Does Berkeley give out a+?

Yes, UC Berkeley gives out significant financial aid, including grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans, with over 60% of undergraduates receiving aid to help make their world-class education affordable, based on need and merit through FAFSA/CADAA applications.

Do parents who make $120000 still qualify for FAFSA?

Yes, parents making $120,000 can still qualify for federal student aid through the FAFSA, as there is no income cut-off for filing; eligibility depends on the new Student Aid Index (SAI), which considers income, assets, family size, and the college's cost, potentially qualifying you for federal loans, work-study, and even some grants. 

What do Berkeley students get for free?

As a Berkeley student, you are eligible for free software, such as Adobe or Microsoft Office. You can also get a free free anti-virus software and more. Please check the UC Berkeley Computing page for more information.

Does Berkeley give a lot of financial aid?

Nearly two-thirds of undergraduate students qualify for financial aid. Eligible graduate students may be awarded federal student loans and work-study.

Will I get financial aid if my parents make over $400,000?

While a $400k+ income makes need-based grants less likely, you can still get federal loans and potentially some aid because there's no strict income cap for the FAFSA, which considers family size, assets, and the Cost of Attendance (COA). You might qualify for merit-based aid, state grants, or institutional aid, so always fill out the FAFSA to see your options, including federal loans, and use the Federal Student Aid Estimator. 

10 THINGS NO ONE TELLS YOU ABOUT UC BERKELEY

What is the hardest major to get into at UC Berkeley?

The hardest majors to get into at UC Berkeley are consistently Computer Science (CS) and other STEM fields like Engineering, often with single-digit acceptance rates, alongside highly impacted majors like Business (Haas), Public Health, and Political Economy, requiring exceptional academic performance and strategic application, especially for first-year applicants. 

Which is harder, UCLA or UC Berkeley?

Generally, UC Berkeley is considered academically more rigorous and "cutthroat," especially in STEM, with a stronger research focus and tougher grading, while UCLA offers a slightly better balance between intense academics and social life, though both are top-tier, highly competitive universities where difficulty depends heavily on your specific major and department. Berkeley often has a reputation for heavier workloads, tougher curves (especially in engineering), and students getting less sleep, but UCLA can be harder to get into in recent years due to lower acceptance rates. 

Is Berkeley a Coke or Pepsi school?

UC Berkeley is a Pepsi school, having renewed a 10-year exclusive partnership with PepsiCo in 2023, making them the official beverage provider for the campus, much to the frustration of some student groups who advocate for Coke or other options. While the agreement covers most drinks, exceptions exist for dairy, coffee (like Peet's), and alcohol, and students often push back against the contract's limitations and environmental impact.
 

Does Berkeley give full ride?

Berkeley College Presidential Scholarship

Amount: Each campus awards one student a full-tuition scholarship each academic year and all other eligible students may receive up to a 30% of tuition scholarship after all federal and state grants and other resources are considered. All awards are based on High School GPA.

Is an 89.9 an A or B?

An 89.9 is usually a B+, right on the cusp of an A-, but it depends on the specific grading scale, as some instructors round up to an A- at 90.0% while others set the cutoff at 89.9% or even 89.5% for an A-, so check your syllabus or ask your teacher. 

Is 85% a 3.5 GPA?

An 85% is often around a 3.0 to 3.3 GPA, not a 3.5, because a 3.5 GPA typically starts at 90% (A-) in many common scales, though it varies by school; an 85% usually falls into the 'B' range (80-89%) which converts to a 3.0-3.3, with 85% being a solid 'B' or B- (around 3.0-3.2) on most standard charts. 

Is UC Berkeley a top 25 school?

UC Berkeley and UCLA are the top two public universities in the country, with seven UC campuses in the top 25 and all nine undergraduate campuses in the top 45, according to the 2026 Best Colleges rankings, released today (Sept. 22) by U.S. News & World Report.

What is the #1 most common FAFSA mistake?

The #1 most common FAFSA mistake is leaving fields blank, often due to confusion, which can delay or reject applications; instead, enter '0' or 'N/A'. Other major errors include incorrect personal info (Name/SSN mismatch), mixing up student/parent answers, misreporting income/asset data (using wrong tax year), and missing early deadlines for limited funds.
 

What disqualifies you from FAFSA?

You can be disqualified from FAFSA for failing basic requirements (like not having a diploma, being a non-citizen, or male not registered for Selective Service), not maintaining satisfactory academic progress (SAP), defaulting on old loans, owing a grant refund, committing aid fraud, or if a required contributor doesn't consent to share tax info; you also can't get aid if incarcerated, but can regain eligibility by resolving issues like loan defaults or getting off probation.
 

Can kids with rich parents get student loans?

Do Parents' Assets Affect Financial Aid? Both parent and student-owned assets can have an impact on financial aid eligibility. However, generally-speaking, parent assets have a more limited impact because parents are expected to contribute a smaller proportion of their wealth to pay for their child's college education.

What is the #1 best private school in California?

There's no single "#1" private school in California, as rankings vary by source and focus (e.g., academics, diversity, college prep), but top contenders consistently cited include The College Preparatory School (Oakland), Harvard-Westlake School (Los Angeles), and The Harker School (San Jose), often recognized for rigorous academics and elite college placements, alongside others like The Bishop's School (La Jolla) and Cate School (Carpinteria).
 

What are all 8 Ivy League schools?

The eight Ivy League schools are Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), and Yale, all prestigious private universities in the Northeastern U.S. known for their competitive admissions, strong academics, and rich athletic conference history.
 

Is UC Berkeley Republican or Democrat?

UC Berkeley is overwhelmingly Democratic, with studies showing a very high ratio of Democrats to Republicans among faculty (around 9.9:1) and a strong liberal leaning overall, though there are active Republican groups and a growing push for more moderate voices on campus. The university reflects the liberal nature of the surrounding Bay Area, but it also houses a vibrant, though smaller, conservative presence. 

What is the #1 university in California?

There isn't one single "number 1" university in California, as rankings vary, but Stanford University consistently ranks highest overall (private), while the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) is often named the top public university, closely followed by UCLA, with Caltech also a top contender. Stanford and Caltech are private powerhouses, while UC Berkeley and UCLA lead the public sector, with UCSD, UCSB, and others also highly ranked. 

Why do people choose UCLA over Berkeley?

People often choose UCLA over Berkeley because UCLA offers a more balanced mix of strong academics, better weather, and an energetic campus life in Los Angeles.

What are the hardest majors to get into at Berkeley?

The hardest majors to get into at UC Berkeley are consistently Computer Science (CS) and other STEM fields like Engineering, often with single-digit acceptance rates, alongside highly impacted majors like Business (Haas), Public Health, and Political Economy, requiring exceptional academic performance and strategic application, especially for first-year applicants. 

What is the easiest major at UC Berkeley?

While "easiest" is subjective and depends on your strengths, majors often cited as less demanding at UC Berkeley due to fewer prerequisites or lighter course loads include Legal Studies, Global Studies, Linguistics, and Political Science, often having lower GPA averages for admitted transfer students and fewer core requirements, with Linguistics noted for minimal prereqs. Other relatively accessible options (especially for transfer) can be History of Art, Comparative Literature, and Rhetoric, with higher transfer admit rates, while courses like ESPM 50AC are famously easy general requirements. 

What are the top 3 hardest majors?

While difficulty is subjective, Medicine, Engineering (especially Chemical/Aerospace), and Physics/Chemistry consistently rank as the top hardest majors due to intense coursework, demanding problem-solving, heavy memorization, and complex analytical skills, often leading to very low average GPAs and extensive study hours. Other contenders often cited include Architecture, Neuroscience, and Computer Science. 

What is a 72% at Berkeley?

At UC Berkeley, a 72% falls into the C- range (70-72%), earning 1.7 grade points on a 4.0 scale and is considered a "Fair" grade, just above the barely passing D range, but it can vary slightly by department, with some scales placing it lower.