Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks University of California-Berkeley #4 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median $96,018 four years after enrollment, placing University of California-Berkeley in the 93.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Business Administration #2 nationally for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — a program-level anchor that reflects the institution's strength in high-earning fields. University of California-Berkeley earn about $7,513 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 81.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates consistently outpace what similar students earn at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks University of California-Berkeley #62 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting strong median earnings and a broad program portfolio anchored by high-demand fields.
Azimuth ranks University of California-Berkeley #4 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Berkeley, CA, University of California-Berkeley enrolls roughly 33,068 undergraduates. Retention is 96.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 92.8%, placing the institution among the strongest nationally for converting enrollment into degree completion. Where University of California-Berkeley performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks University of California-Berkeley #62 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $96,018, and graduates earn about $7,513 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of California-Berkeley in the 81.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program family is Social Sciences, but strength extends across a broad portfolio — Social Sciences accounts for 18% of degree output, and programs such as Business Administration and Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering rank among the highest-return offerings nationally. The composite is shaped by a more moderate access profile. University of California-Berkeley admits about 11.0% of applicants — a selectivity level that limits the size of each entering class and the share of low-income students the institution enrolls, with 28.6% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 34.6% identifying as first-generation. Access sits in the 97.3 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, while mobility reaches the 98.3 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting strong outcomes for the low-income students who do enroll. Affordability sits in the 91.0 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, a figure shaped by CA's public-tuition structure and the gap between sticker price and what aided families actually pay.
University of California-Berkeley's published cost of attendance is $45,619, but need-based aid reshapes what families actually pay. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $5,311, while middle-income families pay around $9,693, and higher-income families pay approximately $34,529. Azimuth ranks University of California-Berkeley #129 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. The gap between sticker price and what families actually pay can be substantial — see the net price illusion for how published costs compare with real out-of-pocket expenses. Berkeley's aid structure draws on federal, state, and institutional sources. Work-study is available as part of the aid package, per the financial aid page, and the California Dream Act Service Incentive Grant Program extends aid eligibility to qualifying students, broadening access across income levels. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application, and the university participates in state Cal Grant programs alongside its institutional grant offerings. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $13,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $28,508; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $96,018, median federal debt of $13,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $147 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
University of California-Berkeley is a strong fit for students drawn to the social sciences, analytical fields, and research-oriented disciplines who want a large public research university in CA with a well-established track record of post-graduation earnings. The earnings case is compelling: graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $96,018, placing University of California-Berkeley in the 93.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and earn about $7,513 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing University of California-Berkeley in the 81.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The aid structure reaches a meaningful share of students: 28.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 34.6% are first-generation, and Berkeley names dedicated first-generation support infrastructure — including the Berkeley First Gen program — as part of its student services offering, per the institution's diversity page. Low-income graduates sit in the 98.3 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions on a historical 10-year Scorecard measure, a strong signal for Pell-eligible students weighing long-run outcomes. Fit depends on two realistic filters: University of California-Berkeley admits about 11.0% of applicants, making the application process highly competitive, and the program portfolio is concentrated in Social Sciences and related analytical fields rather than applied-professional programs. Students whose academic interests align with those areas and who can navigate the selective admissions process will find the earnings trajectory and access infrastructure among the strongest available at a public institution.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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Financial GPS Tool
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This is the University Of California-Berkeley hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
University of California-Berkeley's published cost of attendance is $45,619, but need-based aid reshapes what families actually pay. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $5,311, while middle-income families pay around $9,693, and higher-income families pay approximately $34,529.
Azimuth ranks University of California-Berkeley #129 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
The gap between sticker price and what families actually pay can be substantial — see the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) for how published costs compare with real out-of-pocket expenses. Berkeley's aid structure draws on federal, state, and institutional sources.
Work-study is available as part of the aid package, per the financial aid page, and the California Dream Act Service Incentive Grant Program extends aid eligibility to qualifying students, broadening access across income levels. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application, and the university participates in state Cal Grant programs alongside its institutional grant offerings.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $13,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $28,508; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $96,018, median federal debt of $13,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $147 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of University of California-Berkeley earn median earnings of $96,018 four years after enrollment, placing University of California-Berkeley in the 93.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs well above the $65,228 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $7,513 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the university in the 81.7 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks University of California-Berkeley #62 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern at University of California-Berkeley reflects a broad but analytically oriented program mix. Social Sciences is the dominant program family, accounting for 18% of degrees, followed by Engineering at 11% and Business at 4%.
Computer Science combines high enrollment with strong pay, making it a key driver of the university's overall return profile. Azimuth ranks Computer Science #5 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 848 graduates earning median earnings of $204,379.
The Economics program graduates 799 students with median earnings of $135,050, and Azimuth ranks the program #7 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions. Among the largest programs, Artificial Intelligence (669 graduates) and Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (528 graduates) enroll substantial cohorts, with Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering graduates earning median earnings of $200,543 — Azimuth ranks the program #2 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The Berkeley Engineering department describes itself as known for its "collaborative culture" with "numerous opportunities for both students and faculty to explore and interact with researchers," a characterization that corresponds to the concentration of high-earning quantitative programs across the institution.
Consider these schools with similar outcomes but higher acceptance rates:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
California State University Maritime Academy Higher acceptance rate (87.1 percentage points higher) and located 14 miles away; similar graduate earnings | CA | 99% | $94,784 | Compare |
University Of San Francisco Higher acceptance rate (39.1 percentage points higher) and located 12 miles away; similar graduate earnings | CA | 51% | $89,812 | Compare |
Dominican University Of California Higher acceptance rate (84 percentage points higher) and located 16 miles away; similar graduate earnings | CA | 96% | $84,713 | Compare |
George Washington University Higher acceptance rate (31.9 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | DC | 44% | $90,873 | Compare |
Lafayette College Higher acceptance rate (19.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | PA | 31% | $91,410 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College Similar quality tier (#3 ranked) | NY | 48% | $75,971 | #3 | Compare |
University Of California-San Diego Similar quality tier in West (#1 ranked) | CA | 27% | $84,943 | #1 | Compare |
The University Of Texas At Austin Similar quality tier (#5 ranked) | TX | 27% | $75,121 | #5 | Compare |
University Of California-Irvine Similar quality tier in West (#6 ranked) | CA | 29% | $80,735 | #6 | Compare |
The University Of Texas At Arlington Similar quality tier (#7 ranked) | TX | 80% | $63,199 | #7 | Compare |
Computer Science
848 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
528 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
409 graduates
Operations Research
71 graduates
Economics
799 graduates
University of California-Berkeley's program mix is anchored in Social Sciences, which accounts for 18% of graduates, followed by Engineering at 11% and Business at 4%. Computer Science is the largest program with 848 graduates, followed by Economics (799 graduates), Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences (767 graduates), Artificial Intelligence (669 graduates), and Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (528 graduates).
Across 65 programs serving roughly 10,095 students annually, 45 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in engineering and quantitative fields.
Azimuth ranks Computer Science #5 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with 848 graduates earning $204,379. Azimuth ranks Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering #2 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $200,543.
Azimuth ranks Business Administration #2 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with 409 graduates earning $144,599. The Engineering college describes itself as known for its "collaborative culture" with "numerous opportunities for both students and faculty to explore and interact with researchers" across disciplines.
Azimuth ranks Economics #7 among nonprofit four-year institutions with median earnings of $135,050, and Azimuth ranks Natural Resources Conservation and Research #1 among nonprofit four-year institutions with median earnings of $78,624. Several of Berkeley's largest programs — including Computer Science, Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, and Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering — are fields where a meaningful share of graduates continue to graduate or professional school.
Engineering and computer-science-adjacent programs are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the national labor market directly. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) framework provides context for how Berkeley's dominant program families align with national wage trends, and the [program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-evaluate-programs/) explains how Azimuth evaluates programs across cohort scale and earnings.
