UCI vs. Stanford

Deciding between University of California Irvine and Stanford University? 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
Stanford University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCI Irvine, CA
  • Stanford Stanford, CA
  • Setting
  • UCI Rural Fringe
  • Stanford Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • UCI 37,297
  • Stanford 18,625
  • Type
  • UCI Public 4 Year
  • Stanford Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCI #98
  • Stanford #3
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCI -
  • Stanford -
  • Status
  • UCI Non-profit
  • Stanford Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCI
  • Stanford

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCI $15,722
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCI $49,922
  • Stanford $65,910
  • Room & Board
  • UCI $18,991
  • Stanford $21,315
  • Average Net Price
  • UCI $15,889
  • Stanford $25,078
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCI $23,110
  • Stanford $62,755
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCI 55%
  • Stanford 61%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCI 122,699
  • Stanford 57,326
  • Admitted
  • UCI 35,054
  • Stanford 2,067
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCI 28.6%
  • Stanford 3.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UCI 19.2%
  • Stanford 81.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCI 1330
  • Stanford 1550
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCI 29
  • Stanford 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCI 3.75
  • Stanford 3.96
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCI A-
  • Stanford A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCI Very High
  • Stanford Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCI High
  • Stanford Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • UCI 26/33
  • Stanford 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • UCI 1230/1430
  • Stanford 1510/1580
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCI Test-free
  • Stanford Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UCI Nov 30, 2026
  • Stanford Jan 2, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCI 19:1
  • Stanford 6:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCI
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Biology (16%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Stanford
    • Social Sciences (21%)
    • General Studies (16%)
    • Engineering (15%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCI 85%
  • Stanford 96%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCI $61,800
  • Stanford $122,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCI 76%
  • Stanford 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCI $17,000
  • Stanford $12,475
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCI $175
  • Stanford $128

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCI 45%
  • Stanford 52%
  • % Women
  • UCI 55%
  • Stanford 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCI Very High
  • Stanford Very High
  • HBCU
  • UCI No
  • Stanford No
  • % White
  • UCI 15%
  • Stanford 37%
  • % Asian
  • UCI 37%
  • Stanford 20%
  • % Black
  • UCI 2%
  • Stanford 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCI 25%
  • Stanford 15%
  • % Native American
  • UCI 0%
  • Stanford 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCI 0%
  • Stanford 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCI 4%
  • Stanford 10%
  • % International
  • UCI 16%
  • Stanford 9%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCI 1%
  • Stanford 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCI 74%
  • Stanford 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCI 7%
  • Stanford 45%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Irvine in Irvine, CA with Stanford University in Stanford, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Irvine is larger than Stanford based on total student enrollment (37,297 students vs. 18,625 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Irvine is located in Irvine, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Stanford University is in Stanford, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of California Irvine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Stanford University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Irvine 19:1; Stanford University 6:1.

UCI vs. Stanford Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCI or Stanford? 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 Stanford ($15,889 vs. $25,078).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Irvine are 10.9% lower than at Stanford University ($18,991 vs. $21,315).
  • Stanford University is 319.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCI (about $50,188 more per year; $65,910.00 vs. $15,722.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 32% higher at Stanford than at University of California Irvine (about $15,988 more per year; $65,910.00 vs. $49,922.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Stanford University than at University of California Irvine (61% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Stanford University students is 171.5% larger than aid received by University of California Irvine students ($62,755 vs. $23,110).

UCI vs. Stanford Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Stanford University (1550) is 220 points higher than at UCI (1330).
  • Incoming Stanford students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 29 at UCI).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Irvine 1230/1430; Stanford University 1510/1580.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Irvine 26/33; Stanford University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCI - Test-free; Stanford - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCI Nov 30, 2026; Stanford Jan 2, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Stanford students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.96) than students at UCI (3.75).
  • UCI has a higher acceptance rate (28.6%) than Stanford (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.2% at UCI vs. 81.9% at Stanford.

UCI vs. Stanford Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCI and Stanford? 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).

  • Stanford University's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than University of California Irvine's (85%).
  • Graduates from Stanford University earn a median of about $61,100 more per year than UCI graduates about ten years after starting college ($122,900 vs. $61,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Stanford University graduates have a $4,525 lower median loan debt than UCI graduates ($12,475 vs. $17,000).
  • Among borrowers, Stanford graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCI graduates ($128 vs. $175).
  • More Stanford graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCI students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 76%)

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.