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Colleges in and near Berkeley

Berkeley is a college town: 27 of every 100 residents are students

The University of California-Berkeley (43,954 students on campus) and Berkeley City College (2,915) are inside the city, and Samuel Merritt University (1,516) is 3.6 miles from the center, just over the line in Oakland. Across California, 8 of every 100 residents are enrolled in college.

College town27% of residents are studentsUniversity of California-BerkeleySamuel Merritt University

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Berkeley. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
33
140,627 students on campus
Nearest college
1.6 mi
Berkeley City College
Residents in college
27%
Above CA (8%)
Nearest community college
1.6 mi
Berkeley City College · $1,258 tuition
Nearest public university
2.1 mi
University of California-Berkeley · $16,347 in-state
Students on campus in Berkeley
47,767
next to 121,911 residents

What stands out about college in Berkeley

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A college town27 of every 100 Berkeley residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.Two colleges within 3.6 milesUniversity of California-Berkeley admits 11% of applicants. Together they have 45,470 students on campus.A community college 1.6 miles awayBerkeley City College in Berkeley: tuition and fees $1,258 a year for California residents.In-state price at University of California-BerkeleyLiving in California, the University of California-Berkeley charges $16,347 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $50,547. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.
Town & gown

What it’s like to live in Berkeley

How much the colleges shape the town, from the Census Bureau’s survey of residents.

27 of every 100 Berkeley residents are in college (CA: 8).

47,767students on campus at Berkeley’s 6 colleges, next to 121,911 residents (dorm students count as residents)
20,374college students live in Berkeley households rather than dorms
33.2median age · CA 37.9
52%of residents are women · CA 50% (±0.9 points)
56%of homes rented · CA 44%
$2,133median rent · 5% above the state
BerkeleyBerkeley, CA
Cost of living$2,133/mo median rentDSafetyCrime reported to the FBID−HealthCDC estimatesAJobs & incomeIncome, jobs, getting aroundAHandbookTrash day, parking, who to call

How students change Berkeley’s other numbers

Read the town’s other grades with this in mind. How TownRatings handles college towns →

Jobs & income A

Students who live off campus count in the Census poverty figures: 17.5% of Berkeley residents are below the poverty line, 8.9% when college students are left out (that estimate could be off by 2 points either way). 54% of the students themselves are below the line. In college towns, the Jobs & income grade uses the rate without students and leaves unemployment out.

Cost of living D

The Cost grade leaves out the share of renters paying 30% or more of income on rent wherever students are a quarter of residents or more (27% here): it would mostly measure student incomes.

Health A

CDC’s estimates follow each place’s age mix, and Berkeley’s median age is 33.2 (California 37.9), so the adult figures describe a young population.

Safety D−

Crime is counted per resident, and students who live here count as residents. A college with its own police department reports its incidents under that department, not the city.

Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Berkeley

20 private colleges within 14.9 miles, five public colleges within 14.5 miles, and eight community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of California-BerkeleySan Francisco StateCity College of San FranciscoBerkeley
University or collegeCommunity college
Berkeley City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,915 on campus · In Berkeley · mostly online$9knet price36%graduate$41kearnings55% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,258 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine College-BerkeleyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 119 on campus · In BerkeleyGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.University of California-BerkeleyUniversity or college · Public · 43,954 on campus · In Berkeley11%admitted$13knet price93%graduate$92kearningsGraduate Theological UnionUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 140 on campus · In BerkeleyGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Pacific School of ReligionUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 128 on campus · In BerkeleyGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.The Wright InstituteUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 511 on campus · In BerkeleyGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Samuel Merritt UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,516 on campus · 3.6 mi · Oakland$143kearningsAcademy of Chinese Culture and Health SciencesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 122 on campus · 4.4 mi · OaklandGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Lincoln UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 474 on campus · 4.5 mi · Oakland100%graduate$54kearningsLaney CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,027 on campus · 5.1 mi · Oakland$17knet price31%graduate$37kearningsTuition and fees: $1,258 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.College of AlamedaCommunity college · Public · 1,635 on campus · 5.9 mi · Alameda · mostly online$8knet price33%graduate$43kearnings72% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,258 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Contra Costa CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,192 on campus · 7.5 mi · San Pablo$9knet price28%graduate$41kearningsTuition and fees: $1,312 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Golden Gate UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 502 on campus · 7.6 mi · San Francisco · mostly online$87kearnings78% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.San Francisco Film SchoolUniversity or college · For-profit · 141 on campus · 7.6 mi · San Francisco$32knet price67%graduateAcademy of Art UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,900 on campus · 7.7 mi · San Francisco · mostly online$41knet price34%graduate$39kearnings54% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Minerva UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 603 on campus · 8.3 mi · San Francisco3%admittedNortheastern University OaklandUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 657 on campus · 8.6 mi · Oakland17%admitted$25knet price$93kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.California College of the ArtsUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,332 on campus · 8.7 mi · San Francisco91%admitted$54knet price61%graduate$49kearningsUniversity of California College of the Law-San FranciscoUniversity or college · Public · 1,159 on campus · 8.7 mi · San FranciscoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Merritt CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,888 on campus · 8.9 mi · Oakland · mostly online$14knet price26%graduate$44kearnings57% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,258 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.California Institute of Integral StudiesUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 980 on campus · 9 mi · San Francisco · mostly online$49kearnings52% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.San Francisco Conservatory of MusicUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 403 on campus · 9.1 mi · San Francisco55%admitted$43knet price74%graduateUniversity of San FranciscoUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 8,633 on campus · 10.3 mi · San Francisco62%admitted$41knet price70%graduate$90kearningsSaint Mary's College of CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,642 on campus · 10.5 mi · Moraga87%admitted$30knet price70%graduate$79kearningsUniversity of California-San FranciscoUniversity or college · Public · 3,113 on campus · 11.2 mi · San FranciscoGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.City College of San FranciscoCommunity college · Public · 13,762 on campus · 12.7 mi · San Francisco$7knet price40%graduate$46kearningsTuition and fees: $1,696 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.San Francisco State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 21,943 on campus · 13.9 mi · San Francisco96%admitted$12knet price50%graduate$68kearningsDominican University of CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,699 on campus · 14.1 mi · San Rafael84%admitted$35knet price78%graduate$85kearningsCarrington College-Pleasant Hill CampusUniversity or college · For-profit · 432 on campus · 14.1 mi · Pleasant Hill$39knet price59%graduate$40kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Diablo Valley CollegeCommunity college · Public · 10,850 on campus · 14.2 mi · Pleasant Hill$8knet price49%graduate$51kearningsTuition and fees: $1,312 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.California State University Maritime AcademyUniversity or college · Public · 761 on campus · 14.5 mi · Vallejo95%admitted$21knet price60%graduate$95kearningsCollege of MarinCommunity college · Public · 4,093 on campus · 14.9 mi · Kentfield$12knet price39%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $1,558 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Carrington College-San Leandro CampusUniversity or college · For-profit · 401 on campus · 14.9 mi · San Leandro$40knet price59%graduate$40kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where Berkeley’s median household income ($108,092) falls.

Northeastern University Oakland8.6 mi · Oakland · sticker $85,418$9,898a year
City College of San Francisco12.7 mi · San Francisco · sticker $16,870 · tuition $1,696$12,508a year
Diablo Valley College14.2 mi · Pleasant Hill · sticker $16,774 · tuition $1,312$12,846a year
Berkeley City CollegeIn Berkeley · mostly online · sticker $18,845 · tuition $1,258$13,213a year
Contra Costa College7.5 mi · San Pablo · sticker $18,422 · tuition $1,312$14,269a year
San Francisco State University13.9 mi · San Francisco · sticker $26,488$14,556a year
University of California-BerkeleyIn Berkeley · sticker $45,619$15,074a year
College of Alameda5.9 mi · Alameda · mostly online · sticker $18,185 · tuition $1,258$15,603a year
College of Marin14.9 mi · Kentfield · sticker $21,015 · tuition $1,558$16,944a year
Laney College5.1 mi · Oakland · sticker $25,335 · tuition $1,258$18,321a year
Merritt College8.9 mi · Oakland · mostly online · sticker $21,424 · tuition $1,258$18,528a year
California State University Maritime Academy14.5 mi · Vallejo · sticker $29,853$21,257a year
Saint Mary's College of California10.5 mi · Moraga · sticker $77,659$29,049a year
Dominican University of California14.1 mi · San Rafael · sticker $71,751$35,343a year
San Francisco Conservatory of Music9.1 mi · San Francisco · sticker $78,781$36,802a year
University of San Francisco10.3 mi · San Francisco · sticker $80,141$38,933a year
Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus14.1 mi · Pleasant Hill · sticker $44,064$41,862a year
Carrington College-San Leandro Campus14.9 mi · San Leandro · sticker $44,224$42,353a year
Academy of Art University7.7 mi · San Francisco · mostly online · sticker $48,036$43,953a year
California College of the Arts8.7 mi · San Francisco · sticker $79,776$46,060a year
San Francisco Film School7.6 mi · San Francisco · sticker $37,597—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Berkeley: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →University of California-BerkeleyLaney CollegeUniversity of San FranciscoCity College of San FranciscoSan Francisco StateDiablo Valley College
University of California-Berkeley93% graduate$92k earnings$13k typical debt
San Francisco State University50% graduate$68k earnings$15k typical debt
City College of San Francisco40% graduate$46k earnings$8k typical debt
Diablo Valley College49% graduate$51k earnings$10k typical debt
University of San Francisco70% graduate$90k earnings$23k typical debt
Laney College31% graduate$37k earnings
College of Marin39% graduate$43k earnings$10k typical debt
Contra Costa College28% graduate$41k earnings
Berkeley City College36% graduate$41k earnings
Academy of Art University34% graduate$39k earnings$31k typical debt
Merritt College26% graduate$44k earnings
Saint Mary's College of California70% graduate$79k earnings$24k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Carrington College-Pleasant Hill Campus (5); Carrington College-San Leandro Campus (5).

Majors

What students study in Berkeley

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at University of California-Berkeley, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Computer science 19%Social sciences 17%Engineering 11%Biology 9%Interdisciplinary 5%Natural resources 5%Everything else 34%

Biggest programs

Computer Science994 graduates a year
$204k4 yrs out
Economics909 graduates a year
$135k4 yrs out
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences761 graduates a year
$67k4 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering480 graduates a year
$201k4 yrs out
Natural Resources Conservation and Research464 graduates a year
$79k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations428 graduates a year
$145k4 yrs out
Political Science and Government418 graduates a year
$75k4 yrs out
Research and Experimental Psychology390 graduates a year
$65k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating. Left out: Berkeley City College, where most students study only online.

Questions about college in Berkeley

Is Berkeley a college town?

Yes. 27 of every 100 Berkeley residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), against 8 across California. The University of California-Berkeley has 43,954 students on campus, next to 121,911 residents.

What colleges are in Berkeley?

The University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley City College, The Wright Institute, Graduate Theological Union and 2 more are inside the city. Samuel Merritt University is 3.6 miles from the center, in Oakland.

Why is Berkeley’s poverty rate so high?

Students who live off campus count in the Census figures. 17.5% of residents are below the poverty line; leaving college students out, 8.9% are (ACS 2020–24, give or take 2 points).

What is the closest community college to Berkeley, and what does it cost?

Berkeley City College in Berkeley, 1.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,258 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $9,096, counts housing and food at full cost.

How hard is it to get into the University of California-Berkeley?

The University of California-Berkeley admitted 11% of applicants in the Scorecard’s latest year.

Neighbors talk college

Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Berkeley. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →