When Do UC Berkeley Decisions Come Out? Class of 2030 Notification Dates

If you’ve applied to UC Berkeley, the second best public school in the country, you’re probably refreshing your portal daily and asking the same big question: when do UC Berkeley decisions come out? With more than 150,000 applicants vying for limited spots, it’s no surprise that this is one of the most frequently asked questions each admissions cycle.

In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about when UC Berkeley decisions come out—from first-year regular decisions to transfer notifications and waitlist updates. We’ll also explain Berkeley’s stance on Early Action and Early Decision, highlight acceptance rates, and share practical tips on what to do once your results are released.

• When Does UC Berkeley Release Decisions?
• When Do UC Berkeley Regular Decisions Come Out?
• When Do UC Berkeley Waitlist Decisions Come Out?
• When Do UC Berkeley Transfer Decisions Come Out?
• What to Do After Receiving Your UC Berkeley Admissions Decision
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

When Does UC Berkeley Release Decisions?

One of the most important things to know is that UC Berkeley offers only one application route. This means all first-year applicants are reviewed under the same timeline.

So, when does UC Berkeley release decisions? For first-year applicants, decisions are typically posted in late March, while transfer decisions are released in late April.

Here’s a quick overview of the UC Berkeley decision deadlines:

While the highlight of the admissions journey is when UC Berkeley decisions come out, there are key steps every applicant must complete beforehand.

The UC application opens on August 1, and the official filing window runs from October 1 to December 1. To be considered for financial aid, students must also file the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application by March 2.

Applicants may also need to submit additional UC Berkeley forms by January 31. Staying on top of these deadlines ensures your application will be fully reviewed and ready when UC Berkeley decisions come out in March.

Transfer and waitlist notifications follow a different timeline, which we’ll discuss below.

Does UC Berkeley Have Early Action/Early Decision?

No, UC Berkeley does not offer Early Action or Early Decision. All applicants are considered under the same Regular Decision timeline, with results posted in late March. This policy exists because the University of California system follows a unified admissions process to maintain fairness across all campuses.

Offering Early Action or Early Decision would give an advantage to students with greater resources, which conflicts with Berkeley’s mission of equity and access. Instead, Berkeley keeps the process consistent: every student applies under the same timeline, and all UC Berkeley decisions come out at once.

When Do UC Berkeley Regular Decisions Come Out?

For first-year applicants, UC Berkeley regular decisions come out in late March each year. While a small number of students—such as Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholarship candidates—may hear back as early as February, the majority of applicants receive their decision in the final week of March through the MAP@Berkeley portal.

Here’s the full timeline for UC Berkeley Regular Decision:

What is the UC Berkeley Regular Decision?

UC Berkeley Regular Decision is the only admissions plan available at the university, since Berkeley does not offer Early Action or Early Decision. This route is non-binding, meaning that if you’re admitted, you have until May 1 to decide whether to enroll. The process ensures that all applicants—whether from California, out-of-state, or abroad—are evaluated on the same timeline, using Berkeley’s holistic review.

Since every applicant is reviewed in the same cycle, it’s important you submit the strongest application possible by the December 1 deadline. Make sure your senior year courses are rigorous, your Personal Insight Questions are polished, and your activities clearly demonstrate impact. With no early option at Berkeley, treating Regular Decision as your one chance to shine is key.

UC Berkeley Regular Decision results

When UC Berkeley regular decisions come out in late March, you will receive one of three outcomes:

• Admit. Congratulations, you’re in! Students must confirm enrollment and submit their deposit by May 1.
• Waitlist. You may be offered a spot on the waitlist, which requires opting in by April 15 to remain under consideration.
• Deny. Your application cycle with Berkeley ends, though transfer admission remains an option for the future.

UC Berkeley Regular Decision acceptance rate

Before applying to UC Berkeley, it’s important to understand just how competitive the admissions process is. For the Class of 2028, over 124,000 students applied, and only about 13,700 were admitted. That means the acceptance rate was around 11%.

The year before, Berkeley admitted 14,772 out of 125,922 applicants, which was about 11.2%—almost the same rate as this year. So while the numbers shift a little each cycle, the acceptance rate has stayed consistently selective.

Looking at admitted students, the middle 50% of GPAs ranged from 3.89 to 4.00 unweighted and 4.31 to 4.65 weighted. But remember—Berkeley isn’t only looking for perfect grades. Admissions officers want to see persistence, passion, leadership, and how you’ve made an impact in your school or community.

When Do UC Berkeley Waitlist Decisions Come Out?

Getting waitlisted at UC Berkeley means admissions saw you as a strong applicant, but space wasn’t available during the first round. It’s not the same as being denied since you’re still in the running if seats open later. But it’s also not guaranteed, so you’ll want to plan carefully.

UC Berkeley’s waitlist decisions follow a different timeline than Regular Decision, with most movement happening after the May 1 enrollment deadline.

Here’s what the UC Berkeley waitlist process looks like:

For context, UC Berkeley offered 10,894 students a spot on the waitlist in 2024, and 7,853 opted in. Out of those, only 26 were admitted, which comes out to a waitlist acceptance rate of just 0.3% according to their latest Common Data Set. This shows how incredibly competitive—and often unpredictable—the Berkeley waitlist can be.

If you’re invited to join, make sure to opt in by the deadline through MAP@Berkeley. Keep in mind that the waitlist isn’t ranked, and the admissions office won’t accept extra recommendation letters or updates beyond what’s requested.

Since decisions may not come until May, June, or even July, secure your spot at another college by May 1 while keeping Berkeley as a possibility.

When Do UC Berkeley Transfer Decisions Come Out?

If you don’t get in as a freshman, UC Berkeley still offers a strong pathway through transfer admission. The transfer process runs on a slightly different schedule than that of first-year applicants.

Here’s a quick snapshot of the UC Berkeley transfers application timeline:

After submitting your UC application in the fall, you’ll first receive an email confirmation along with your MAP@Berkeley login details. By the end of January, you’ll need to complete all mandatory forms, including the UC Transfer Academic Update (TAU) and any major prerequisite forms required by certain colleges.

From there, Berkeley reviews applications through the spring and posts transfer decisions at the end of April. If you’re admitted, you’ll need to confirm your spot by submitting the Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) no later than June 1.

Looking at recent data, Berkeley received 21,469 transfer applications in 2024 and admitted 5,485 students, for an acceptance rate of about 25.6%. Out of those, 2,691 enrolled, giving a yield of nearly 49%. Compared to the freshman pool, where the admit rate sits around 11%, transfers have a much stronger pathway into Berkeley.

Stay on top of deadlines, especially the January 31 TAU and forms deadline, since missing it could jeopardize your application. Berkeley also weighs major preparation heavily, so completing prerequisites and maintaining a strong GPA are critical if you want to stand out.

What to Do After Receiving Your UC Berkeley Admissions Decision

Waiting for your UC Berkeley decision can feel like the longest part of the process. When the results finally come out, you’ll land in one of three groups: admitted, waitlisted, or denied. Each path has its own next steps, and knowing what to do can help you feel more in control.

If you’re accepted

First off—congratulations! Getting into Berkeley is a huge accomplishment. To make your spot official, you’ll need to:

• Accept your offer by May 1 (first-years) or June 1 (transfers).
• Pay the $250 enrollment deposit (it goes toward your tuition).
• Send your official transcripts by July 1 and AP/IB scores by July 15.
• Apply for housing early using CalCentral since housing is in high demand.

Don’t wait until the last minute. The earlier you handle these steps, the smoother your transition will be to life at Berkeley.

If you’re waitlisted

Being waitlisted means Berkeley saw you as a strong candidate, but space was too tight to admit you right away. Here’s what to keep in mind:

• Opt in by April 15 (first-years) or May 15 (transfers) through MAP@Berkeley.
• Berkeley doesn’t take extra materials like recommendation letters or updates.
• If you do get an offer, you’ll only have 7 days to respond, so check your email and Berkeley portal often.
• Make sure to commit to another school by May 1. Waitlist admits are rare—only about 0.3% were admitted in 2024.

Think of the waitlist as a backup, not a sure plan. Celebrate that Berkeley kept you in the running, but move forward with another solid option too.

If you’re denied

Getting a denial is tough, especially when you’ve worked so hard. But remember—Berkeley gets tens of thousands of applications, and many amazing students don’t get in. Here’s what you can do:

• Appeal only if you have new, compelling information. Appeals are due by April 15 (first-years) or May 15 (transfers), but they’re rarely granted.
• Look at other UC campuses. Each one has strong programs and plenty of opportunities.
• Consider transferring later. Berkeley admits thousands of transfers every year, and the acceptance rate (~25.6%) is much higher than for first-years.

If Berkeley is your dream school, use the transfer pathway as a second chance. Strong grades and completing major prerequisites at a community college can put you right back in the game.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When do UC Berkeley decisions come out for first-year applicants?

UC Berkeley decisions come out in late March each year. While a small group of scholarship nominees may hear in February, the majority of applicants receive their Regular Decision results in the last week of March through the Berkeley portal.

2. When does UC Berkeley release decisions for transfer applicants?

If you’re applying as a transfer, UC Berkeley releases decisions at the end of April. You’ll need to submit the Transfer Academic Update (TAU) and required forms by January 31 to stay on track.

3. When do UC Berkeley waitlist decisions come out?

UC Berkeley waitlist decisions come out between May and July, depending on space availability after the May 1 enrollment deadline. In 2024, over 7,800 students opted in to the waitlist, but only 26 were admitted—showing how competitive the waitlist can be.

4. Does UC Berkeley have EA or ED?

No—UC Berkeley does not offer Early Action or Early Decision. Every applicant follows the same Regular Decision deadline of December 1, and all results are released at the same time in late March. This ensures fairness across the UC system.

5. What is UC Berkeley’s acceptance rate?

For the Class of 2028, UC Berkeley admitted about 11% of applicants, which is almost the same as the year before (11.2%). Transfers had a much higher admit rate of 25.6%, making the transfer route an excellent alternative pathway.

Takeaways

• UC Berkeley decisions come out in late March for first-years and late April for transfers, with waitlist updates continuing into the summer.
• There’s no Early Action or Early Decision at Berkeley—every applicant applies by the December 1 deadline and is reviewed under the same process.
• Admission is highly competitive, with only about 11% of freshmen admitted. Transfer applicants, especially from California community colleges, see better odds at 25.6%.
• Staying on top of deadlines is essential. From the UC Berkeley regular decision deadline of December 1 to the March 2 financial aid deadline and the May 1 enrollment deadline, missing a date could jeopardize your admission or aid package.
• If Berkeley is your dream school, whether admitted, waitlisted, or denied, you still have options. Consider strengthening your profile and reapplying through the transfer pathway or seek expert help with your application through our Private Consulting Program.