UCLA vs UC Berkeley: Best for Computer Science?

Two Titans of California CS

UCLA and UC Berkeley are two of the most prestigious public universities in the world, and both have powerhouse computer science programs. But which one is better for CS students? We compared real federal data on costs, outcomes, and admissions to help you decide.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Category	UC Berkeley	UCLA
CS Median Earnings	$161,399	$147,842
Overall Median Earnings (6yr)	$74,919	$59,063
Overall Median Earnings (10yr)	$92,446	$82,511
In-State Tuition	$14,850	$13,747
Out-of-State Tuition	$45,627	$44,524
Avg Net Price	$14,979	$14,013
Admission Rate	11.7%	8.7%
Graduation Rate	93.5%	92.6%
Retention Rate	96.8%	96.8%
Undergrad Enrollment	33,073	33,040

CS Program Earnings: Berkeley Wins

Berkeley CS graduates earn a median of $161,399, compared to UCLA's $147,842 — a difference of about $13,500 per year. Both figures are exceptional and place these programs in the top tier nationally, but Berkeley's slight edge likely reflects its deeper ties to Silicon Valley and its stronger reputation specifically in computer science and engineering.

Berkeley's overall institutional earnings ($74,919 at 6 years, $92,446 at 10 years) also outpace UCLA ($59,063 and $82,511), suggesting that Berkeley's STEM-heavy curriculum drives higher average outcomes across all graduates.

Cost: Nearly Identical

These schools are remarkably similar in cost:

• In-state tuition: Berkeley $14,850 vs UCLA $13,747 (UCLA saves $1,103/yr)
• Average net price: Berkeley $14,979 vs UCLA $14,013 (UCLA saves $966/yr)
• Out-of-state tuition: Berkeley $45,627 vs UCLA $44,524

Over four years, UCLA saves you roughly $4,000 in total. Both schools offer generous financial aid — students from families earning under $30,000 pay around $6,000–$7,000 net per year at either school.

Admissions: UCLA Is Harder to Get Into

UCLA's 8.7% admission rate is more selective than Berkeley's 11.7%. Both are among the most competitive public universities in the country, but UCLA receives more applications than any university in the nation, making it statistically harder to gain admission.

Both schools have virtually identical retention rates at 96.8%, and graduation rates are within one percentage point (Berkeley 93.5% vs UCLA 92.6%).

Program Strengths

UC Berkeley EECS

• Housed in the College of Engineering (EECS) or College of Letters & Science (CS)
• Two pathways: EECS (direct admit, more competitive) and CS L&S (declare after enrollment)
• World-renowned for systems, AI/ML, and theoretical computer science
• Direct proximity to Silicon Valley — many students intern while enrolled
• Strong research culture with faculty who are leaders in their fields

UCLA Computer Science

• Part of the Henry Samueli School of Engineering
• Strong in computer vision, NLP, and cybersecurity
• Los Angeles location provides access to entertainment tech, gaming, and startup ecosystems
• Growing reputation in AI and machine learning
• More balanced campus culture with strong arts, humanities, and athletics

Student Life

Berkeley: Urban campus in the East Bay. Intense academic culture. Steps from BART for San Francisco access. More focused, research-oriented student body. Cost of living is high but slightly less than LA.

UCLA: Westwood campus near Santa Monica and Beverly Hills. More traditional college campus feel. D1 athletics and strong school spirit. Los Angeles offers entertainment, networking, and internship diversity beyond just tech.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Berkeley if:

• You want the absolute highest CS earning potential ($161K median)
• You're drawn to Silicon Valley and plan to work in core tech
• You prefer a more research-intensive, academically rigorous environment
• You want the prestige advantage in pure CS/engineering roles

Choose UCLA if:

• You want a slightly more affordable option (saves ~$4K over 4 years)
• You're interested in tech + entertainment, gaming, or media
• You prefer a more well-rounded campus experience
• You want strong CS outcomes ($148K median) with more campus life balance

The Transfer Option

Both schools accept thousands of transfer students from California community colleges each year. If you're not admitted as a freshman, the CC-to-UC transfer path is an excellent alternative. Learn about TAG guaranteed admission and the IGETC transfer curriculum.

Bottom Line

You can't go wrong with either school. Berkeley has a slight edge in CS earnings and reputation, while UCLA offers a marginally lower cost and a more balanced campus experience. Both graduate over 92% of their students and produce CS graduates earning $148K–$161K — outcomes that rival any private university at a fraction of the price.

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