UCI vs. SCI-Arc

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Irvine in Irvine, CA with Southern California Institute of Architecture in Los Angeles, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Irvine is larger than SCI-Arc based on total student enrollment (37,297 students vs. 418 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Irvine is located in Irvine, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Southern California Institute of Architecture is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
• University of California Irvine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Southern California Institute of Architecture is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Irvine 19:1; Southern California Institute of Architecture 9:1.

UCI vs. SCI-Arc Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCI or SCI-Arc? 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 SCI-Arc ($15,889 vs. $28,985).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern California Institute of Architecture are 28.4% lower than at University of California Irvine ($13,600 vs. $18,991).
• Southern California Institute of Architecture is 257.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCI (about $40,440 more per year; $56,162.00 vs. $15,722.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.5% higher at SCI-Arc than at University of California Irvine (about $6,240 more per year; $56,162.00 vs. $49,922.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Irvine than at Southern California Institute of Architecture (55% vs. 26%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southern California Institute of Architecture students is 84.5% larger than aid received by University of California Irvine students ($42,627 vs. $23,110).

UCI vs. SCI-Arc Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCI or SCI-Arc? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SCI-Arc and UCI.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at University of California Irvine (1330) is 200 points higher than at SCI-Arc (1130).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of California Irvine 1230/1430; Southern California Institute of Architecture 1020/1230.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of California Irvine 26/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCI - Test-free; SCI-Arc - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCI Nov 30, 2026; SCI-Arc Jan 15, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman UCI students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at SCI-Arc (3.5).
• SCI-Arc has a higher acceptance rate (76.6%) than UCI (28.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.2% at UCI vs. 7% at SCI-Arc.

UCI vs. SCI-Arc Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCI and SCI-Arc? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• University of California Irvine's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Southern California Institute of Architecture's (58%).
• Graduates from University of California Irvine earn a median of about $15,400 more per year than SCI-Arc graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,800 vs. $46,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Irvine graduates have a $25,750 lower median loan debt than SCI-Arc graduates ($17,000 vs. $42,750).
• Among borrowers, UCI graduates have an estimated $267 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SCI-Arc graduates ($175 vs. $442).
• More UCI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SCI-Arc students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 62%)

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.