University of California-Berkeley vs University of California-Los Angeles

University of California-Berkeley and University of California-Los Angeles are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: University of California-Los Angeles is more selective with a 8.7% acceptance rate compared to University of California-Berkeley's 11.7%.

Cost: University of California-Los Angeles offers a lower average net price at $14,013, which is $966 less than University of California-Berkeley ($14,979). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from University of California-Berkeley earn a median salary of $92,446 ten years after enrollment, which is $9,935 more than University of California-Los Angeles graduates ($82,511).

Graduation: University of California-Berkeley leads with a 93.5% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 96.8% vs 96.8%.

Campus Size: University of California-Berkeley is the larger campus with 33,073 total students, while University of California-Los Angeles has 33,040.

Bottom Line: University of California-Los Angeles wins on affordability while University of California-Berkeley leads in career earnings. Your choice depends on whether upfront cost or long-term ROI matters more.