Cost of Attendance is your student budget. Your budget is the estimated average and reasonable cost of completing an academic year at UC Berkeley. Your budget serves as the foundation for determining your financial need as well as the amount of qualified aid, including grants and scholarships, that can be offered to you.
Cost of attendance figures are established through student surveys and other research and may include the components below:
The Cal Rentals website provides information about the typical market cost of a one-bedroom apartment and other rental resources in the areas surrounding UC Berkeley. The UC Office of the President also provides information about off-campus housing costs.
What are my direct costs to UC Berkeley?
Direct costs are what you pay directly to the University of California, Berkeley. Financial aid reduces these costs and will cover the cost of tuition and fees for over a third of Berkeley students.
Tuition and Fees: Set amount charged by the university. New out-of-state students pay an additional Nonresident Supplemental Tuition of $34,200.
Food and Housing: Charges for University housing and meal plans. Varies based on your residence hall, apartment, or family housing assignment and meal plan.
Health Insurance: Students can receive extra aid to cover Berkeley SHIP (Student Health Insurance Plan). SHIP may be waived for personal insurance that is equivalent or better (file waiver by July 1).
Note: Residence hall food and housing costs include the cost of a mini-fridge, prorated based on occupancy, for all residence halls except Blackwell. Residence hall and university apartment budgets also include the $45 RHA fee except Bowles Hall. Students living in Bowles Hall add $4,322.
Direct Undergraduate Costs Charged by UC Berkeley for your Entering Academic Year
New Students Starting in the 2024-25 Academic Year
add
Living Arrangement for
2024–25:
Living in a
Campus
Residence Hall
Living in an
On-Campus
Apartment
Living in an
Off-Campus
Apartment
Living with
Relatives
Tuition and Fees
$16,608
$16,608
$16,608
$16,608
Living Expenses
$21,508
$18,760
n/a
n/a
Student Health Insurance Plan
$4,028
$4,028
$4,028
$4,028
Total Direct Undergraduate Costs
$42,144
$39,396
$20,636
$20,636
Total Cost of Attendance(including Personal Expenses*)
$48,638
$49,468
$43,990
$34,760
Figures for systemwide tuition and fees represent currently approved amounts and may not be final. Actual tuition, fees, and charges are subject to change by the Regents of the University of California. Final approved 2024–25 tuition and fee levels may be higher or lower than the amounts presented.
Continuing Students Who Started in the 2023-24 Academic Year
add
Living Arrangement for 2024–25:
Living in a
Campus
Residence Hall
Living in an
On-Campus
Apartment
Living in an
Off-Campus
Apartment
Living with
Relatives
Tuition and Fees
$15,924
$15,924
$15,924
$15,924
Living Expenses
$21,508
$18,760
n/a
n/a
Student Health Insurance Plan
$4,028
$4,028
$4,028
$4,028
Total Direct Undergraduate Costs
$41,460
$38,712
$19,952
$19,952
Total Cost of Attendance(including Personal Expenses*)
$47,954
$48,784
$43,306
$34,076
Figures for systemwide tuition and fees represent currently approved amounts and may not be final. Actual tuition, fees, and charges are subject to change by the Regents of the University of California. Final approved 2024–25 tuition and fee levels may be higher or lower than the amounts presented.
Continuing Students Who Started in the 2022-23 Academic Year
add
Living Arrangement for 2024–25:
Living in a
Campus
Residence Hall
Living in an
On-Campus
Apartment
Living in an
Off-Campus
Apartment
Living with
Relatives
Tuition and Fees
$15,276
$15,276
$15,276
$15,276
Living Expenses
$21,508
$18,760
n/a
n/a
Student Health Insurance Plan
$4,028
$4,028
$4,028
$4,028
Total Direct Undergraduate Costs
$40,812
$38,064
$19,304
$19,304
Total Cost of Attendance(including Personal Expenses*)
$47,306
$48,136
$42,658
$33,428
Figures for systemwide tuition and fees represent currently approved amounts and may not be final. Actual tuition, fees, and charges are subject to change by the Regents of the University of California. Final approved 2024–25 tuition and fee levels may be higher or lower than the amounts presented.
Continuing Students Who Started in the 2021-2022 Academic Year or Earlier
add
Living Arrangement for
2024–25:
Living in a
Campus
Residence Hall
Living in an
On-Campus
Apartment
Living in an
Off-Campus
Apartment
Living with
Relatives
Tuition and Fees
$14,742
$14,742
$14,742
$14,742
Living Expenses
$21,508
$18,760
n/a
n/a
Student Health Insurance Plan
$4,028
$4,028
$4,028
$4,028
Total Direct Undergraduate Costs
$40,278
$37,530
$18,770
$18,770
Total Cost of Attendance(including Personal Expenses*)
$46,772
$47,602
$42,124
$32,894
Figures for systemwide tuition and fees represent currently approved amounts and may not be final. Actual tuition, fees, and charges are subject to change by the Regents of the University of California. Final approved 2024–25 tuition and fee levels may be higher or lower than the amounts presented.
Personal Expenses*
Personal expenses are expected indirect costs not billed to your student account. Your financial aid refund and/or work-study earnings, if you receive them, will help cover these expenses. You control these costs, so amounts will vary.
What should I budget for my personal expenses?
Housing and Utilities: Expenses are for nine months (~$1,367/month).
Additional Food: For apartments, divide amounts by 9 to develop a monthly food budget. Buying bulk and cooking at home help make this economical.
Books and Other Costs: Budgeting and a spending plan are key to managing costs like school supplies, off-campus transportation, and additional living expenses. Your student bus pass will get you around for free.
Estimated Personal Expenses for the Academic Year
Living Arrangement for
2024–25:
Living in a Campus Residence Hall
Living in an On-Campus Apartment
Living in an Off-Campus Apartment
Living with Relatives
Housing and Utilities
n/a
n/a
$12,300
$3,256
Food
$2,036
$5,614
$6,122
$4,476
Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment
$1,132
$1,132
$1,132
$1,132
Miscellaneous and Personal
$2,584
$2,584
$2,728
$2,816
Transportation
$742
$742
$1,072
$2,444
Total Estimated Personal Expenses
$6,494
$10,072
$23,354
$14,124
2024–25 estimated average budget for undergraduate students based on a reasonable cost of completing an academic year at UC Berkeley.
Direct costs are what you pay directly to the University of California, Berkeley. Financial aid reduces these costs and will cover the cost of tuition and fees for over a third of Berkeley students.
Tuition and Fees: Set amount charged by the university. Out-of-state residents in Graduate Academic Programs, add $15,102 in Nonresident Supplemental Tuition.
Health Insurance: Students can receive extra aid to cover Berkeley SHIP (Student Health Insurance Plan). SHIP may be waived for personal insurance that is equivalent or better (file waiver by July 1).
Note: Nonresidents of California in the professional degree programs will pay nonresident supplemental tuition and fees of $12,246 or $13,674 (depending on your program), in addition to the amount shown in the chart. Double majors will have a pro-rated professional degree supplemental tuition amount, based on their two programs.
Direct Graduate Costs Charged by UC Berkeley for the Academic Year
Academic Year 2024–2025
Academic Programs
Professional Programs
Tuition and Fees
$15,866
$15,866
Student Health Insurance Plan
$6,442
$6,442
Total Direct Graduate Costs
$22,308
$22,308
A note about Graduate Tuition & Fees:
Students in a number of professional degree programs will pay additional tuition and fees based on their school or department, or degree program.
Check with your school or department for more information about their professional degree supplemental tuition policy.
Students in the Schools of Law, Optometry, Public Policy, Public Health, Social Welfare, Information Management, and various programs in the College of Environmental Design, the Engineering Master's Program, the MBA programs in the Haas School of Business, and the Joint Medical Program are subject to different tuition and fee schedules.
Figures for systemwide tuition and fees represent currently approved amounts and may not be final. Actual tuition, fees, and charges are subject to change by the Regents of the University of California. Final approved 2024–25 tuition and fee levels may be higher or lower than the amounts presented.
What should I budget for my personal expenses?
Personal expenses are expected indirect costs not billed to your student account. Your financial aid refund and/or work-study earnings, if you receive them, will help cover these expenses. You control these costs, so amounts will vary. Budgeting and a spending plan are key to managing costs like school supplies, off-campus transportation, and additional living expenses.
Estimated Personal Expenses for the Academic Year
Academic Year 2024–2025
Academic Programs
Professional Programs
Housing and Utilities
$16,992
$19,072
Food
$8,424
$9,356
Books, Course Materials, Supplies and Equipment
$420
$734
Institutional Resilience and Enhancement Fee (IREF)
$260
$260
Miscellaneous and Personal
$2,620
$3,170
Transportation
$3,092
$3,682
Total Estimated Personal Expenses
$31,808
$36,274
2024–25 estimated average budget for graduate students based on a reasonable cost of completing an academic year at UC Berkeley.
What is the total expected cost before financial aid?
Total expected cost combines direct costs and personal expenses to estimate the funding you will need for educational expenses for a year at Berkeley.
Total Expected Graduate Costs for the Academic Year
Academic Year 2024–2025
Academic Programs
Professional Programs
Total Expected Graduate Costs
$54,116
$58,582
Please note: The amount of grants and scholarships offered are subject to change and may be prorated based on a student’s actual budget type (e.g., residence hall versus off-campus apartment). UC Berkeley reserves the right to adjust financial aid offers to correct any awarding errors. Changes to qualifying information or revisions of federal, state, or institutional policy may result in updates to aid eligibility and adjustments of financial aid offers. Some or all instruction for all or part of the Academic Year may be delivered remotely. Tuition and fees have been set regardless of the method of instruction and will not be refunded in the event instruction occurs remotely for any part of the Academic Year. Figures for tuition and fees represent currently approved amounts and may not be final. Actual tuition and fees are subject to change by the University of California as determined to be necessary or appropriate. Final approved tuition and fee levels may differ from the amounts presented. If different tuition and fee levels are approved, your costs and your financial aid awards may be adjusted.