UCI vs. UT Dallas

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Irvine is larger than UT Dallas based on total student enrollment (37,297 students vs. 29,886 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 Dallas is in Richardson, TX (Small City setting).
• University of California Irvine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The University of Texas at Dallas is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Irvine 19:1; The University of Texas at Dallas 23:1.

UCI vs. UT Dallas Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCI or UT Dallas? 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 The University of Texas at Dallas than UCI ($14,916 vs. $15,889).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Texas at Dallas are 24% lower than at University of California Irvine ($14,430 vs. $18,991).
• University of California Irvine is 7.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UT Dallas (about $1,078 more per year; $15,722.00 vs. $14,644.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 24.4% higher at UCI than at The University of Texas at Dallas (about $9,778 more per year; $49,922.00 vs. $40,144.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The University of Texas at Dallas than at University of California Irvine (64% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Irvine students is 55% larger than aid received by The University of Texas at Dallas students ($23,110 vs. $14,909).

UCI vs. UT Dallas Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Irvine (1330) is 40 points higher than at UT Dallas (1290).
• Incoming UCI students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at UT Dallas).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Irvine 1230/1430; The University of Texas at Dallas 1160/1410.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Irvine 26/33; The University of Texas at Dallas 24/32.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCI - Test-free; UT Dallas - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCI Nov 30, 2026; UT Dallas May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UT Dallas students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.78) than students at UCI (3.75).
• UT Dallas has a higher acceptance rate (65.1%) than UCI (28.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.2% at UCI vs. 20.3% at UT Dallas.

UCI vs. UT Dallas Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCI and UT Dallas? 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 Dallas's (61%).
• Graduates from University of California Irvine earn a median of about $2,800 more per year than UT Dallas graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,800 vs. $59,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Irvine graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than UT Dallas graduates ($17,000 vs. $18,750).
• Among borrowers, UCI graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UT Dallas graduates ($175 vs. $193).
• More UCI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UT Dallas students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 64%)

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.