UC Berkeley vs. Harper

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Berkeley in Berkeley, CA with William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Berkeley is larger than Harper based on total student enrollment (45,882 students vs. 13,988 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Berkeley is located in Berkeley, CA (Midsize City setting); William Rainey Harper College is in Palatine, IL (Large Suburban setting).
• University of California Berkeley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. William Rainey Harper College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Berkeley 18:1; William Rainey Harper College 21:1.

UC Berkeley vs. Harper Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Berkeley or Harper? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at William Rainey Harper College than UC Berkeley ($12,145 vs. $16,538).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William Rainey Harper College are 40% lower than at University of California Berkeley ($14,251 vs. $23,750).
• University of California Berkeley is 62.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harper (about $6,285 more per year; $16,347.00 vs. $10,062.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 325.7% higher at UC Berkeley than at William Rainey Harper College (about $38,673 more per year; $50,547.00 vs. $11,874.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at William Rainey Harper College than at University of California Berkeley (55% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Berkeley students is 301.8% larger than aid received by William Rainey Harper College students ($29,608 vs. $7,368).

UC Berkeley vs. Harper Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Berkeley or Harper? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Harper and UC Berkeley.

• William Rainey Harper College reports an open admissions policy.
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Berkeley 1310/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Berkeley 30/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Berkeley - Test-free; Harper - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Berkeley students have a 0.93 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at Harper (2.94).

UC Berkeley vs. Harper Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Berkeley and Harper? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from University of California Berkeley earn a median of about $34,200 more per year than Harper graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,700 vs. $40,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, William Rainey Harper College graduates have a $4,200 lower median loan debt than UC Berkeley graduates ($10,000 vs. $14,200).
• Among borrowers, Harper graduates have an estimated $43 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Berkeley graduates ($103 vs. $146).
• More UC Berkeley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harper students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 46%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.