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University of California - Berkeley
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University of California - Berkeley - Diversity - College ProwlerCollege Prowler4.24

Diversity

A-
Where does this grade come from?View all Diversity rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Diversity Grades:

Quick Stats

African American 4%
Asian American 41%
Hispanic 12%
International 4%
Native American 1%
White 31%
Unknown 8%
Historically Black College/University? No
Tribal College? No
Out-of-State Students 12%
Common States of Residence
  • Foreign countries
  • New Jersey
  • Oregon
  • Texas
  • Washington
Student Age Breakdown Under 18: 2%
18-19: 27%
20-21: 32%
22-24: 15%
25+: 25%
Female Faculty 35%
Male Faculty 65%
Faculty Diversity African American: 2%
Asian American: 15%
Hispanic: 4%
International: 4%
Native American: 0%
White: 69%
Unknown: 5%

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

While Berkeley is considered racially diverse in the sense that Caucasians are a minority, the campus is predominately Asian or white. There is a strong representation of most races, except for an underrepresentation of African American and Hispanic students. Many culturally based clubs help connect students but have also been criticized for segregating races. Outside of these groups, the racial diversity and acceptance is impressive. Cal is home to many well-traveled, curious students who want to know more about other cultures, and nobody seems to notice different skin colors.

Though it's not often appreciated, the school’s economic and social diversity enriches the campus with new perspectives. Cal is home to more Pell Grant recipients than the entire Ivy League system combined, so for a student body that is generally colorblind, this diversity plays a large role in campus life. Famous for being liberal, Berkeley is also home to a proud LGBTIQQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, and Questioning) community, which has a large presence on campus and makes the environment feel more tolerant. Furthermore, many students try to live up Berkeley’s radical, crazy stereotype by dressing boldly, which builds the campus’s overall tolerance. It’s not unusual to see students in costume, protesting political issues, or sporting bright-colored mohawks and rainbow-striped knee socks. More than anything, Cal’s diversity is tied closely to its tolerance—there are endless backgrounds represented here, and the campus tends to embrace everyone's differences.

 

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UC Berkeley Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Diversity at University of California - Berkeley

pandamandana

'13

Psychology

4.6
A

Diverse

The campus is very diverse. There are people from everywhere and they are all welcomed with open arms. Several clubs on campus are geared towards including these groups

Jan 29, 2012

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Diversity at University of California - Berkeley

GoldenBearSAM

'15

Rhetoric and Composition

3.1
B-

Diversity and Acceptance of That Diversity on Campus

Cal has to be one of the most diverse campuses on the nation. As a result, Cal is very open to anyone, no matter of what religion, nationality, race, etc. On the other hand, while there is a lot of diversity, the logistics behind that diversity are a bit tilted toward a single ethnicity, Asian. So while there may be people from all over the world, there is definitely a majority here at Cal.

Jan 06, 2012

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Diversity at University of California - Berkeley

shanonoden

'15

Physics

5.0
A+

Very Diverse

It is a very accepting school and it is very diverse. There is an overwhelming amount of Asians at 33% of total population meaning therefore there is no majority.

Jan 05, 2012

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Page 1 of 16

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

How diverse is the student body in the following areas?

How diverse is your personal circle of friends in the following areas?

How accepting is the campus community as a whole toward someone who falls into the minority (ethnic, sexual, or religious)?

How would you best describe your personal political beliefs?

How would you best describe the political beliefs of campus as a whole?

Facts

Gay Pride

The LGBT community is very active and visible on campus. The Unity House dorm option supports diverse genders and sexualities, and the Queer Resource Center hosts many events to support LGBT students. Like anywhere else in the Bay Area, it’s hard to find anyone who would speak out against gay rights or lifestyles.

Political Activity

While students tend to be more liberal, most students enjoy political debate. The Berkeley College Republicans are consistently the largest student group on campus. Many students strive to continue the tradition of radicalism started by the Free Speech Movement, and it is not uncommon to watch student protests on Upper Sproul.

Economic Status

Berkeley attracts students from every economic class. While there are a lot of rich Southern California students, Cal also has a sizeable population on financial aid—UC Berkeley has more Pell Grant scholars than the entire Ivy League system.

Most Common Religions

Atheism and agnosticism are very popular, and many students are spiritual without being religious. Many students are Christian, Muslim, or Jewish. There are several Christian clubs, and Hillel is less than a block from campus.

Minority Clubs on Campus

There is high visibility and participation of minority organizations at Cal. The most active on Sproul Plaza are Asian organizations, minority business organizations, Christian and other religious groups, and ethnic volunteer organizations. The Gender Equity Resource Center is also very active, hosting classes that explore gender and events such as the Vagina Monologues.

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Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at Cal

Name: Meegan Brooks

Hometown: Granite Bay, CA

Major: Political science

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