Diversity Data Dashboard

Why we do this work

California is one of the most diverse states in the nation with its diversity ever-growing. UC Berkeley's Strategic Plan for Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity states as a goal to "[c]reate a critical mass of talented students [...] that will fully represent California’s excellence and diversity." At present, UC Berkeley does not represent the diversity of the state. Part of the work of the Division of Equity & Inclusion is to help redress this lack of representation at UC Berkeley.

Native American/Alaska Native

Bar graph with 2% for California and .4% for UC Berkeley

In California, Native Americans/Alaska Natives are roughly 2% of the population, while they are only 0.4% of undergraduate students at UC Berkeley.

US American Community Survey (2019)
UC Berkeley Cal Answers (Fall 2020)

African American Representation

African Americans have less than half the representation among undergraduates that they do in California

In California, African Americans are roughly 7% of the population, while they are only 4% of undergraduate students at UC Berkeley.

Pacific Islander Representation

Bar graph with .8% California and .2% for UC Berkeley

In California, Pacific Islanders are roughly 0.8% of the population, while they are only 0.2% of undergraduate students at UC Berkeley.

Chicanx/Latinx Representation

Bar graph with 39% for CA and 18% for UC Berkeley

In California, Chicanx/Latinx are roughly 39% of the population, while they are only 18% of undergraduate students at UC Berkeley.

Disability Representation

Bar graph with 18% for California and 11% for UC Berkeley

In California, people with disabilities are roughly 18% of the population, while they are only 11% of undergraduate students at UC Berkeley.

Undergraduate Graduation Rates at UC Berkeley

At UC Berkeley graduation rates continue to be high for both freshmen (92% 6-year graduation rate) and transfer students (91% 4-year graduation rate). These rates have improved or held steady across racial/ethnic groups.

There is also more to celebrate when it comes to transfer students: the equity gap between underrepresented minorities (Chicano/Latino, African American, Native American/Alaska Native, and Pacific Islanders) and the overall campus has nearly closed (only 2 percentage-points lower).

Historical Trends

Over the past 30 years, graduation rates at UC Berkeley improved notably and then plateaued among freshmen. For fall entering cohorts from 1985 to 2002, 6-year graduation rates for freshman entrants increased from 77% to 90%. Since then they have held steady at just above 90%. Transfer students are just as successful as freshmen – for fall entering cohorts from 1985 to 2012, the 4-year graduation rates have risen from 78% to 90%.

Graduation rates for underrepresented minorities have increased over time, mirroring the trends for freshmen and transfers overall. Among freshman cohorts, underrepresented minorities had increasing 6-year graduation rates from 55% to 83% over the period from 1985 to 2004 and have plateaued since then. Among transfer student cohorts, 4-year graduation rates for underrepresented minorities have improved from 66% in 1985 to 89% in 2012 and plateaued since then.

Equity Gaps in Graduation Rates

Differences between overall graduation rates and underrepresented minorities have declined. While a difference remains among freshmen, the gap has nearly closed for transfer students. The equity gap is defined as the difference between the graduation rate for a given group and the campus average (with negative equity gaps indicating a deficit for a given group and zero indicating parity). The 6-year graduation rate for underrepresented minorities who entered as freshmen in Fall 2014 is 85%, compared to campus average of 92%. The negative 7 percentage-point difference reflects a sizable equity gap for underrepresented minorities.

Summary

Overall, UC Berkeley maintains high graduation rates for freshmen (92%) and transfers (91%). While equity gaps have narrowed significantly over the past three decades as graduation rates improved or held steady across racial/ethnic groups, gaps persist between some racial/ethnic groups and the overall student body – notably for underrepresented minority men. Continued work is necessary to ensure that UC Berkeley fulfills its mission as a place where all students succeed and thrive and no more equity gaps remain.

UC Berkeley Cal Answers (2020)

Fall 2021 Fast Facts

Undergraduate Students	Graduate Students	Ladder Faculty	Lecturers/Adjuncts	Staff
31,814 enrolled undergraduate students	13,243 enrolled graduate students	1,511 ladder faculty	1,222 lecturers/adjuncts	8,514 staff
54% are women	48% are women	35% are women	40% are women	54% are women
1% are transgender/gender non-conforming*	1% are transgender/gender non-conforming*	1% are transgender/gender non-conforming	1% are transgender/gender non-conforming	1% are transgender/gender non-conforming
13% are LGBQ+*	6% are LGBQ+*	6% are LGBQ+*	7% are LGBQ+*	9% are LGBQ+*
10% have a disability**	3% have a disability**	5% have a disability**	4% have a disability**	7% have a disability**
23% are from underrepresented groups***	15% are from underrepresented groups***	12% are from underrepresented groups***	11% are from underrepresented groups***	27% are from underrepresented groups***
29% are first generation college students†	40% are doctoral students	84% are tenured	3% are tenured	31% are represented
27% are Pell Grant Recipients
13% are international	29% are international/non-domestic

* LGBTQ+ identities only started to be collected on the applications in 2016 for undergraduates and in 2018 for graduate students and in 2020 for employees, so current numbers are undercounts.
** Disability data for students comes from the Disabled Students Program while disability data for employees comes from our employee data system. As students are only included if they receive services and employees are only included if they disclose their disability, current numbers are an undercount.
*** Underrepresented groups are African American, Chicano/Latino, Native American/Alaska Native, and Pacific Islander.
† First-generation college students are defined as students where neither parent has earned a four-year degree.

Sources: UC Berkeley Cal Answers, DSP, OPA, OUA, OFEW, Graduate Division, and UC Info Center, Fall 2021