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University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public · Large city · Carnegie R1/R2 · UCI · UCI UC Irvine

Public institution in Irvine, CA · 29,494 undergraduates · 26% acceptance rate · $80,735 median earnings 10 years after entry.

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price
$12,840499th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
In-state tuition & fees
$14,237908th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees
$45,0141,748th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Cost of attendance
$36,1211,125th cheapest of 1,985 reporting
Median graduate debt
$15,000310th lowest of 1,880 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry
$80,735134th highest of 1,969 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry
$56,210319th highest of 1,964 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year)
86.0%126th highest of 2,031 reporting
Full-time retention
93.8%154th highest of 1,853 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate
25.6%98th most selective of 1,608 reporting
Average SAT
—
Median ACT
—

Campus

Undergraduates
29,49456th largest of 2,162 reporting
Student-faculty ratio
18.0:11,713th smallest of 2,159 reporting
Pell Grant share
37.3%832nd highest of 2,140 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 38 mi (LAX)

On 3 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Applying

Common App member
No
Application fee
—
Personal essay
—
Writing supplement
—

Supplemental prompts (2025-26)

  • You will have 8 questions to choose from. You must respond to only 4 of the 8 questions. Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words.
  • Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
  • Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
  • What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
  • Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
  • Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
  • Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
  • What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
  • Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

Source: UC Personal Insight Questions (official)

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 71 reported programs.

FieldLevel1 yr2 yr
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingHealth Professionsbachelors$83,704$81,929
Computer Sciencebachelors$71,935$73,128
Electrical, Electronics and Communications EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$68,708$65,387
Computer EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$65,557$69,338
Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$65,238$54,974
Civil EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$64,679$62,707
Mechanical EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$61,594$53,647
Management Information Systems and ServicesBusinessbachelors$58,673$65,332
Biomedical/Medical EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$57,318$48,432
Chemical EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$55,286$52,107
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralComputer Sciencebachelors$54,109$66,461
Environmental/Environmental Health EngineeringEngineeringbachelors$52,107—

Campus facts

Athletics — 10 sports

NCAA Division I without football · NCAA Division I

Athletic scholarships allowed · Athletic aid $6,028,469 (M $3,064,898 · W $2,963,571)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport.

Notable alumni

Illustrative alumni only — not exhaustive and not a quality ranking. Affiliation claims cite Wikipedia/Wikidata; confirm on primary bios before relying on them.