2025 My Experience Survey Results

Results

The 2025 My Experience Survey provides a comprehensive assessment of campus climate at UC Berkeley, capturing the experiences of students, faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and staff across academic, interpersonal, health, basic needs, and professional development domains.

As the second administration of the My Experience Survey, the 2025 results allow the campus to examine change over time since 2019, identify persistent disparities, and better understand how experiences vary across populations.

About the 2025 survey

The 2025 My Experience Survey launched on February 18, 2025 and closed on April 18, 2025. The survey was distributed to the entire campus community and designed to provide both campuswide and unit-level insights while maintaining respondent anonymity. Findings were analyzed and reviewed during 2025, with results released in Fall 2025.

Survey participation

In 2025, 60,412 people were invited to take the survey. 13,482 responded (22%).

Response rates by population:

  • Undergraduate students: 21%

  • Graduate students: 22%

  • Postdoctoral students: 15%

  • Faculty: 54%

  • Academic Employees: 13%

  • Staff: 30%

Overall campus experience

For the majority of respondents, the campus experience was positive:

  • 65% of respondents reported being comfortable with the climate (up 10 points from 2019).

  • 67% agreed that diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are values promoted at Berkeley (up 4 points from 2019).

  • 62% of respondents reported flourishing, indicating positive wellbeing across social, psychological, and academic domains.

Basic Needs

  • Around 33% of respondents were food insecure, up from 27% in 2019.

  • Food insecurity was highest among undergraduates (42%) and respondents with multiple marginalizations (81%).

Student listening intently with a coffee cup in hand

Campus Climate

  • Overall comfort and campus values increased across most populations and marginalization groups.

  • Respondents with more marginalizations reported significantly lower comfort and alignment with campus values, highlighting persistent inequities.

  • Leadership perception improved from 34% to 46%, though postdocs and the most marginalized respondents reported lower trust in campus leaders.

A diverse group of people gathered at tables in a large room with brick walls and tall windows.

Professional Development

  • Nearly half (46%) of respondents wanted more career development support.

  • Interest was highest among postdocs (66%) and respondents with multiple marginalizations (66%).

  • More than half of employees continue to aspire to or maintain leadership roles in equity, inclusion, and diversity.

A young woman in a plaid jacket smiles in front of a yellow "Berkeley University of California" backdrop.

Health and Wellbeing

  • 21% of respondents met criteria for depression, up slightly from 19% in 2019.

  • General health remains strong, with over 80% reporting good, very good, or excellent health.

Two graduate students smiling during an icebreaker activity

Academic Experiences

  • About 35% of students reported positive academic experiences, up slightly from 31% in 2019.

  • Experiences were higher among students with fewer marginalizations and lower among students with multiple intersecting marginalized identities.

Berkeley students, one smiling, talk with adults in a room with a whiteboard and "Where Science?" poster.