UCI vs. UT Austin

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Irvine in Irvine, CA with The University of Texas at Austin in Austin, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The University of Texas at Austin is larger than UCI based on total student enrollment (53,864 students vs. 37,297 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Irvine is located in Irvine, CA (Rural Fringe setting); The University of Texas at Austin is in Austin, TX (Large City setting).
• University of California Irvine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Texas at Austin is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Irvine 19:1; The University of Texas at Austin 18:1.

UCI vs. UT Austin Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCI or UT Austin? 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 UT Austin ($15,889 vs. $17,942).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Texas at Austin are 21.9% lower than at University of California Irvine ($14,828 vs. $18,991).
• University of California Irvine is 34.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UT Austin (about $4,034 more per year; $15,722.00 vs. $11,688.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.2% higher at UCI than at The University of Texas at Austin (about $5,014 more per year; $49,922.00 vs. $44,908.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Irvine than at The University of Texas at Austin (55% vs. 42%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Irvine students is 68.9% larger than aid received by The University of Texas at Austin students ($23,110 vs. $13,681).

UCI vs. UT Austin Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The University of Texas at Austin (1380) is 50 points higher than at UCI (1330).
• Incoming UT Austin students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at UCI).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Irvine 1230/1430; The University of Texas at Austin 1250/1510.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Irvine 26/33; The University of Texas at Austin 27/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCI - Test-free; UT Austin - Required.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCI Nov 30, 2026; UT Austin Dec 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UT Austin students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at UCI (3.75).
• UCI has a higher acceptance rate (28.6%) than UT Austin (26.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.2% at UCI vs. 47.4% at UT Austin.

UCI vs. UT Austin Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCI and UT Austin? 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 The University of Texas at Austin's (81%).
• Graduates from The University of Texas at Austin earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than UCI graduates about ten years after starting college ($68,600 vs. $61,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Irvine graduates have a $5,250 lower median loan debt than UT Austin graduates ($17,000 vs. $22,250).
• Among borrowers, UCI graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UT Austin graduates ($175 vs. $230).
• More UT Austin graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCI students, three years after graduation. (77% 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.