🎓 UC Berkeley Scholarships & Financial Aid (2025–2026)

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UC Berkeley is the original University of California campus—and a global leader in public education. While the sticker price can look intimidating, many California families pay far less after Cal Grants, the UC Blue & Gold Opportunity Plan, and campus grants are applied.

Automatic merit is rare, but top applicants are considered for the Regents’ & Chancellor’s Scholarship. For students with financial need, total aid can meet full need (which can include tuition). Students without need receive a minimum $2,500 stipend.

💰 Cost of Attendance at UC Berkeley (2025–2026)

These are the standard full-time undergraduate budget figures for students living on campus. Actual totals vary by housing type, meal plan, and personal spending.

Note: Additional typical costs used for aid calculations include books & supplies (~$1,274), transportation (~$704), and personal expenses (~$6,284). Actual amounts vary by student.

Automatic Scholarships

UC Berkeley does not offer automatic merit scholarships for in-state or out-of-state students. Scholarships are awarded based on need or competitive review, not GPA or test scores. All undergraduate admission is through holistic review; no applicant is guaranteed an academic scholarship by meeting any specific GPA or SAT/ACT number.

If your student is a California resident with a household income under $217,000, they may qualify for the Middle Class Scholarship. This program is strictly need-based and requires you to submit the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application by March 2. For more details, visit our California State Aid Guide.

FAQ

Does Berkeley offer automatic merit scholarships for in-state or out-of-state students?

No. There are no automatic merit scholarships for any applicant—scholarships rely on financial need or selection via competitive review.

How do you qualify for the Middle Class Scholarship?

You must be a CA resident undergraduate with family income/assets under $217,000 and submit your FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application by March 2. The award amount depends on remaining need after all other grants/scholarships.

Who wins the Berkeley Undergraduate Scholarship?

It is awarded primarily to residents with demonstrated need and a strong academic record—no GPA or test cutoff, but successful applicants tend to be in the top 20% of the class.

Are there any automatic scholarships for out-of-state students?

No. Nonresident students pay the full out-of-state fee unless they receive rare, highly competitive scholarships such as Regents’ or Chancellor’s (which are not automatic and limited in number).

Competitive Scholarships

UC Berkeley offers two major competitive scholarships: the Regents’ Scholarship and the Chancellor’s Scholarship. These are not automatic—selection is invitation-only and extended to a small percentage of top admitted students after admissions review.

Both scholarships provide priority registration, special research funding, guaranteed housing, alumni and faculty mentorship, and access to exclusive academic programming. They are not awarded by GPA/test score alone—holistic review, essays, and leadership count heavily.

FAQ: Competitive Scholarships at UC Berkeley

Can students apply directly for the Regents’ or Chancellor’s Scholarships?

No. All first-year and transfer applicants to Berkeley are screened by the admissions office. The strongest applicants are automatically invited to participate in the next step.

What GPA or test scores are usually needed?

There are no hard cutoffs, but recipients often have a 4.0+ GPA and many have national honors, advanced coursework, and leadership. SAT/ACT scores are not required in UC admissions. If submitted, high scores can strengthen the application (but cannot be used for admission decisions).

If UC schools are test-blind, do ACT/SAT scores still matter for scholarships?

UC is officially test-free; SAT/ACT scores are not considered for admissions or campus-offered scholarships. However, some donors or external awards may use scores if submitted. Berkeley’s official stance is that test scores play no role in selecting Regents’ or Chancellor’s Scholars.

Do out-of-state students ever win these scholarships?

Yes, but most awards go to in-state students. Out-of-state winners do not receive nonresident tuition waivers; they must pay full out-of-state surcharge, with the scholarship applied toward overall costs.

Hidden Gem Scholarships

UC Berkeley doesn’t always advertise its full range of scholarships up front. After admission (or once enrolled), students can find smaller awards inside departments and donor-funded programs, along with external scholarship options, that can meaningfully lower costs.

• Berkeley Undergraduate Scholarship: The largest need-based program, covering thousands of students; awards up to $6,000 or more based on demonstrated financial need.
• Departmental Scholarships: Engineering, sciences, business, and even humanities/arts units offer small merit, research, or service-based scholarships for high achievers and thesis/leadership projects.
• Fiat Lux Scholarship: Full need-based aid (up to the cost of attendance) for eligible first-gen, low-income CA students from specific partner high schools. Cohort support and early research opportunities included.
• Outside Scholarships Portal: A maintained campus and iGrad database of vetted external/private scholarships updated year-round. Some are only visible/applicable after enrollment.

Honors at UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley does not have a central Honors College, but it offers honors-level perks and small-cohort programs to a select group of students—especially recipients of Regents’, Chancellor’s, or SEED scholarships, as well as those selected to the SEED Scholars Program (STEM honors cohort).

• Priority class registration and peer mentorship
• Access to special networking and research opportunities
• Faculty and alumni mentorship, honors housing by invitation
• Departmental honors available to juniors/seniors with strong GPAs, usually through thesis or advanced coursework

For all other “honors” opportunities, students earning departmental honors (usually juniors/seniors) may get recognition, research stipends, or travel grants—but not automatic scholarships just for being in an honors track.

FAQ: Honors and Scholarships at UC Berkeley

Is there an Honors College at Berkeley?

No — but honors-style college perks are offered to select scholars. Regents’, Chancellor’s, and SEED students are the closest equivalents, with departmental honors also available upper-division.

Are there scholarships just for honors students?

Only SEED has a scholarship tied directly to an honors/STEM cohort. Departmental honors usually award research stipends, not general scholarships. Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholars get scholarship money but are not tied to an “honors” college per se.

Can students apply to honors after enrolling?

Yes. SEED requires entering freshmen, but departmental honors and thesis programs are open to upper-division students who meet GPA and department criteria—often involving research or advanced seminars.

🎯 What UC Berkeley Is Known For

The University of California, Berkeley is a public R1 Research University and one of the most prestigious public institutions in the world. A powerhouse in STEM, social sciences, and the humanities, Berkeley is known for groundbreaking research, Nobel-winning faculty, and a legacy of innovation that spans technology, policy, and the arts.

• Haas School of Business — Ranked the #2 public business school in the U.S. (U.S. News 2025), known for entrepreneurship, finance, and sustainable business leadership.
• College of Letters & Science — Berkeley’s largest college, home to Top 10-ranked programs in economics, political science, psychology, and computer science.
• School of Law (Berkeley Law) — Ranked #9 nationally (U.S. News 2025) and internationally respected for intellectual property, environmental, and constitutional law.
• College of Chemistry — Globally ranked among the Top 5 chemistry programs, with research that has produced 16 Nobel laureates and major discoveries in materials and molecular science.
• College of Environmental Design (CED) — One of the nation’s Top 5 architecture and urban planning schools, emphasizing sustainable design and social impact.
• School of Public Health — Consistently ranked in the Top 10 nationwide, with pioneering work in epidemiology, community health, and health equity.

📎 Official Links — UC Berkeley

• UC Berkeley Homepage
• Honors Program (Rausser / campus honors advisory)
• Scholarships & Financial Aid

💬 Final Thoughts

UC Berkeley is more than a name—it’s a mindset. Students here are driven by curiosity and a belief that ideas can change the world, whether that’s through science, public policy, or the arts. For families, it’s also a reminder that even the nation’s top public university can be financially attainable through a smart mix of state aid, university grants, and outside scholarships. If your student is ready for an environment that challenges them to think bigger and reach higher, Berkeley delivers an experience that lasts a lifetime.

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