The Student, Staff, and Faculty Experience Through Data

Overview

UC Berkeley is committed to not only becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) but becoming a place where Chicanx/Latinx students, faculty, and staff thrive. In Fall 2022, undergraduate students had the highest Chicanx/Latinx representation at 19% followed by staff (17%), grad students (9%), and ladder faculty (7%). 

UC Berkeley Chicanx/Latinx Representation by Population, Fall 2022

Undergraduates

Grad Students

Ladder Faculty

Staff

N

32,479

12,828

1,509

8,851

N Chicanx/Latinx

6,306

1,218

109

1,537

% Chicanx/Latinx

19%

9%

7%

17%

Source: UC Berkeley Cal Answers

As of 2021, UC Berkeley does not yet meet the eligibility requirement of having an undergraduate full-time enrollment of at least 25% Hispanic.  Berkeley has not yet reached the Pell eligibility requirement either.  

UC Berkeley HSI Eligibility Trends

2019 Submission2020 Submission2021 Submission2022 Submission2023 Submission
PellHispanicPellHispanicPellHispanicPellHispanicPellHispanic
Campus 31.8% 15.1% 30.5% 14.9% 30.5% 15.6% 29.6% 18.2% 30.8% 19.3%
HSI Minimum 37.0% 25.0% 37.0% 25.0% 35.0% 25.0% 35.0% 25.0% 33.0% 25.0%
Gap -5.2% -9.9% -6.5% -10.1% -4.5% -9.4% -5.4% -6.8% -2.2% -5.7%
Source year 2016-17 2017-18 2017-18 2018-19 2018-19 2019-20 2019-20 2020-21 2020-21 2021-22

Sources: UC Berkeley Office of Planning & Analysis, Financial Aid & Scholarships Office, and Equity & Inclusion

Representation Trends

The representation of Chicanx/Latinx students among incoming UC Berkeley undergraduates is now at record levels. During the mid- to late-1980s, the representation grew rapidly, peaking in 1990 at 18% of incoming students.  Changes in campus and state policies in the 1990s led to sharp declines -- with the implementation of Proposition 209 in 1998 leading to the lowest percentage of incoming Chicanx/Latinx undergraduates (8%) in fifteen years. Over the next two decades, the representation of Chicanx/Latinx undergraduates slowly increased. Gains in recent years have come as UC Berkeley works to become an HSI.  

Chicanx/Latinx representation among new UC Berkeley undergraduates is at a record high in 2020 of just over 20%.

Thriving Metrics

Beyond simple numbers on campus, it is important for all students to thrive at UC Berkeley.  At present, many students struggle with climate, basic needs, and mental health -- and Chicanx/Latinx students are disproportionately affected by these issues. 

While over four in five (87%) of undergraduates reported that their race/ethnicity was respected at UC Berkeley in Spring 2022, only three in four (76%) of Chicanx/Latinx undergraduates agreed.  In Spring 2022, almost one in three (30%) of undergraduates were classified as food insecure based on FDA criteria and almost one in two (45%) of Chicanx/Latinx undergraduates were food insecure.  One in nine (11%) undergraduates reported housing insecurity, while one in eight (12%) of Chicanx/Latinx students did so.  Over two thirds (69%) of undergraduates reported that feeling depressed, stressed, or upset was an obstacle to their school work or academic success, and almost three in four (74%) of Chicanx/Latinx students reported the same.

UC Berkeley Undergraduate Experience Metrics, Spring 2022

Respect Rates

Food Insecurity

Housing Insecurity

Depressed/ Stressed/Upset

All Undergraduates

87%

30%

11%

69%

Chicanx/Latinx

76%

45%

12%

74%

Source: UC Berkeley UCUES 2020

UC Berkeley is currently working to improve student experiences through various initiatives but much work needs to be done.