Colleges: University of Oxford vs. University of California, Berkeley

Quick Verdict

The University of Oxford excels in global rankings, student-to-faculty ratio, and graduation rate, offering a more personalized academic experience with a strong international presence. UC Berkeley, while also highly ranked, provides a broader range of undergraduate programs and financial aid opportunities, appealing to students seeking diverse academic options and affordability.

Oxford has a lower student-to-faculty ratio, implying more personalized attention.
Oxford boasts a higher graduation rate.
Oxford has a larger endowment size when considering the colleges' endowments.
Berkeley has a higher number of undergraduate programs.
Oxford has a higher percentage of international students.
Berkeley provides financial aid to a larger proportion of undergraduate students.
Oxford is ranked higher in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025.
Berkeley is ranked higher in the U.S. News & World Report global university rankings.

Key features – Side-by-Side

Attribute	University of Oxford	University of California, Berkeley
Acceptance Rate	Undergraduate: 16-17.5%, Postgraduate taught: 1 in 4	12%
Tuition and Fees (In-state)	UK Students (Undergraduate): £9,250 per year	$16,347 (2024-2025)
Tuition and Fees (Out-of-state)	International Students (Undergraduate): £35,260 to £59,260 per year, International Students (Graduate): £29,350 to £59,360 per year (some programs like MSc in Financial Economics costing £60,635 per year)	$50,547 (2024-2025)
Student-to-Faculty Ratio	11:1 (undergraduates), 10.5:1 (overall)	19:1 (Some sources say 19.4:1)
Graduation Rate	98.1%	Around 93-94%. Specifically, a 92% 6-year graduation rate for freshmen and a 91% 4-year graduation rate for transfer students.
Research Output	£778.9 million from research grants and contracts (fiscal year ending July 31, 2024), highest volume of world-leading research (2021 Research Excellence Framework)	Classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity". In 2017, the Nature Index ranked UC Berkeley as the 9th largest contributor to papers published in 82 leading journals.
Endowment Size	University: £1.3 billion, Colleges: £5.06 billion (2023: £6.4 billion)	$2.9 billion (FY2023) (Berkeley only); $4.5 billion (FY2023) (Regents portion). Other sources state $6.95 billion.
Number of Undergraduate Programs	More than 50	107 bachelor's degrees. Over 150 undergraduate majors and minors are offered.
Number of Graduate Programs	More than 350 (approximately 450 postgraduate courses received applications for the year of entry 2022/23)	Over 100 graduate programs. UC Berkeley has granted 4,022 master's degrees across 76 programs and 1,245 doctorate degrees across 80 programs.
Global Ranking	Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025: 1st, QS World University Rankings 2026: 4th	Ranked 17th in the QS World University Rankings 2026; 6th overall in the U.S. News & World Report global university rankings; 8th in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2025.
Campus Size	Total size: 537 hectares (1327 acres), including 500 hectares of grounds, 11 hectares of playing fields and the footprints of 248 buildings. 239 buildings, providing more than 600,000m2 of space.	1,232 acres overall, with the central campus covering about 178 acres.
Student Diversity Index	International students: 46% of the total student body, students from more than 160 countries and territories	26% of first-year students are first-generation students.
Availability of Financial Aid	Offers generous financial support packages for UK students, around 1 in 4 UK students receive an annual, non-repayable bursary, provides financial assistance and support to help students manage their finances, various scholarships and financial aid options available	Nearly two-thirds of undergraduate students qualify for financial aid.

Overall Comparison

Oxford: 1st in THE World Rankings, 98.1% Graduation Rate, 10.5:1 Student-to-Faculty Ratio. Berkeley: 12% Acceptance Rate, $16,347 In-state Tuition, 100+ Graduate Programs.

Pros and Cons

University of Oxford

Pros:

Personalized teaching through the tutorial system
Vast academic resources, including cutting-edge research facilities and libraries
Diverse student body with students from over 160 countries
Excellent career prospects for graduates
Wide range of extracurricular activities, clubs, and organizations
On-campus housing for all first-year undergraduate students
Generous financial support packages for UK students

Cons:

High academic rigor and competitiveness
Depth in academic focus can sometimes lead to an insular outlook
Some colleges have terrible kitchen facilities

University of California, Berkeley

Pros:

Plentiful research opportunities through URAP
Extensive library resources with 14.6+ million book volumes
Lively and diverse campus community
Over 1,000 student organizations
Strong reputation for rigorous academics
Consulting groups like Berkeley Group and Berkeley Consulting offer real-world experience

Cons:

Not enough information on quality and availability of on-campus housing
Not enough information on support for students' mental health and well-being
Not enough information on common complaints or areas for improvement

User Experiences and Feedback

University of Oxford

What Users Love

Known for its tutorial system, which provides personalized teaching
Research-intensive university, with opportunities for students to participate in cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research projects
Vast academic resources, including cutting-edge research facilities and libraries
Diverse student body
Excellent career prospects
Offers a wide range of extracurricular activities

Common Complaints

Oxford's depth in academic focus can sometimes lead to an insular outlook
Some colleges have terrible kitchen facilities

Value Perception

High graduation rate (98.1%)
Low drop-out rate (0.9%)
91% of graduates are in work or further study six months after leaving university

User Recommendations

Oxford performed strongly across all academic measures, and what truly put it ahead was having the lowest student-to-staff ratio, coming in at 10.5:1.
The colleges provide a supportive and inclusive environment where students can live, study, and socialize with their peers.
Oxford graduates are highly sought after, with excellent career prospects.

University of California, Berkeley

What Users Love

Large and eclectic student body and faculty
University culture with a legacy of prominent civil rights activism

Common Complaints

No major complaints reported.

Value Perception

No value feedback reported.