What's the hardest major to get into at Berkeley?

The hardest major to get into at Berkeley is consistently Computer Science (CS), often sharing the top spot with Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences (EECS), due to extremely low acceptance rates (around 4%) and high demand for tech careers, followed closely by the College of Engineering, Haas School of Business, and high-demand Letters & Sciences majors like Public Health, Political Economy, and Operations Research.

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. 

What is the most competitive major at Berkeley?

We highlight the computer science and business majors in this graph because as you can see, across the table both major's admissions rates are lower than the campus' overall admission rate. They are a couple of the most competitive majors that first-year applicants apply to.

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

The "easiest" UC Berkeley major often points to those in the large College of Letters & Science (L&S), especially those not listed as "High-Demand" like Math or Interdisciplinary Studies (for transfers), as most L&S admits are not major-specific initially, allowing easier declaration later, with Linguistics or Ancient Greek & Roman Studies sometimes showing higher transfer admit rates. For first-years, applying to L&S broadly and aiming for non-impacted majors, or even considering majors like Art Practice, Political Economy, or Social Welfare (which are lower-demand for L&S), provides better odds than highly competitive fields like Engineering or Computer Science.
 

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. 

Engineering Degrees Ranked By Difficulty (Tier List)

What is the #1 easiest major?

There's no single #1 easiest major, as it depends on your strengths, but Psychology, Education, English, and Criminal Justice frequently rank as the easiest due to higher average GPAs and less demanding technical skills compared to STEM fields, often focusing on human behavior, societal structures, and communication. Majors like Sociology, Social Work, and Communications are also commonly cited as easier liberal arts options. 

What is the no. 1 toughest degree in the world?

The top 10 hardest degrees in the world commonly include: (1) Medicine, (2) Engineering (various branches), (3) Chartered Accountancy, (4) Architecture, (5) Physics, (6) Aerospace Engineering, (7) Chemical Engineering, (8) Law, (9) Pharmacy, and (10) Mathematics.

What are high-demand majors at Berkeley?

High-Demand Majors at Berkeley:

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

Is Berkeley harder to get into than Harvard?

Harvard is generally harder to get into than UC Berkeley based on overall acceptance rates, as Harvard's are significantly lower (around 3-5%) compared to Berkeley's (around 12-17%), but Berkeley's specialized programs, especially in STEM, can be exceptionally competitive, sometimes rivaling or exceeding Ivy League selectivity for those specific majors, and Berkeley's high volume of applicants for limited spots makes it tough overall despite its public university role. 

What major is Berkeley best known for?

The most popular majors are electrical engineering and computer sciences, political science, molecular and cell biology, environmental science, and economics.

What is Berkeley, CA famous for?

Berkeley may be primarily renowned for its world-class university, but this California city also boasts a treasure trove of outstanding attractions and things to do. Throughout Berkeley, you will find fine dining restaurants, excellent theaters and galleries, and exciting local festivals.

Is Berkeley ranked higher than UCLA?

It depends on the ranking system, as UC Berkeley and UCLA often trade places, but recently Berkeley has frequently ranked higher as the top public university in national lists, while UCLA sometimes leads in global rankings or specific program strengths, with both schools consistently considered among the best public universities in the U.S. and the world. For example, recent U.S. News & World Report rankings placed Berkeley above UCLA, while Forbes and Times Higher Education also show Berkeley ahead in some metrics, but UCLA often excels in undergraduate experience and specific industries like entertainment. 

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. 

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 ...

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. 

Who is Berkeley's biggest rival?

Stanford and UC Berkeley often stand opposed as athletic and academic rivals, but in research they collaborate as powerful partners. Across fields such as genomics and public-interest data science, interdisciplinary teams at the two universities are combining expertise, resources and creativity to advance knowledge.

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 #1 hardest school to get into?

There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as it varies slightly by year and source, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the top, often with acceptance rates below 4%, with some lists pointing to Harvard or even Minerva University as the absolute lowest (around 1-3%) due to extreme competition and high standards. 

What is the hardest major 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 major will get you the most money?

The highest paying college majors are consistently in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math), especially Computer Science & various Engineering fields (Computer, Chemical, Electrical) and Healthcare-related tracks, often leading to lucrative roles like Software Engineer or Anesthesiologist, with Business, Finance, & Economics also offering high returns, especially in mid-career for leadership or data-focused roles. 

What kind of student goes to Berkeley?

We look for persistence, passion, and a desire to give back. It doesn't matter whether you're the first in your family to attend college or you're the latest in a long tradition of educational excellence: You stand up and you stand out.

What are the top 3 hardest degrees?

CollegeVine's Top 10 Hardest Majors

• Electrical Engineering. Average GPA: 3.3.
• Physics. Average GPA: 3.1. ...
• Architecture. Average GPA: 3.3. ...
• Nursing. Average GPA: 3.2. ...
• Accounting. Average GPA: 3.2. ...
• Cellular and Molecular Biology. Average GPA: 3.2. ...
• Philosophy. Average GPA: 3.1. ...
• Fine Arts. Average GPA: 3.2. Average Weekly Study Hours: 18.1. ...

Which degree leads to burnout?

Architecture. Architecture is known as one of the degrees that leads to the highest mental burnout due to its intense studio culture, long working hours, and demanding design expectations. Students often spend nights completing models, drawings, and critiques, which can lead to stress and exhaustion.

Which degree is rarest?

Some of the most unusual degrees in the world are Manga studies, Biomimicry, Cannabis Biology, Puppet Arts, Viticulture, Fermentation Science, Bicycle Design, Digital Mapping, Bakery Science, and there are many more.