UC Berkeley Acceptance Rate 2026: 11.43% Overall, Under 5% for EECS, and What Out-of-State Students Need to Know
By Rona Aydin
What Is UC Berkeley’s Acceptance Rate for the Class of 2030?
According to Berkeley’s Office of Planning and Analysis, Berkeley has not yet released complete Class of 2030 data. For the Class of 2029, Berkeley admitted 14,502 students from 126,843 applicants, an 11.43% rate. The Class of 2028 was 10.98% (13,639 from 124,242). Berkeley’s rate has dropped from 17.11% (Class of 2021) to approximately 11%, driven by a 51% surge in applications since the UC system eliminated standardized testing requirements. For context, see our Top 25 admissions statistics.
| Class | Applications | Admitted | Acceptance Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class of 2030 | TBD (~128,000 est.) | TBD | ~10-11% (est.) |
| Class of 2029 | 126,843 | 14,502 | 11.43% |
| Class of 2028 | 124,242 | 13,639 | 10.98% |
| Class of 2026 | 128,210 | ~14,600 | ~11.4% |
| Class of 2021 | 85,045 | 14,536 | 17.11% |
Source: UC Berkeley CDS, UC Fall Admissions Summary, 2017-2026.
How Hard Is UC Berkeley for Out-of-State Students?
According to admissions data analysis, the out-of-state acceptance rate at Berkeley is approximately 7-8%, significantly lower than the 11.43% overall rate. In-state (California) applicants see approximately 14-15%. This gap exists because the UC system prioritizes California residents as part of its public mission, though Berkeley does not have the formal two-thirds mandate that UVA has. For NJ, NY, and CT families, Berkeley is a reach school comparable in selectivity to Georgia Tech (9% OOS) and UCLA (~7-8% OOS).
| Residency | Rate (est.) | Comparable To |
|---|---|---|
| California Residents | ~14-15% | 2x advantage over OOS |
| Out-of-State | ~7-8% | Similar to UCLA OOS, Georgia Tech OOS |
| International | ~6-7% | Most competitive pool |
Source: UC Berkeley CDS, institutional data, 2024-2025.
Is Berkeley’s EECS Program Harder Than the University Overall?
Dramatically harder. According to Berkeley’s admissions data, the EECS (Electrical Engineering and Computer Science) program within the College of Engineering admits under 5% of applicants, making it one of the most selective CS programs in the country alongside CMU SCS (<5%) and MIT (4.6%). By contrast, the College of Letters & Science (which includes the separate CS major through L&S) has a higher acceptance rate of approximately 13-15%. This creates a critical strategic decision for CS applicants: apply to EECS (direct admit, under 5%) or L&S Computer Science (higher entry rate, same CS degree). For the full CS comparison, see our Best Colleges for CS guide.
Does Berkeley Have Early Decision or Early Action?
No. Like all UC schools, Berkeley uses a single application cycle through the UC Application (November 1-30 filing window, March decisions). There is no early round, which means every applicant competes in the same pool with no ED/EA advantage. This is a key difference from private peers where ED can 2-3x your odds. For early strategy at private schools, see our ED vs RD guide.
Is Berkeley Test-Blind?
Yes. The entire UC system has been test-blind since 2020, meaning SAT and ACT scores are not reviewed even if submitted. However, according to recent reports, there are policy discussions about potentially reintroducing standardized testing at Berkeley and UCLA as early as 2027. For the Class of 2030, Berkeley remains test-blind. The average admitted GPA is approximately 3.9+ unweighted. For testing strategy at non-UC schools, see our test strategy guide.
How Does Berkeley Compare to Other Top Schools?
| School | OOS Rate | Test Policy | ED Available? |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley | ~7-8% | Test-blind | No |
| UCLA | ~7-8% | Test-blind | No |
| Georgia Tech | 9% | Test-optional | No (EA only) |
| UVA | 10% | Test-optional | Yes (24%) |
| MIT | 4.6% | Required | Non-restrictive EA |
Source: Institutional data, CDS, 2024-2026.
What Are Your Chances on Berkeley’s Waitlist?
According to Berkeley’s CDS, Berkeley’s waitlist is moderately active. Unlike UCLA (which does not accept LOCIs), Berkeley allows waitlisted students to submit an update. However, the UC system’s massive scale means waitlist outcomes are largely driven by yield patterns rather than individual advocacy. For waitlist strategy at private schools where LOCIs matter more, see our LOCI guide and waitlist rates comparison.
Final Thoughts: Berkeley Admissions in 2026
UC Berkeley receives 127,000+ applications and admits approximately 11%. For out-of-state families, the ~7-8% rate makes it one of the most selective public universities in the country. EECS (<5%) is in the same tier as MIT and CMU SCS. With no early round advantage and a test-blind policy, your GPA, personal insight questions, and extracurricular depth are everything. At Oriel Admissions, our team of former admissions officers from Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia has helped students earn acceptances to Berkeley and other top universities. Schedule a consultation to discuss how we can help. For related guides, see our best engineering programs and best CS programs. For essay strategy, see our essay guide.
Comparable. Berkeley’s out-of-state rate (~7-8%) is similar to UCLA’s (~7-8%). Both are test-blind, both have no ED/EA, and both prioritize California residents. For STEM applicants, Berkeley’s EECS (<5%) is slightly more selective than UCLA's Samueli Engineering (~6%).
In terms of CS-specific rates, they are comparable. Berkeley EECS admits under 5%, similar to MIT’s 4.6% overall rate. The key difference: MIT does not admit by major (you can choose CS after enrollment), while Berkeley EECS is a direct-admit program with a separate, more competitive pool.
This is a critical strategic decision. EECS (College of Engineering) has a sub-5% rate but guarantees a CS curriculum from day one. L&S Computer Science (College of Letters & Science) has a higher entry rate (~13-15%) and offers the same CS degree, but you must declare the major after enrollment and meet internal requirements. If your profile is extremely competitive, apply EECS. If you want better entry odds, L&S CS is the strategic choice.
Test-blind. The entire UC system does not review SAT or ACT scores even if submitted. This is a permanent UC policy. Your GPA, course rigor, personal insight questions, and extracurriculars are the only factors evaluated.
No. All UC schools use a single application cycle (November 1-30 filing, March decisions). There is no early round, which means you cannot improve your odds by applying early like you can at private schools with ED.
At ~$70,000 total cost for out-of-state students, Berkeley is cheaper than MIT ($82K) and CMU ($80K) but significantly more expensive than in-state (~$18K). For STEM students, Berkeley’s industry placement (especially into Bay Area tech) is outstanding. Run the net price calculator before committing.
Both are top-10 engineering schools. Berkeley (EECS, ME, CE) is slightly more prestigious in CS/EE rankings. Georgia Tech (IE #1, ME, AE) has broader engineering specialty strengths and costs less ($53K vs $70K OOS). Georgia Tech has stronger co-op programs. Berkeley has stronger Bay Area tech pipelines.
There are policy discussions about reintroducing testing at Berkeley and UCLA, possibly as early as the Class of 2031 (fall 2027 enrollment). For the Class of 2030, Berkeley remains test-blind. Monitor announcements from the UC Board of Regents for updates.
