MeritPlaybook / Take-home research

UC Berkeley
Decision sheet

California · Research checked 2026-07-02 · School research, not an aid offer

The starting point

UC Berkeley awards non-need institutional merit to only about 2% of freshmen, averaging $13,175. The Regents' and Chancellor's Scholarship is the flagship — minimum $2,500/year (no need), scaling up to full COA (with need). Berkeley has the largest Regents' program in the UC system with 600+ scholars enrolled.

Selection beyond grades and scores. These awards are not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read each award's selection rules, application steps and dates. Meeting a minimum is not an award offer.

Awards to discuss

The 1 award in this school's research. Amounts retain the original units and conditions; confirm the entering year with the school.

Regents' and Chancellor's Scholarship

Minimum $2,500/year for students without financial need. For students with demonstrated need, awards scale up to full cost of attendance. · Variable or qualified amount

Not recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules.

Eligibility: All UC Berkeley applicants automatically considered. Holistic review by the Academic Senate Committee on Undergraduate Scholarships. Faculty interviews in early March. Notifications by end of March.

Renewal: Renewable for up to 8 semesters (freshmen) or 4 semesters (transfers). Scholars may take up to 2 semesters of leave while maintaining eligibility.

Other terms: Berkeley has the largest Regents' program in the UC system with 600+ scholars enrolled (~150+ new awards/year). Benefits: priority enrollment, guaranteed housing, faculty and peer mentorship, Research and Professional Development Fellowship (up to $1,000).

https://financialaid.berkeley.edu/types-of-aid-at-berkeley/scholarships/regents-and-chancellors-scholarship/

Ask before you decide

Which entering-year policy and residency category apply to us? What are the admission and scholarship deadlines?
What grades and credits are required to renew, and for how many terms?
How would other school awards or outside scholarships change the offer?

Recorded stacking policy: Outside scholarships first reduce need-based loans and work-study. Only as a last resort do they reduce UC grants and institutional scholarships.

Our unanswered questions / Family notes

Keep the sources with the decision

Full research, award details and source context: https://meritplaybook.com/colleges/berkeley/merit-aid

UC Berkeley stacking policy: https://financialaid.berkeley.edu/types-of-aid-at-berkeley/scholarships/outside-scholarships
UC Berkeley Common Data Set: https://opa.berkeley.edu/campus-data/common-data-set
UC Berkeley cost-of-attendance worksheet (source 1): https://admissions.berkeley.edu/cost/
UC Berkeley cost-of-attendance worksheet (source 2): https://financialaid.berkeley.edu/how-aid-works/student-budgets-cost-of-attendance/
Regents' and Chancellor's Scholarship: https://financialaid.berkeley.edu/types-of-aid-at-berkeley/scholarships/regents-and-chancellors-scholarship/

The research date is not a guarantee that a policy still applies. Confirm current amounts, deadlines and conditions with the school before making a financial decision.

UC BerkeleyDecision sheet