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 Spring 2022, undergraduate students had the highest Chicanx/Latinx representation at 19% followed by staff (17%), grad students (10%), and ladder faculty (7%).
UC Berkeley Chicanx/Latinx Representation by Population, Spring 2022
|
Undergraduates |
Grad Students |
Ladder Faculty |
Staff |
|
|
N |
29,961 |
12,844 |
1,509 |
8,506 |
|
N Chicanx/Latinx |
5,643 |
1,230 |
106 |
1,434 |
|
% Chicanx/Latinx |
19% |
10% |
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 Submission | 2020 Submission | 2021 Submission | 2022 Submission | 2023 Submission | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pell | Hispanic | Pell | Hispanic | Pell | Hispanic | Pell | Hispanic | Pell | Hispanic | |
| Campus | 31.8% | 15.1% | 30.5% | 14.9% | 30.5% | 15.6% | 29.6% | 18.2% | 30.8% | TBD |
| HSI Minimum | 37.0% | 25.0% | 37.0% | 25.0% | 35.0% | 25.0% | TBD | 25.0% | TBD | 25.0% |
| Gap | -5.2% | -9.9% | -6.5% | -10.1% | -4.5% | -9.4% | TBD | -6.8% | TBD | TBD |
| 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.
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 (83%) of undergraduates reported that their race/ethnicity was respected at UC Berkeley in Spring 2020, only two in three (66%) of Chicanx/Latinx undergraduates agreed. In Spring 2020, just over one in four (28%) of undergraduates were classified as food insecure based on FDA criteria and over two in five (43%) of Chicanx/Latinx undergraduates were food insecure. One in twelve (8%) undergraduates reported housing insecurity, while one in ten (10%) of Chicanx/Latinx students did so. Almost three quarters (72%) of undergraduates reported that feeling depressed, stressed, or upset was an obstacle to their school work or academic success, and over four in five (83%) of Chicanx/Latinx students reported the same.
UC Berkeley Undergraduate Experience Metrics, Spring 2020
|
Respect Rates |
Food Insecurity |
Housing Insecurity |
Depressed/ Stressed/Upset |
|
|
All Undergraduates |
83% |
28% |
8% |
72% |
|
Chicanx/Latinx |
66% |
43% |
10% |
83% |
Source: UC Berkeley UCUES 2020
UC Berkeley is currently working to improve student experiences through various initiatives but much work needs to be done.