UC Berkeley vs. Saint Mary's College of California

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Berkeley in Berkeley, CA with Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Berkeley is larger than Saint Mary's College of California based on total student enrollment (45,882 students vs. 2,734 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Berkeley is located in Berkeley, CA (Midsize City setting); Saint Mary's College of California is in Moraga, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• University of California Berkeley is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Mary's College of California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Berkeley 18:1; Saint Mary's College of California 10:1.

UC Berkeley vs. Saint Mary's College of California Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC Berkeley or Saint Mary's College of California? 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 University of California Berkeley than Saint Mary's College of California ($16,538 vs. $35,332).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Mary's College of California are 25.9% lower than at University of California Berkeley ($17,600 vs. $23,750).
• Saint Mary's College of California is 253.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Berkeley (about $41,456 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $16,347.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.4% higher at Saint Mary's College of California than at University of California Berkeley (about $7,256 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $50,547.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College of California than at University of California Berkeley (100% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College of California students is 43.2% larger than aid received by University of California Berkeley students ($42,407 vs. $29,608).

UC Berkeley vs. Saint Mary's College of California Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC Berkeley or Saint Mary's College of California? 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 Saint Mary's College of California and UC Berkeley.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Berkeley (1420) is 260 points higher than at Saint Mary's College of California (1160).
• Incoming UC Berkeley students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 24 at Saint Mary's College of California).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Berkeley 1310/1530; Saint Mary's College of California 1070/1253.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Berkeley 30/35; Saint Mary's College of California 21/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC Berkeley - Test-free; Saint Mary's College of California - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026; Saint Mary's College of California Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UC Berkeley students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.87) than students at Saint Mary's College of California (3.6).
• Saint Mary's College of California has a higher acceptance rate (86.5%) than UC Berkeley (11%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46% at UC Berkeley vs. 9.5% at Saint Mary's College of California.

UC Berkeley vs. Saint Mary's College of California Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC Berkeley and Saint Mary's College of California? 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).

• University of California Berkeley's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Saint Mary's College of California's (61%).
• Graduates from University of California Berkeley earn a median of about $7,900 more per year than Saint Mary's College of California graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,700 vs. $66,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Berkeley graduates have a $10,800 lower median loan debt than Saint Mary's College of California graduates ($14,200 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, UC Berkeley graduates have an estimated $112 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saint Mary's College of California graduates ($146 vs. $258).
• More UC Berkeley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saint Mary's College of California students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 71%)

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.