University of Calfornia Berkeley Scholarships (2026â2027)
â Back to college scholarships hub ⢠See California aid & Grants
Last Updated on March 31, 2026- Tuition, housing, and average family net price
- Automatic merit ranges and qualifier benchmarks
- Flagship and hidden-gem awards
- Honors and stacking strategy
đ Admissions Snapshot
- Acceptance Rate: ~12%
- Middle 50% ACT: N/A
- Middle 50% SAT: N/A
- Average GPA: 4.5
- Below the typical ranges: UC Berkeley is a high reach. Focus on building a balanced list with strong financial safetiesâespecially schools that offer guaranteed meritâbecause Berkeley wonât be your budget solution.
- In the typical ranges: Youâre academically competitive, but Berkeley admits very selectively. Your studentâs activities, leadership, and impact matter just as much as GPA. Treat this as a reach, not a match.
- Well above the ranges: Even top students are not âsafeâ here. Berkeley is holistic and unpredictable. Alsoâbeing overqualified does not translate into merit money at this school.
Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state â
đ University of Calfornia Berkeley at a Glance
- Extremely selective admissions: Around a 12% acceptance rate with very high GPA ranges means strong students still get denied every year. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
- Almost no automatic merit: Scholarships like Regentsâ & Chancellorâs are highly competitiveânot something you can count on.
- Test scores donât matter: UC schools are fully test-free, so SAT/ACT wonât help your student stand out or qualify for scholarships.
- No out-of-state discounts: Berkeley does not offer WUE or reciprocity, so non-resident costs stay high unless you qualify for need-based aid.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? No â University of Calfornia Berkeley is test-required.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: N/A; SAT: N/A.
Average net price? About $16,997/yearyear after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity? Yes â participates in none.
đ° Cost of Attendance at University of Calfornia Berkeley 2026-2027
đ 2026â2027 Planning Note: The costs below reflect the most recently published figures (2025â2026). Universities typically finalize the next yearâs rates in the spring, and weâll update this page once official 2026â2027 numbers are released.
Planning tip: At large public universities, tuition, fees, and housing usually increase modestly each year (often in the 2â5% range). For early budgeting, families may want to plan for roughly $1,000â$1,500 more in-state or $2,000â$3,000 more out-of-state in total direct costs once new rates are published.
| Category (2026â2027) | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Mandatory Fees (2 semesters) | $15,700 | $53,302 |
| Housing & Meals (typical) | $23,250 | $23,250 |
| Total (Direct Costs) | $38,950 | $76,552 |
Average Federal Net Price: $16,997 â this is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships (no loans), based on the most recent federal data. Your specific cost could be significantly lower or higher depending on your financial aid eligibility and merit scholarships. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
California high school graduates may qualify for AB 540 to pay in-state rates.
COA Mini-FAQ
Can Blue & Gold cover my tuition? Yesâeligible CA residents with family income under $80,000 get systemwide tuition covered (fees and living costs vary).
Does Regentsâ mean full tuition? It can meet full need for eligible students (which may include tuition). Students without demonstrated need receive a minimum $2,500 stipend.
Is there an out-of-state discount? No WUE or automatic waivers. Nonresidents pay NRST unless they qualify for AB 540 (limited cases).
Where can I estimate my net price? Use Berkeleyâs net price calculator and file FAFSA/CADAA by March 2 for the best aid consideration.
UC Berkeley Cost of Attendance (Undergraduate): https://financialaid.berkeley.edu/cost-of-attendance/
UC Berkeley Tuition & Fees (Registrar): https://registrar.berkeley.edu/tuition-fees-residency/tuition-fees/
UC Nonresident Supplemental Tuition (NRST): https://www.ucop.edu/operating-budget/fees-and-tuition/nonresident-supplemental-tuition/
UC Berkeley Housing & Dining rates: https://housing.berkeley.edu/rates/
UC Berkeley Net Price Calculator: https://financialaid.berkeley.edu/estimate-your-costs/net-price-calculator/
AB 540 (CA Nonresident Tuition Exemption): https://www.csac.ca.gov/post/california-nonresident-tuition-exemption
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.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Class Scholarship (MCS) | Varies based on need (can cover up to 40% of UC systemwide tuition) | CA resident, family income and assets under $217,000, FAFSA or CA Dream Act Application, not already receiving full-tuition grants | No (automatic with FAFSA/CADAA) | Yes (file each year & remain income eligible) | Middle- and moderate-income CA undergrads who do not qualify for full need-based tuition grants | March 2 |
| Berkeley Undergraduate Scholarship | Up to $6,000 | Entering and continuing students, California residents; academic merit and financial need. Awarded via a pool of campus donor funds | No (auto review with FAFSA/CADAA) | Yes (with continued eligibility and application) | Students with strong academics who demonstrate financial need; top ~3,000 undergraduates annually | March 2 |
FAQ
- Does Berkeley offer automatic merit scholarships for in-state or out-of-state students?
- No. There are no automatic merit scholarships for any applicantâscholarships 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 recordâno 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 Regentsâ Scholarship and the Chancellorâs Scholarship. These are not automaticâselection is invitation-only and extended to a small percentage of top admitted students after admissions review.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regentsâ Scholarship | Up to $10,000/year (plus perks) | Top 1â2% of admits, freshman or transfer; all majors; CA and nonresident | No (invitation only) | Yes (up to 4 years with good standing; 2 years for transfers) | Students with top academic achievement, broad leadership and service, strong holistic application | Nov 30 (auto consideration via UC app) |
| Chancellorâs Scholarship | Up to $6,000/year (plus perks) | Top admitted students with demonstrated excellence, service, and campus impact (exact GPA/test ranges vary, test not required) | No (invitation only) | Yes (up to 4 years with continued eligibility) | Students with outstanding achievement, community involvement, and strong UC essays | Nov 30 (auto consideration via UC app) |
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 aloneâholistic review, essays, and leadership count heavily.
FAQ: Competitive Scholarships at UC Berkeley
- Can students apply directly for the Regentsâ or Chancellorâs 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. Berkeleyâs official stance is that test scores play no role in selecting Regents’ or Chancellorâs 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.
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 studentsâespecially recipients of Regentsâ, Chancellorâs, 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
| Honors Program or Cohort | Award Amount | Eligibility | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEED Scholars Honors Program (STEM) | Up to $10,000/year (need-based); plus research stipends | STEM majors, entering freshmen; financial need preferred, holistic review, underrepresented backgrounds encouraged | Yes (SEED Scholars program app, typically requires UC app materials and essays) | Yes (all four years if in good standing; research grants by application) | Incoming STEM students seeking community, research, and leadership; priority for students with need or from equity backgrounds | Nov 30 (coordinate with UC app & SEED portal) |
For all other âhonorsâ opportunities, students earning departmental honors (usually juniors/seniors) may get recognition, research stipends, or travel grantsâbut 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 â but honors-style college perks are offered to select scholars. Regentsâ, Chancellorâs, 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. Regentsâ and Chancellorâs Scholars get scholarship money but are not tied to an âhonorsâ 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 criteriaâoften involving research or advanced seminars.
đŻ 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.
Consistently ranked the #3 engineering school in the world (QS World Rankings 2025), UC Berkeleyâs College of Engineering leads in electrical engineering, computer science, civil engineering, and bioengineering. Alumni and faculty have founded companies like Apple, Intel, and Tesla, and have earned dozens of national and global innovation awards.
- Haas School of Business â 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 â Berkeleyâs largest college, home to Top 10-ranked programs in economics, political science, psychology, and computer science.
- School of Law (Berkeley Law) â Ranked #9 nationally (U.S. News 2025) and internationally respected for intellectual property, environmental, and constitutional law.
- College of Chemistry â 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) â One of the nationâs Top 5 architecture and urban planning schools, emphasizing sustainable design and social impact.
- School of Public Health â Consistently ranked in the Top 10 nationwide, with pioneering work in epidemiology, community health, and health equity.