University of California, Berkeley vs Stanford University: Which Should You Choose?

A side-by-side comparison of University of California, Berkeley in Berkeley, CA (U.S. News 2026 rank #15) and Stanford University in Stanford, CA (U.S. News 2026 rank #4) — cost, acceptance rate, graduation rate, and outcomes, using verified data.

MetricUniversity of California, BerkeleyStanford University
Acceptance Rate (Overall)11.4%3.8%
Average Net Price (Federal Aid Recipients)$13,481$13,807
6-Year Graduation Rate92.8%91.6%
Median Starting Salary$57,445$89,527
Total Undergraduate Enrollment33,0687,554
SAT Middle 50% (composite midpoint)1545
Student-to-Faculty Ratio1810

See the full University of California, Berkeley profile · See the full Stanford University profile

Get a personalized match score for both schools on Your University Match