Regarding Berkeley — the general feeling among Californians who don’t even think of themselves as liberal, is that UC Berkeley and the other top UC campus programs have no equal across the country and despite some “campus culture” problem issues they will all pay through the nose to have their kids go to these “top flight” schools.
Parents are not paying though the nose to have their kids go to UC Berkeley. Students (their parents) pay a low in-state rate. Thus there are very few private colleges in California.
Berkely is very strong in the basic sciences and engineering. At least it was I. The past. Outstanding law school too. Yes more than a fair share of crazies too.