What are the most impacted majors at UC Berkeley?

UC Berkeley's most impacted majors are concentrated in Engineering, Computer Science (CS), Data Science, Chemistry, and the Haas School of Business, but also include several high-demand majors within the College of Letters & Science (L&S), such as Psychology, Economics, Political Economy, Public Health, Operations Research & Management Science, and Art Practice, requiring formal application and meeting strict prerequisites for admission or declaration.

What are the impacted majors at UC Berkeley?

High-Demand Majors at Berkeley:

• Art Practice.
• Operations Research & Management Science (Analytics)
• Political Economy.
• Public Health.
• Social Welfare.

What is the most competitive major at UC Berkeley?

Hardest Majors to Get Into at UC Berkeley

1. Computer Science – 4% Admit Rate. Berkeley's Computer Science (CS) program is one of the most selective majors, with an admission rate of just 4%. ...
2. Public Health – 5% Admit Rate. ...
3. Engineering – 7% Admit Rate. ...
4. Architecture – 8% Admit Rate. ...
5. Social Sciences – 9% Admit Rate.

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 major is Berkeley most known for?

At the University of California-Berkeley, the three most popular college majors students pursue are Computer Science, Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, and Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology.

Top 10 College Majors That Are Actually Worth It

What is the 9% rule for UC?

The UC's 9% rule refers to two guaranteed admission pathways for top-performing California residents: the Statewide Guarantee for those in the top 9% statewide (based on a formula including A-G courses and UC GPA) and Eligible in the Local Context (ELC) for those in the top 9% of their specific participating high school, ensuring a spot at a UC if space is available. 

What are the top 3 UC's?

The top 3 UC campuses consistently ranked are UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC San Diego, often trading the top spots depending on the ranking system (like U.S. News or Forbes), with Berkeley and UCLA frequently leading as the top public universities in the nation, followed closely by UCSD.
 

What are highly impacted majors?

Impacted majors refer to academic programs where the number of applicants exceeds the available capacity, leading to a competitive selection process.

Does Berkeley accept based on major?

For example, Berkeley admits most students to the College of Letters and Science without consideration for major-specific space limitation (except for the “high-demand” majors) and UCLA does not consider major-specific space limitation at all for the College of Letters and Science (students are simply admitted to the ...

Is UCLA more prestigious than UC Berkeley?

Both UCLA and UC Berkeley are incredibly prestigious, world-class universities, but their perceived prestige shifts depending on the ranking system or focus (e.g., research vs. undergrad experience). Berkeley often edges out UCLA in research-heavy global rankings and certain STEM fields, while UCLA frequently leads in national rankings for overall undergraduate experience and student outcomes, leading to a constant friendly rivalry for the top public university spot. 

What are the top 5 majors?

The top 5 most popular college majors consistently include Business, Health Professions (like Nursing), Psychology, Computer Science, and Engineering, often alongside fields like Education, Biological Sciences, and the Social Sciences, reflecting a blend of high-demand career paths, personal interest, and foundational knowledge areas. 

What are the most competitive majors at UC Berkeley?

Most Competitive Majors for Admissions to UC Campuses

• UCLA: COMPUTER SCIENCE;
• Berkeley: COMPUTER SCIENCE;
• Berkeley: BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION;
• Berkeley: ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING - CS;
• UCLA: COMMUNICATION STUDIES.

What is the easiest major to get accepted into?

Check out the easiest college majors below:

• Anthropology.
• Business Administration.
• Communications.
• Creative Writing.
• Criminal Justice.
• Education.
• English.
• Health Sciences.

Is UC Berkeley as good as Ivy?

Yes, UC Berkeley is widely considered as good as, and often academically superior to, many Ivy League schools, especially in fields like Computer Science and Engineering, earning it the title of a "Public Ivy" for its top-tier academics, global prestige, and strong career outcomes, though it's a large public university versus smaller, private Ivies, creating different experiences. While the Ivies have an athletic conference distinction, Berkeley rivals them in research, reputation, and return on investment, often ranking near or above them in various lists.
 

Which UC has the happiest students?

UC Davis Is One of the 25 Happiest Public Universities in the US.

Is UCLA or UCB #1?

It depends on the ranking, but recently UC Berkeley has often been ranked #1 Public University by U.S. News & World Report for 2026, overtaking UCLA, though both are consistently top contenders and sometimes tie, with UCLA having held the top spot for years prior. They frequently trade the #1 spot, with both being considered among the best public universities in the U.S. and world. 

What is the easiest UC to get into in California?

Among UC schools, UC Merced has the highest acceptance rate at 91.7%. Meaning, most applicants get accepted. This makes it the easiest UC to get into.

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

Despite their shared renown, these two school systems differ in terms of factors like student experience, cost, and admission requirements. For example, whereas the UC system appears often on best colleges rankings lists, the CSU schools are considered far more affordable.

Is a 4.15 UC GPA good?

The average weighted GPA of admitted students is around 4.15-4.29, which is a very competitive GPA range. However, don't let these numbers discourage you, as a 4.1 GPA is still quite solid.

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 Berkeley as good as Harvard?

Out of 500 institutions, two Bay Area schools ranked at the very top. For the fifth straight year, both Stanford and UC Berkeley ranked in the top five of Forbes' List of America's Top Colleges. UC Berkeley even beat out Harvard.

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. 

What does UC Berkeley value the most?

Honesty/Integrity: We place honesty and integrity in our teaching, learning, research and administration at the highest level.