University of Southern California (USC) vs. UC Berkeley Overview
You’re wrestling with a tough question: “Should I go to USC or UC Berkeley?“
University of Southern California (USC)
UC Berkeley
Can you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesCan you get in?
Calculate Your ChancesThis complete guide analyzes both the quantitative and qualitative differences between University of Southern California (USC) and UC Berkeley . This comparison is particularly valuable at understanding the cultural nuances between the colleges since it uses student videos to capture the “vibes” of campus - these videos are exclusively available on CampusReel :)
Differences between University of Southern California (USC) and UC Berkeley
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s go through a general overview of the high-level differences between University of Southern California (USC) and UC Berkeley . The table below summarizes some of the most important statistics around competitiveness, costs, etc.
| University of Southern California (USC) | UC Berkeley | |
|---|---|---|
| In-state Tuition | $50,277 | $13,431 |
| Net Price | $29,174 | $13,262 |
| Average Financial Aid | $33,822 | $10,677 |
| Total Undergraduates | 18519 | 27496 |
| Average SAT Scores | 1270 - 1500 | 1250 - 1510 |
| Acceptance Rate | 18 | 17 |
| Location | University Park | 200 California Hall |
| City Name | Los Angeles | Berkeley |
WARNINGS: Based on net price alone, UC Berkeley is the cheaper option. However, this sticker price may not adequately represent the difference in living costs between Los Angeles and Berkeley. USC is in a Mountain and UC Berkeley is in a Mountain - sometimes off campus meals and housing costs can dramatically vary between schools
Is University of Southern California (USC) or UC Berkeley Harder to get into? Which school is easier to get into?
If you’re looking at acceptance rate alone, then UC Berkeley is more difficult to get into. However, each college is looking to fill its incoming class with a variety of students with different strengths, backgrounds, etc.
Therefore, the acceptance rate alone is not a good indicator that UC Berkeley is a better school or will be more difficult for you specifically to get into. On the flipside, University of Southern California (USC) is easier to get into based on acceptance rate alone.
You can use the below college admissions predictor to determine your likelihood of acceptance at either school.
How Do USC Dorms Compare to housing Options at UC Berkeley?
Both colleges provide on-campus living options. USC charges for on-campus living, while UC Berkeley charges N/A for on-campus living. Most importantly, though, check out the video below for a sample of dorm tours at each school.
USC and UC Berkeley student body differences
The table below helps demonstrate the student body differences as well.
| University of Southern California (USC), % | UC Berkeley,% | |
|---|---|---|
| White | 40.129999999999995 | 26.889999999999997 |
| Hispanic | 13.8 | 14.09 |
| Black | 4.21 | 2.12 |
| Foreign | 13.4 | 13.71 |
| Others | 28.5 | 43.2 |
How different is the University of Southern California (USC) campus compared to UC Berkeley campus?
The USC campus is located in Los Angeles, CA and is characterized as City: Large (population of 250,000 or more). The UC Berkeley campus is located in Berkeley, CA and is characterized as City: Midsize (population of at least 100,000 but less than 250,000).
Which school gives more financial aid?
USC provides $33,822 whereas UC Berkeley provides an average of $10,677.
How does USC academics compare to UC Berkeley?
When analyzing academics between University of Southern California (USC) and UC Berkeley we’ll look at both what current students are studying and also where they end up after graduation. After all, college should prepare you for a career! Analyzing each school’s outcomes is super valuable to understand the value of the degree.
| Majors | USC | UC Berkeley |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture agriculture operations and related sciences | N/A | N/A |
| Natural resources and conservation | 49 | 353 |
| Architecture and related services | 238 | 143 |
| Area ethnic cultural gender and group studies | 17 | 175 |
| Communication journalism and related programs | 423 | 227 |
| Computer and information sciences and support services | 217 | 501 |
| Communications technologies technicians and support services | N/A | N/A |
| Personal and culinary services | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering | 473 | 917 |
| Education | N/A | N/A |
| Engineering technologies and engineering related fields | N/A | N/A |
Which is better: University of Southern California (USC) or UC Berkeley ?
We’ve compared dorm life, costs, outcomes and more to provide the most complete comparison between USC and UC Berkeley. But, you’re smart enough to know that numbers paint a terrible picture for truly understanding what each college and community is like. And, the real answer to which school is better is: the school that’s right for you. No matter who you ask, if they know what they’re talking about, the answer is the same: the “better” school is whatever is the best fit for you personally. That’s why it’s extremely important to check out all the videos on CampusReel for each school.
How does USC social life compare to UC Berkeley?
It’s tough to understand the nuances of social life with data alone. That’s why we’ve brought in real student videos to show how USC social life differs from UC Berkeley.
Check here.
Check here.