Estimate your admissions probability based on 2024 admissions data.
California Resident
Out of State (Domestic)
International
Admissions rates vary significantly by residency.
Calculate using 10th & 11th grade A-G courses. Capped at 4.40 usually, but uncapped for admissions review.
Letters & Science (Most Majors)
Letters & Science (Computer Science – High Demand)
College of Engineering (EECS)
College of Engineering (Other)
College of Chemistry
Rausser College of Natural Resources
Haas School of Business (Spieker Program)
Engineering and CS are significantly more competitive.
Number of semesters of advanced coursework completed.
3 – Low Participation
5 – Average (Some clubs, generic essays)
7 – Strong (Leadership roles, strong essays)
9 – Exceptional (State/National awards, unique impact)
10 – World Class
Subjective assessment of your Personal Insight Questions and Activities.
Estimated Acceptance Chance:
–%
function calculateAdmissions() {
var residency = document.getElementById('residency').value;
var gpa = parseFloat(document.getElementById('ucGpa').value);
var major = document.getElementById('majorCategory').value;
var apCount = parseInt(document.getElementById('apIbCount').value);
var piq = parseInt(document.getElementById('piqScore').value);
// Validation
if (isNaN(gpa) || isNaN(apCount)) {
alert("Please enter valid numbers for GPA and Course Count.");
return;
}
// 1. Base Rate Logic (Based on recent admit data ~11-15%)
var baseRate = 0.11; // Default
if (residency === 'ca') baseRate = 0.15;
if (residency === 'oos') baseRate = 0.08;
if (residency === 'int') baseRate = 0.055;
// 2. GPA Multiplier (Holistic Review emphasizes High GPA)
// Avg admit GPA is around 4.15 – 4.29 (weighted)
var gpaMultiplier = 0;
if (gpa >= 4.6) gpaMultiplier = 2.8;
else if (gpa >= 4.4) gpaMultiplier = 2.2;
else if (gpa >= 4.2) gpaMultiplier = 1.3;
else if (gpa >= 4.0) gpaMultiplier = 0.8;
else if (gpa >= 3.8) gpaMultiplier = 0.4;
else if (gpa >= 3.5) gpaMultiplier = 0.1;
else gpaMultiplier = 0.01; // Below 3.5 is extremely unlikely
// 3. Major Difficulty Multiplier
var majorMultiplier = 1.0;
switch(major) {
case 'eecs': majorMultiplier = 0.25; break; // Extremely competitive
case 'ls_cs': majorMultiplier = 0.30; break; // Very competitive
case 'eng': majorMultiplier = 0.50; break;
case 'haas': majorMultiplier = 0.40; break;
case 'chem': majorMultiplier = 0.70; break;
case 'cnr': majorMultiplier = 1.10; break; // Slightly higher admit rate usually
case 'ls': majorMultiplier = 1.0; break;
}
// 4. Rigor Multiplier (AP/IB)
// UC values rigor heavily.
var rigorMultiplier = 1.0;
if (apCount > 12) rigorMultiplier = 1.3;
else if (apCount >= 8) rigorMultiplier = 1.1;
else if (apCount >= 4) rigorMultiplier = 1.0;
else rigorMultiplier = 0.8;
// 5. PIQ/Extracurricular Multiplier (Subjective)
// The "human" element
var piqMultiplier = piq / 5.5; // 5.5 is "neutral", 10 is nearly double chance
// Calculation
var finalProbability = baseRate * gpaMultiplier * majorMultiplier * rigorMultiplier * piqMultiplier;
// Normalize to Percentage
var percentage = finalProbability * 100;
// Hard Caps and Logic checks
if (percentage > 95) percentage = 95; // Never 100%
if (percentage < 1) percentage = 1;
if (gpa = 50) {
feedback = "Excellent Chances: Your profile is very strong for UC Berkeley. Your GPA and rigor align well with the top tier of applicants.";
} else if (percentage >= 25) {
feedback = "Competitive: You are a strong candidate (" + percentage.toFixed(1) + "%), but Berkeley is highly selective. Strong essays could push you over the edge.";
} else if (percentage >= 10) {
feedback = "Reach: Like most applicants, this is a reach school. Your academic metrics are in range, but admission is far from guaranteed.";
} else {
feedback = "High Reach: Your current metrics may be below the average admitted student profile, or you have selected an extremely competitive major.";
}
if (major === 'eecs' || major === 'ls_cs') {
feedback += "Note: You selected a Computer Science/Engineering path. These are impacted majors with acceptance rates significantly lower than the campus average.";
}
document.getElementById('analysisResult').innerHTML = feedback;
}
Understanding Your Odds: The UC Berkeley Acceptance Rate Calculator
The University of California, Berkeley (Cal) is one of the most prestigious and selective public universities in the world. With acceptance rates hovering between 11% and 15% depending on the year, understanding where you stand is a critical part of the college application strategy. This calculator helps estimate your admission probability using key metrics evaluated by the UC admissions office.
How the Calculation Works
Admissions at UC Berkeley are "holistic," meaning no single number guarantees entry. However, statistical trends allow us to model probabilities based on five distinct factors:
1. Weighted UC GPA
The University of California calculates GPA differently than many high schools. They focus on 10th and 11th-grade "A-G" courses. While a 4.0 is great, the average admitted student often has a weighted GPA between 4.15 and 4.29. Our calculator weighs this metric heavily, as academic excellence is the primary filter.
2. Residency Status
As a state-funded institution, UC Berkeley prioritizes California residents.
California Residents: Generally have higher acceptance rates (~15%).
Out-of-State & International: Face stiffer competition and significantly higher tuition costs, often resulting in acceptance rates in the single digits (~5-8%).
3. Major and College Selection
Not all seats at Berkeley are equally attainable. Applying to the College of Engineering (specifically for EECS) or the Spieker Undergraduate Business Program is statistically much more difficult than applying to the College of Letters & Science. Our calculator adjusts your odds based on the competitiveness of the program you select.
Admissions Statistics at a Glance
Category
Middle 25%-75% GPA (Weighted)
Estimated Admit Rate
Overall Freshman
4.15 – 4.29
~11.5%
CA Resident
4.12 – 4.30
~14.5%
Out of State
4.25 – 4.60
~7.8%
Engineering (EECS)
4.40 – 4.80
< 4%
The Importance of PIQs (Personal Insight Questions)
Since UC Berkeley does not consider SAT or ACT scores (test-blind), your essays (PIQs) and extracurricular activities carry immense weight. This is represented in the calculator as the "Extracurricular & PIQ Strength" input.
A student with a 3.9 GPA but world-class leadership experience and compelling essays often has a better chance than a 4.0 student with no extracurricular involvement. Use the slider in the calculator to see how improving your qualitative profile ("soft skills") can drastically improve your odds.
Strategies to Improve Your Chances
Maximize Course Rigor: Take as many AP, IB, or Dual Enrollment courses as you can handle while maintaining As.
Craft Unique Essays: Avoid clichés. Focus on leadership, initiative, and how you have contributed to your community.
Consider Your Major: If you are undecided, applying to the College of Letters & Science may offer a statistically better path than applying directly to Engineering, though transferring internally later can be difficult.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does UC Berkeley look at Freshman grades?
UCs generally do not include 9th-grade grades in their GPA calculation, though they do look at the courses to ensure you met subject requirements. However, 10th and 11th grade are the most critical years for your calculated UC GPA.
Is it easier to get in if I apply Undecided?
For the College of Letters & Science, applying "Undeclared" generally does not hurt your chances. However, for specialized schools like Engineering or Chemistry, you must apply directly to the major to be considered for it.