Overview
University of California, Berkeley in Berkeley, California has competed in club esports since 2017. The program is a student-run club rather than a varsity team run by the university. Its teams currently compete in League of Legends, Overwatch 2, Rocket League and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The school does not publicly list esports scholarship terms (recwell.berkeley.edu, 2018); contact the program directly. Federal College Scorecard data shows an average net price of $13,481 per year, an acceptance rate of 11% and a graduation rate of 93% across 33,068 undergraduates.
Esports details verified 2026-10-10 · Federal data retrieved 2026-10-10
Esports scholarships at Cal
No current esports scholarship terms published. Riot Games funded scholarships for the Cal League of Legends team in 2018; the teams page still says players 'compete for scholarships' but gives no amounts.
Cal doesn't publish esports scholarship terms. Ask the program staff about athletic or participation awards during recruiting.
The esports program
- Level
- Club (student-run)
- Founded
- 2017
- Conference / league
- Not published
- Facility
- Cal Esports Community Center
- Titles fielded
- 4
Cost & outcomes vs. other esports schools
Compared with the median of all 405 esports programs we track.
| Tuition (in-state / out-of-state) | $16,347 / $50,547 |
|---|---|
| Average net price (after grants) | $13,481 |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 29% |
| Median debt at graduation | $13,000 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 18:1 |
Who studies at Cal
33,068 undergraduates, shown as 100 people.
- White 20%
- Hispanic/Latino 22%
- Black 2%
- Asian 35%
- Two or more races 7%
- International 10%
- Other / unknown 4%
- Women
- 56%
- First-generation
- 35%
- Pell recipients
- 29%
Frequently asked questions
Does Cal offer esports scholarships?
The school does not publicly list esports scholarship terms (recwell.berkeley.edu, 2018); contact the program directly. Scholarship terms can change each season, so confirm with the program before applying.
What games does Cal esports compete in?
Cal fields club teams in League of Legends, Overwatch 2, Rocket League and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, according to the program's published information.
How much does Cal cost per year?
The average annual net price — cost after grants and scholarships for students receiving aid — is $13,481. Published tuition is $16,347 in-state and $50,547 out-of-state (U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard).
How hard is it to get into Cal?
Cal admits 11% of applicants, per the College Scorecard.
When did Cal start club esports?
Cal's club esports program began in 2017.
Sources
- Esports program and scholarship terms: recwell.berkeley.edu (2018)
- Cost, admissions, outcomes and demographics: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved 2026-10-10
- Photo: Gku, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Research notes
Level is ambiguous. Cal Esports has been an official program of Recreation & Wellbeing since 2017. It has a 55-PC facility and staff support, but it sits in the competitive sports/sport club structure, and no coaches or scholarships are documented, so it is marked club. The official teams page is undated and partly stale (it still lists CS:GO, PUBG and Echo Arena). Only core titles are kept in g. The page also lists Dota 2, Hearthstone, StarCraft II, Fortnite, R6 Siege, Melee and Beat Saber, and none of these were confirmed for 2025-26. No league is named.
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