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College Comparison

UC Berkeley vs University of Washington: Which is Better?

Side-by-side comparison of acceptance rates, SAT scores, tuition, earnings, and more, updated with the latest College Scorecard data.

School

UC Berkeley

Berkeley, CA

School

University of Washington

Seattle, WA

Head-to-Head Stats

MetricUC BerkeleyUW Seattle
Acceptance Rate11.7%wins42.5%
SAT Range (25th–75th)N/AN/A
ACT Range (25th–75th)N/AN/A
Tuition (Out-of-State)$45,627$41,997wins
Avg Net Price$14,979$13,485wins
Median Earnings (10 yr)$92,446wins$78,466
Graduation Rate92.9%wins83.7%
Retention Rate96.8%wins94.9%
Student–Faculty Ratio18:1wins20:1
Total Enrollment33,073wins31,588

Verdict

Based on the data above, UC Berkeley edges out UW Seattle on 6 of 8 measurable categories, including key factors like acceptance rate, earnings, and graduation rate. That said, the right choice depends heavily on your major, financial situation, and campus culture fit.

UC Berkeley Strengths

  • Acceptance Rate: 11.7%
  • Median Earnings (10 yr): $92,446
  • Graduation Rate: 92.9%
  • Retention Rate: 96.8%

UW Seattle Strengths

  • Tuition (Out-of-State): $41,997
  • Avg Net Price: $13,485

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