UCI Admission Requirements

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

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UCI Admission Overview

UCI admission requirements are highly competitive. Last year UCI admitted 28.6% of applicants. UCI is test-free. SAT and ACT are not used for admission.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

UCI is test-free for 2026-27. SAT and ACT are not used, even if you send them.

Cycle: 2026-27. Source: https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/applying-as-a-first-year/filling-out-the-application.html

UCI Acceptance Rate

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Acceptance rate

28.6%

Admission Standards

Very High

Applicant Competition

High

Very Low

Low

Average

High

Very High

Extreme

Acceptance Rate

The UCI acceptance rate is 28.6%. Last year, only 35,054 of 122,699 applicants were admitted. That is the 13th lowest acceptance rate in California and the 100th lowest in the nation.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into UCI and can you get accepted?

UCI is a highly competitive school to get into, admitting fewer than half of applicants. You have a moderate chance of acceptance if you meet last year's profile.

Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top ten percent of their high school class or better. 19% of those admitted chose to enroll.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

UCI GPA

GPA of enrolled freshmen

Estimated High School GPA

3.75*

Typical High School Grades

A-

Estimated GPA (4.0 Scale) 3.75*

0.0 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0

Average GPA

UCI has not published an average GPA for enrolled freshmen. CollegeSimply estimates about a 3.75 GPA (A-) on a 4.0 scale, based on this school's test scores and GPA data from similar colleges. That is an estimate, not a school-reported average. UCI is test-free, so GPA is the main academic number in the file.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.8 GPA range.

*3.75 is a CollegeSimply estimate, not a school-reported average. It is modeled from this school's test scores and GPA data from similar colleges.

UCI Test Policy

Test Submission Requirements

UC Irvine does not consider SAT or ACT scores for admission or scholarships for first-year applicants in the 2026-27 cycle. You may report SAT or ACT scores only after you submit the UC application. Those scores may be used as an alternative method of fulfilling minimum eligibility requirements or for course placement after you enroll.

Cycle: 2026-27. Source: https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/applying-as-a-first-year/filling-out-the-application.html

UCI SAT Scores

SAT scores of enrolled freshmen

SAT Range

1230-1430

Freshmen who sent SAT

88%

25th Percentile Scores

Reading 600
Math 630
Composite 1230

75th Percentile Scores

Reading 680
Math 750
Composite 1430

Average SAT

Enrolled testers at UCI typically score around a 1330 SAT (middle 50% 1230–1430) out of 1600. These figures are from the last year SAT scores were reported, not a cutoff. SAT is not used for admission, even if you send it. The average SAT of enrolled testers is about the 90th percentile nationally. UCI ranks #21 in the state of California and #161 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score.

SAT Range (25th-75th Percentile) 1230 to 1430

800 1000 1200 1400 1600

View other colleges which accept students in the 1330 SAT score range.

SAT scores are from the last year they were reported to IPEDS. They are not used for admission.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

UCI ACT Scores

ACT scores among enrolled freshmen

ACT Range

26-33

Freshmen reporting ACT

41%

25th Percentile Scores

English 25
Math 26
Composite 26

75th Percentile Scores

English 33
Math 31
Composite 33

Average ACT

Incoming testers at UCI typically have around a 29 ACT (mid-50 26–33) on the 36 scale. These numbers come from the last year ACT scores were reported, not a minimum for admission. ACT is not considered, even if you submit it. That average sits near the 91st percentile of ACT takers nationwide. UCI places #20 among colleges in California and #165 nationwide for highest average ACT composite.

ACT Range (25th-75th Percentile) 26 to 33

1 9 18 27 36

See colleges with similar ACT profiles in the 29.0 ACT score range.

ACT figures reflect the last year they were reported to IPEDS. They are not used in admission.

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

High School Class Rank

Class Rank of Admitted Students

98% of University of California Irvine freshman are in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class. For your application to be competitive, you need to graduate at the top of your class.

High School Class Rank for admitted University of California Irvine students
High School Class Rank	Freshmen Within Range
Top 10% of class	98%
Top 25% of class	100%
Top 50% of class	100%

Data Source, Peterson's Data

Estimate How You Compare

Compare your GPA with last year's enrolled class and this school's acceptance rate. SAT and ACT are not used.

Open the UCI chances calculator

Applying

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed in the table below.

University of California Irvine admission statistics
	Women	Men	Total
Applied	64,974	57,725	122,699
Accepted	20,282	14,772	35,054
Acceptance Rate	31%	26%	29%
Enrolled	3,890	2,846	6,736
Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield)	19%	19%	19%

Data Source, IPEDS 2025 survey for academic year 2024/2025

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to University of California Irvine and what student information is used for admission decisions?

University of California Irvine application requirements
Requirement	Used for Admission
Test Scores	Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
High School GPA	Required to be considered for admission
High School Class Rank	Required to be considered for admission
Completion of College Preparatory Program	Required to be considered for admission
Recommendations	Not considered for admission, even if submitted
Demonstration of Competencies	Not considered for admission, even if submitted