Admit rate has ranged 21%–30% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
UC Irvine is a powerhouse public research university where STEM ambition meets Southern California sunshine. With a 29% acceptance rate and a median admitted GPA in the top tier, UCI attracts academically driven students who thrive in its collaborative yet competitive environment. Known for standout programs in computer science, life sciences, and criminology, the campus balances rigorous academics with a surprisingly vibrant social scene—despite its reputation as a 'commuter school'—and delivers strong career outcomes, with graduates earning median salaries of $65,907 within three years of graduation.
Admission requirements
Test-blind — scores not considered
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Class rank
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
30,197
In-state tuition
$15,722
Out-of-state tuition
$49,922
Campus Size
1,475 acres
Acceptance Rate
28.9%
Student-Faculty Ratio
18:1
4-Year Graduation Rate
74%
6-Year Graduation Rate
86%
Early-Career Median Salary
$65,907
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$80,735
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
5.7×
Median debt at graduation
$15,000
Graduation rate
87%
First-year retention
94%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
78%
Pell (lower-income) share
76%
First-generation share
44%
Endowment / student
$29,783
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$81,929
Computer Science$73,128
Computer Engineering$69,338
Computer and Information Sciences, General$66,461
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$65,387
Management Information Systems and Services
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
22
Per 1,000 students
0.73
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
268
Summer high
80°F
Winter low
47°F
Annual rain
17.6"
Natural-hazard risk
Very High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
1,129
Scholarly works
192,051
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Future-scholar output
Science & engineering PhDstop 38 nationally
Share of this school’s graduates who go on to earn research doctorates (2010–20), by national rank and per-capita yield (NSF institutional-yield ratio). A signal of a research-oriented student culture — not a causal promise, since it partly reflects who enrolls. Only top producers appear. Source: NSF NCSES, Baccalaureate Origins of U.S. Research Doctorate Recipients.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
6.8%
Bottom → top quintile
55%
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at University of California-Irvine?
University of California-Irvine's acceptance rate is approximately 29% (Irvine, CA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does University of California-Irvine cost?
At University of California-Irvine, the average net price (after aid) is about $14,251 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend University of California-Irvine?
University of California-Irvine enrolls approximately 30,197 undergraduate students.
Where is University of California-Irvine located?
University of California-Irvine is located in Irvine, CA.
Admissions
Getting into UC Irvine is competitive but not impossible, with a 28.9% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. for first-year applicants (35,954 admits out of 124,232 applications in the most recent cycle). The middle 50% of admitted freshmen scored between 600-720 on SAT Evidence-Based Reading & Writing and 650-790 on SAT Math, or 24-31 on the ACT Composite. Transfer admission is slightly more accessible, with 25,484 applicants vying for spots. UCI emphasizes academic rigor in its selection process, with admitted students typically presenting GPAs in the top percentile of their high school classes. The university practices test-blind admissions for SAT/ACT scores, focusing instead on coursework rigor, extracurriculars, and personal essays.
UCI shines in STEM fields, particularly computer science and life sciences, but also boasts nationally ranked programs in dance, theatre, psychology, and criminology. The most popular majors cluster in social sciences (22% of students), psychology (12%), biological/biomedical sciences (11%), and business (10%). The campus layout—compact and bike-friendly—encourages academic cross-pollination. With a 75% four-year graduation rate (rising to 87% by six years), UCI outperforms many public peers. The university leans into its research identity, offering undergraduates lab opportunities through programs like the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). Faculty accessibility varies by department, with STEM students often citing large lecture sizes for introductory courses.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$65,332
Civil Engineering$62,707
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering$54,974
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
From bottom quintile
12%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
UCI defies its 'socially dead' stereotype with a packed events calendar—think concerts at the Bren Events Center, comedy nights, and the notorious Undie Run tradition. About 45% of students live on campus, creating pockets of vibrant activity amid a predominantly commuter population. The campus culture leans studious (especially among STEM majors), but 500+ student organizations—from the nationally ranked esports team to the Anteater Piano Ensemble—provide outlets. Student Life & Leadership actively cultivates inclusive spaces, with notable support for Black and international student communities. The surrounding Irvine area offers safety and suburban comforts but requires effort for nightlife; students often trek to Newport Beach or LA for weekend adventures.
UCI delivers strong ROI, with bachelor's degree holders reporting a median early-career salary of $65,907. By age 29, typical alumni working in California outearn the state's median household income. The six-year graduation rate sits at 86%, and 74% of students finish in four years—well above national averages for public universities. Top employers include Google, Amazon, and Southern California school districts. STEM graduates, particularly in computer science, see the highest starting salaries (often $80K+), while humanities and arts majors may initially earn closer to $50K. About 52% of students borrow federal loans, with average debt at graduation hovering near the national average.
For in-state students, UCI's Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. after aid averages $14,033 annually, with 52% of undergraduates receiving financial aid. The university meets 76% of demonstrated financial need on average. Out-of-state students face significantly higher costs (approximately $45,000 annually before aid). UCI offers the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan, covering full tuition for California residents with family incomes under $80,000. Housing costs in Irvine are steep—on-campus rooms run about $17,000 per academic year—pushing many upperclassmen to seek off-campus apartments. The financial aid office provides personalized net price calculators to estimate actual costs based on family circumstances.
UCI occupies a sweet spot in the UC system—more accessible than UCLA or Berkeley but with comparable research clout, especially in tech and health sciences. Its suburban Irvine location offers safety and proximity to biotech hubs (perfect for internships), while the Anteater spirit fosters quirky traditions like the annual Rubber Ducky Regatta. The university punches above its weight in gaming and esports, housing one of the first collegiate esports arenas. For students who want big-time academics without cutthroat competition, UCI delivers California's signature blend of opportunity and sunshine—with a side of nerdy charm.
