49,403.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Berkeley than at University of California Los Angeles (53% vs. 49%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Berkeley students is 15.5% larger than aid received by University of California Los Angeles students ($29,608 vs. $25,627).

UC Berkeley vs. UCLA Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Berkeley (1420) is the same as at UCLA (1420).
• Incoming UC Berkeley students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 32) as students at UCLA (32).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Berkeley 1310/1530; University of California Los Angeles 1300/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Berkeley 30/35; University of California Los Angeles 29/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Berkeley - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind); UCLA - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind).
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026; UCLA Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UCLA students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at UC Berkeley (3.87).
• UC Berkeley has a higher acceptance rate (11%) than UCLA (9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46% at UC Berkeley vs. 50.4% at UCLA.

UC Berkeley vs. UCLA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Berkeley and UCLA? 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).

• The graduation rate at UC Berkeley is the same as at University of California Los Angeles (90% vs. 90%).
• Graduates from University of California Berkeley earn a median of about $4,000 more per year than UCLA graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,700 vs. $70,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Berkeley graduates have a $2,100 lower median loan debt than UCLA graduates ($14,200 vs. $16,300).
• Among borrowers, UC Berkeley graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCLA graduates ($146 vs. $168).
• More UC Berkeley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCLA students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 78%)

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.