University of California Irvine

  • 9/10 Overall Rating
  • 4 Year
  • Irvine, CA
  • 5.0 2 reviews
#11 Best Public Universities in America

Overview

Total enrollment

37,297
University of California Irvine overview
University of California Irvine overview
  • Size Large
  • Status Non-profit
  • Housing Yes
  • Level of Study Undergrad/Graduate

The University of California, Irvine (UCI) occupies a 1,500-acre suburban campus in Orange County, located 40 miles south of Los Angeles and 4 miles from the Pacific coast. Founded in 1965 as part of the University of California system, UCI features a distinctive circular campus design with modern architecture and a central park. The university maintains selective admission standards and is recognized for its research activities, particularly in the fields of chemistry, engineering, and computer science. UCI's School of Medicine operates a teaching hospital, while the Paul Merage School of Business and Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences are prominent professional schools. The campus provides extensive student housing through its residential communities, and UCI's athletic teams, known as the Anteaters, compete in the NCAA Division I Big West Conference.

Ratings

UCI is rated within the top 20% of four-year colleges nationally and earns a CollegeSimply grade of 9 out of 10.

  • Overall Rating
    9 out of 10
  • Academics
    10 out of 10
  • Resources
    7 out of 10
  • Outcomes
    9 out of 10
  • Value
    10 out of 10

Admissions

Admission Standards

Very High
University of California Irvine admission standards

Acceptance Rate

28.6%
University of California Irvine applications overview
  • Applications Due Nov 30, 2026
  • Enrollment Rate 19.2%
  • Application Fee $80

Applicant Competition High

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Annual Cost to Attend

California Resident Tuition

$15,722

Out of State Resident Tuition

$49,922

Breakdown

In State Costs for University of California Irvine
  • Tuition $15,722
  • Books and Supplies $1,473
  • Other Fees $2,576
  • Room and Board $18,991
  • Budget for Other Expenses $5,692
  • Total One Year Cost $44,454

Student Outcomes

Average Salary After 10 Years

$61,800 per year

Bachelor's Degree Graduation Rate

85% within 6 years

Popular Areas of Study

Popular majors at University of California Irvine are Social Sciences, Biology, and Psychology. 23% of students major in Social Sciences, 16% in Biology, and 11% in Psychology.

  • Social Sciences 23%
  • Biology 16%
  • Psychology 11%
  • Business 8%
  • Engineering 8%

More Colleges to Consider

Students considering University of California Irvine are frequently interested in these similar colleges.

Data source: NCES / IPEDS https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=110653.

GPA calculator: University of California Irvine GPA calculator.

Last updated: August 2026