Photo of a sea full of graduating students in Memorial Stadium, two students smiling in foreground, one looks at camera

Students are more than their majors

From efforts that get undergraduates here to services that boost their success once they arrive, Berkeley will be a beacon of hope and opportunity.

Undergraduate Opportunity and Experience: Brightening the Brightest

As a public university, Berkeley is committed to advancing access at large scale and building a student body diverse in background and perspective — like California itself. Undergraduate scholarships are crucial to keeping Berkeley accessible and affordable to the broadest spectrum of the brightest students. Scholarships also free up recipients to concentrate on coursework, research, or internships — and to graduate on time with less debt. Please consider supporting those with financial need, fulfilling Berkeley’s promise to be a place where all students thrive, from admission to graduation.

Scholarships are only one piece of the puzzle. We pledge to make Berkeley as well known for the quality of the student experience as it is for academic excellence. That means ensuring every student’s basic needs are met, including housing, food, and financial security. It means creating a hub for undergraduate discovery where students can connect with emerging technologies and one another to think, learn, and innovate. It means pairing all new students with graduate student mentors and peers to build a greater sense of belonging and intellectual community, and giving every student throughout their journey the chance to engage in research, creative expression, entrepreneurial endeavors, service projects, and other opportunities. Your generosity will help Berkeley create an environment in which equity of experience is on par with personal evolution and students are ready to make a difference in the world.

Related stories

  • After a positive experience with the Berkeley Connect program, Rebekah Flores ’24 decided to “dip her toe” into a second area of scholarship outside of her major. While she remains dedicated to legal studies, she enjoys the opportunities that Berkeley Connect provides to explore a wide array of subjects in a relaxed atmosphere.

    Read Story » Exploring with Berkeley Connect
  • An anonymous $1 million investment in the the Robert T. Matsui Center for Politics and Public Service makes it possible for students from diverse backgrounds to gain direct experience in the workings of government and to begin building careers in public service.

    Read Story » Light the Way reaches $6 billion with a gift that serves democracy
  • In 1897, Levi Strauss donated money to create Berkeley’s first 28 scholarships. His jean-erosity clearly has legs. Colleen and Bob Haas — his descendants — have made an extraordinary $10 million commitment in matching funds to the Haas Family Fiat Lux Scholarship, which supports low-income students from California.

    Read Story » Backlit: The family jeans
  • Today’s students need more than majors. They need transformative experiences that cultivate their deeper talents and interests and build the foundation for brilliant careers. Meet five students who illustrate different points along the Berkeley Discovery journey.

    Read Story » Discovery: The heart of every student’s experience
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