Is it harder to get into USC or Berkeley?

Both UC Berkeley and USC are extremely difficult to get into, but recent data often shows UC Berkeley as slightly harder, with lower acceptance rates (around 10-12%) compared to USC (around 10-18%), though rates fluctuate yearly, with both being highly selective, especially for competitive programs and out-of-state/international students.

Is USC or Berkeley harder to get into?

Is University of Southern California (USC) or UC Berkeley Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into? If you're looking at acceptance rate alone, then UC Berkeley is more difficult to get into.

Is Berkeley the hardest UC to get into?

UC Berkeley is among the most competitive UCs, often vying with UCLA for the top spot, with overall acceptance rates hovering around 10-15% (or even lower for specific majors), but it's generally considered just slightly less selective overall than UCLA, making it a toss-up for the hardest to get into, especially for popular majors like Engineering, Computer Science, and Business. 

What is the hardest university to get into in California?

The hardest school to get into in California is often cited as the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), known for its extremely low acceptance rates (around 2-4%) and intense focus on science and engineering, followed closely by Stanford University, Minerva University, and the selective liberal arts colleges in the Claremont Colleges (like Pomona, Harvey Mudd, CMC). Other top contenders include the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) for public universities, and the University of Southern California (USC). 

Which UC is easiest to get into?

The easiest UC to get into is generally UC Merced, often followed by UC Riverside and UC Santa Cruz, due to their higher acceptance rates (which can exceed 50% or even 90% depending on the year and data source) compared to more selective campuses like UCLA or Berkeley, making them the most accessible options within the UC system for first-year applicants. These campuses offer more opportunities, especially UC Merced as the newest and most accessible, and Riverside as a strong choice for affordability and diversity. 

UC Berkeley, UCLA, and the UC’s: The pros, the cons, and how to get in.

Which UC is the most prestigious?

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.

What is the 9% UC rule?

The Statewide Index identifies California-resident students in the top 9 percent of California high school graduates and offers these students a guaranteed space at a UC campus, if space is available.

Is USC or UCLA harder to get into?

It's extremely competitive for both, but UCLA is generally harder to get into for in-state applicants due to higher GPA demands and a public university quota, while USC becomes exceptionally difficult for out-of-state applicants, often balancing academic rigor with the ability to pay, though recent acceptance rates are similar (around 9-10%), with UCLA receiving far more applicants. The specific difficulty depends heavily on your residency, major, and extracurricular profile, as UCLA emphasizes grades (test-blind) and USC weighs extracurriculars and financial contribution more heavily. 

What is the #1 college in California?

The number one college in California depends on the ranking system, but Stanford University consistently ranks first overall, followed closely by institutions like the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), which is often the top public university. For public options, UCLA and UC Berkeley are top contenders.
 

What are the top 3 hardest colleges to get into?

What is the #1 hardest school to get into? Harvard University, with a ~3% acceptance rate, remains the hardest college in 2025. Stanford and MIT follow closely, with Yale and Princeton rounding out the top five.

Which UC is known as the party school?

UC Santa Barbara was ranked the No. 1 party school in the U.S. for 2026, holding onto its top spot from last year, per Niche's new report.

Is Berkeley or NYU harder to get into?

UC Berkeley is generally considered harder to get into than NYU, primarily due to its lower overall acceptance rate (around 10-12% vs. NYU's slightly higher but still very competitive rate), especially for popular programs like Engineering and Haas Business School, and for out-of-state/international applicants, though both are elite universities requiring top stats. Admission difficulty at both also heavily depends on your specific major and program, with some NYU schools (like Tisch) and Berkeley programs (like MET) being exceptionally tough. 

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. 

Is the USC harder to get into than Notre Dame?

If you're looking at acceptance rate alone, then University of Southern California (USC) is more difficult to get into.

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 is the hardest major to get into at UC Berkeley?

The hardest majors to get into at UC Berkeley are primarily in high-demand fields like Computer Science (CS), Engineering (especially EECS/ECE), the Haas School of Business, and Data Science, often within impacted colleges, but also specific Letters & Sciences majors like Political Economy, Public Health, and Operations Research, known for extremely low admission rates (sometimes single digits for CS) and high applicant numbers. 

What are the top 3 UC's?

The top 3 UC campuses consistently ranked highest in recent years by publications like U.S. News & World Report and Forbes are UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC San Diego, often trading the top spots, with UC Davis and UC Irvine also frequently appearing in the top tier. These rankings consider factors like academics, selectivity, and return on investment, with Berkeley and UCLA often leading as the top public universities in the nation.
 

Where do the 1% go to college?

The 1% of the wealthiest Americans disproportionately attend highly selective, elite universities, particularly Ivy League schools (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Brown, Penn, Columbia) and other top institutions like MIT, Stanford, Duke, and UChicago, where they make up a large percentage of the student body, often outnumbering students from the bottom 60% of income earners combined. Liberal arts colleges and prestigious public universities also attract many wealthy students, with specific examples including WashU St. Louis, UVA, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Vanderbilt, and Johns Hopkins.
 

What is the prettiest college campus in California?

Stanford University ranked No. 1 as the most beautiful college campus in the country. The magazine cited its grand entryway, the Memorial Church, and collection of over 170 bronze statues as reasons for the 8,180-acre campus' addition to the list.

Why do people choose USC over UCLA?

Why Would Someone Choose USC Over UCLA? Both universities are comparable in many ways, so their differences are often the deciding factor in choosing USC over UCLA. Because USC is smaller and has a better student-to-faculty ratio, students receive more individualized attention from their professors.

What is the hardest UC to get into in California?

The hardest University of California (UC) to get into is consistently UCLA (Los Angeles), followed closely by UC Berkeley (UCB), both having the lowest acceptance rates, often in the single digits to low teens, making them the most selective public universities in California and the nation. UCSD and UCI are also very competitive, while other UCs like UCSB, UCDavis, and UC Merced round out the most selective tier, with acceptance rates reflecting high demand and rigorous standards. 

Who is USC's biggest rival?

Arguably the GREATEST RIVALRY in College Football has officially come to a halt ✋ Would you want to see USC vs. Notre Dame again???

Do UCs prioritize CA residents?

As a public institution, we prioritize admission for California residents. However, all of our campuses offer admission to out-of-state students.

What community college in California has a 100% acceptance rate?

Foothill College:

1 community college in California, located in Los Altos Hills, within the San Francisco Bay Area. A small public college with an undergraduate enrollment of 3,338 students. Acceptance rate is 100%.

Is it better to go to a UC or CAL state?

Although on average, the UC schools outrank Cal State schools in CollegeVine's rankings, many of the CSU system schools place highly overall. Notable CSU institutions include Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, which is positioned at number 132 on our list, ahead of four of the UC institutions.