The University of California is one of the world's leading academic institutions. The school, known throughout the world as "Cal," is truly a prototype of a contemporary university. It attracts what many consider the finest applicant pool in the country, generates an ethnically and culturally diverse student population on campus, and provides one of the finest learning experiences in the world today.

World-Class Faculty and Students
The Berkeley campus is renowned for the size and quality of its libraries and laboratories, the scope of its research and publications, and the distinction of its faculty and students. National rankings consistently place Cal's undergraduate and graduate programs among the very best. The faculty includes eight Nobel Laureates, 124 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 19 MacArthur Fellows, 81 Fulbright Scholars, three Pulitzer Prize winners and more Guggenheim Fellows (138) than any other university in the country.

The quality of Cal's diverse and independent student body complements the stature of the faculty. More than 33,000 students annually enroll at Cal. Of these, about 23,000 are undergraduates. Students come to Berkeley from all over California, in addition to every state in the union and more than 2,000 students from 75 countries around the world. The undergraduate student body can best be characterized by its diversity; there is no one racial or ethnic majority. Students reflect all age groups, and economic, cultural and geographic backgrounds. This dynamic mix produces the wide range of opinion and perspective essential to a great university.

The Bay Area
Overlooking San Francisco Bay, the campus is a lush and tranquil 1,232-acre oasis in an urban setting. The grounds have retained much of the beauty of their rural beginnings. Spacious lawns, hiking and running trails, as well as groves of oak, redwood and eucalyptus blend with the Neo-classical architecture of John Galen Howard. The University is bordered by the wooded rolling hills of Tilden Regional Park and the City of Berkeley, one of America's most lively, culturally diverse and politically adventurous municipalities.

Academic success
By any standard, Cal offers its students one of the best educations available. Since its birth it has earned a reputation unmatched by any public university in America. According to a recent study by the National Research Council, Cal ranks first nationally in both the number of graduate programs in the Top 10 in their fields (97 percent) and the number of "distinguished" programs for the scholarship of the faculty (32 programs).

Although Cal is well known for its stellar graduate programs, undergraduate teaching is a campus priority. Nearly half of all courses offered at the undergraduate level have 25 students or fewer, and many lecture courses include smaller laboratory or study group sections which allow close interaction with professors and other instructors.

Cal offers a wide arena for academic endeavor and personal growth with more than 7,000 courses in nearly 300 degree programs. Exceptional support services such as the Student Learning Center, Career and Graduate School Services, the Disabled Students' Program, and campus and alumni mentor programs reflect Cal's strong commitment to undergraduate education. Study abroad is available to undergraduate students through the Education Abroad Program, which maintains more than 90 study centers in countries such as Australia, Costa Rica, Egypt, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Thailand.

Each year, more than 8,500 students receive degrees from the University - about 5,500 bachelor's degrees, 2,000 master's degrees, 900 doctorates and 200 law degrees.

Athletic Excellence
The excellence of the University's intercollegiate athletic program rivals the school's academic reputation as Cal boasts one of the finest all-around programs in the nation. Twenty-seven sports - men's and women's basketball, crew, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track & field and water polo; men's baseball, football and rugby; along with women's softball, volleyball, field hockey and lacrosse - are sponsored by the University. Over the years, Cal has captured more than 62 national team championships - most recently men's golf and rugby in 2004 - while claiming over 109 NCAA individual championships in a variety of sports. This past season, six coaches received Conference Coach of the Year honors, Sarah Huarte received the Honda Collegiate Sports Award for Golf and tennis player Raquel Kops-Jones was named the ITA National Senior Player of the Year.

Outside the Classroom
A myriad of activities also goes on outside the classroom. There are more than 350 registered student organizations, such as the Marching Band, Hang Gliding Club, radio station KALX, ethnic associations, humor and literary magazines, debate team, Cal Corps (volunteer programs), Cal in the Capitol/Sacramento, and political organizations. In addition, Cal has a host of other features, including public lectures and concerts, campus-sponsored forums and seminars, clubs and workshops, dramatic presentations, international festivals, art, photographic, design, architectural, anthropological and archaeological exhibits and displays, and dozens of bookstores within one-square mile - all of this making Berkeley one of the most intellectually stimulating communities in the country.

Cal Student Population
Fall 2002
No. of Students 33,145
Undergraduates 23,835
Graduate Students 9,310
Gender Distribution
Male 15,965
Female 17,180

Student Composition
Fall 2002
A multi-cultural and multi-ethnic campus. No ethnic group forms a majority.

Native American 214
Asian/Asian American 11,366
African American 1,154
Hispanic 2,871
Caucasian 11,581
Other 624
International 2,653
No Ethnic Data 2,682

Cal Ranked as No. 1 Public University in United States
The top public universities, as ranked by U.S. News and World Report:
1. California
2. Virginia
3. Michigan
UCLA
5. North Carolina

Cal Facts