UDenver vs Berkeley

Envision yourself pursuing higher education in either the vibrant city of Denver or the bustling hub of Berkeley. The University of Denver and the University of California-Berkeley, both esteemed institutions, offer distinct experiences. While Denver boasts a smaller, private setting with a 68% acceptance rate and popular majors in business, engineering, and international studies, Berkeley stands as a public research powerhouse with a 17% acceptance rate and renowned programs in engineering, computer science, and economics. Explore the nuances of each university's student body demographics, graduation rates, and more in the comprehensive comparison table below to find the perfect academic and cultural fit for your aspirations.
University of California-Berkeley logo

University of California-Berkeley

University of Denver logo

University of Denver

Overview

Location Berkeley, California Denver, Colorado
Campus setting City: Midsize City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Quarter
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 96.0% 84.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 14.4% 63.6%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $120
Undergraduate: $65

Graduate: $65
SAT range N/A 1200 - 1390
ACT range N/A 27 - 31
Students submitting SAT score 24.0%
Students submitting ACT score 27.0%
Total number of applicants 112,843 22,694
Total number of admissions given out 16,295 14,440
Admitted students who chose to enroll 6,931 1,621
Yield rate 42.5% 11.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $37,920

Out of state: $67,674
$73,514
Average net price $17,652 $39,973
Tuition
In state: $11,442

Out of state: $41,196
$53,640
Room & board $20,236
Room/dormitory: $9,262

Meal plan: $5,412
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

52.0%
Average amount $21,406
98.0%
Average amount $31,672
Students receiving federal student loan 15.0%
Average amount $4,586
38.0%
Average amount $5,173
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $7,122
5.0%
Average amount $21,978

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 31,814
Men 45.4% Women 54.6%
5,867
Men 44.8% Women 55.2%
Graduate students 13,222
Men 51.7% Women 48.3%
8,263
Men 33.8% Women 66.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students 16.9% 71.9%
International students 18.0% 4.1%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize City: Large
Dormitory capacity 9,630 2,647
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from California New Jersey Texas Virginia New York Colorado California Illinois Texas Minnesota

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering
  • Business
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Legal Profession
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Psychology
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Legal Profession
Students to faculty ratio 20:1 10:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 92.8% 75.7%
Dropout rate 6.3% 23.5%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $171,936
  • Year 3: $191,597
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $122,038
  • Year 3: $167,052
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $125,250
  • Year 2: $125,388
  • Year 3: $161,399
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $126,367
  • Year 2: $128,868
  • Year 3: $160,666
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $160,390
  • Year 2: $142,470
  • Year 3: $143,984
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $119,358
  • Year 3: $143,516
Chemistry (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $107,442
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $112,973
Optometry (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,750
  • Year 2: $91,363
  • Year 3: $104,601
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $95,600
  • Year 2: $85,760
  • Year 3: $103,738
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $71,282
  • Year 2: $65,387
  • Year 3: $102,543
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $87,503
  • Year 2: $86,129
  • Year 3: $98,717
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,126
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $86,073
Taxation (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,750
  • Year 2: $66,104
  • Year 3: $85,588
Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,915
  • Year 2: $64,493
  • Year 3: $78,170
Educational Administration and Supervision (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $70,020
  • Year 2: $72,667
  • Year 3: $77,585
Human Resources Management and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $66,104
  • Year 3: $75,452
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,899
  • Year 2: $60,704
  • Year 3: $73,790
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,139
  • Year 2: $73,949
  • Year 3: $73,641
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,983
  • Year 2: $62,632
  • Year 3: $73,152
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,647
  • Year 2: $65,905
  • Year 3: $72,754

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