UCI vs. Hunter

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Irvine in Irvine, CA with CUNY Hunter College in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Irvine is larger than Hunter based on total student enrollment (37,297 students vs. 22,538 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Irvine is located in Irvine, CA (Rural Fringe setting); CUNY Hunter College is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• University of California Irvine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY Hunter College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Irvine 19:1; CUNY Hunter College 14:1.

UCI vs. Hunter Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCI or Hunter? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at CUNY Hunter College than UCI ($4,431 vs. $15,889).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at CUNY Hunter College are 37.7% lower than at University of California Irvine ($11,832 vs. $18,991).
• University of California Irvine is 113% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hunter (about $8,340 more per year; $15,722.00 vs. $7,382.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 225.6% higher at UCI than at CUNY Hunter College (about $34,590 more per year; $49,922.00 vs. $15,332.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Hunter College than at University of California Irvine (87% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Irvine students is 136.9% larger than aid received by CUNY Hunter College students ($23,110 vs. $9,755).

UCI vs. Hunter Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCI or Hunter? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Hunter and UCI.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Irvine (1330) is 70 points higher than at Hunter (1260).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Irvine 1230/1430; CUNY Hunter College 1100/1420.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Irvine 26/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCI - Test-free; Hunter - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCI Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UCI students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Hunter (3.7).
• Hunter has a higher acceptance rate (53.8%) than UCI (28.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.2% at UCI vs. 16.7% at Hunter.

UCI vs. Hunter Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCI and Hunter? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• University of California Irvine's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than CUNY Hunter College's (46%).
• Graduates from University of California Irvine earn a median of about $13,000 more per year than Hunter graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,800 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Hunter College graduates have a $5,452 lower median loan debt than UCI graduates ($11,548 vs. $17,000).
• Among borrowers, Hunter graduates have an estimated $56 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCI graduates ($119 vs. $175).
• More UCI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Hunter students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 56%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.