UCI vs. Penn State

Deciding between University of California Irvine and Penn State Main Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of California Irvine
Penn State Main Campus

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCI Irvine, CA
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • UCI Rural Fringe
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCI 37,297
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • UCI Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCI #98
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCI -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • UCI Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCI
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCI $15,722
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCI $49,922
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • UCI $18,991
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • UCI $15,889
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCI $23,110
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCI 55%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCI 122,699
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • UCI 35,054
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCI 28.6%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UCI 19.2%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCI 1330
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCI 29
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCI 3.75
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCI A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCI Very High
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCI High
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCI 26/33
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • UCI 1230/1430
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCI Test-free
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCI Nov 30, 2026
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCI 19:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCI
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Biology (16%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCI 85%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCI $61,800
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCI 76%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCI $17,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCI $175
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCI 45%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • UCI 55%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCI Very High
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • UCI No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • UCI 15%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • UCI 37%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • UCI 2%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCI 25%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • UCI 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCI 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCI 4%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • UCI 16%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCI 1%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCI 74%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCI 7%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UCI Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UCI No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • UCI Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UCI No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • UCI Yes
  • Penn State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Irvine in Irvine, CA with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than UCI based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 37,297 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Irvine is located in Irvine, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • University of California Irvine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Irvine 19:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

UCI vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCI or Penn State? 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 University of California Irvine than Penn State ($15,889 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 23.8% lower than at University of California Irvine ($14,474 vs. $18,991).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 31.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCI (about $4,922 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $15,722.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 19.5% higher at UCI than at Penn State Main Campus (about $8,132 more per year; $49,922.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Irvine than at Penn State Main Campus (55% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Irvine students is 103.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($23,110 vs. $11,336).

UCI vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCI or Penn State? 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 Penn State and UCI.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Irvine (1330) is the same as at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming UCI students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 29) as students at Penn State (29).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Irvine 1230/1430; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Irvine 26/33; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCI - Test-free; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCI Nov 30, 2026.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than UCI (28.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.2% at UCI vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

UCI vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCI and Penn State? 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).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than University of California Irvine's (85%).
  • Graduates from University of California Irvine earn a median of about $6,500 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,800 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Irvine graduates have a $9,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($17,000 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, UCI graduates have an estimated $102 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($175 vs. $277).
  • More UCI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 69%)

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.