UCI vs. UConn

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

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCI Irvine, CA
  • UConn Storrs, CT
  • Setting
  • UCI Rural Fringe
  • UConn Town Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • UCI 37,297
  • UConn 28,306
  • Type
  • UCI Public 4 Year
  • UConn Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCI #98
  • UConn #106
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCI -
  • UConn -
  • Status
  • UCI Non-profit
  • UConn Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCI
  • UConn

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCI $15,722
  • UConn $21,044
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCI $49,922
  • UConn $43,712
  • Room & Board
  • UCI $18,991
  • UConn $14,380
  • Average Net Price
  • UCI $15,889
  • UConn $25,310
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCI $23,110
  • UConn $16,503
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCI 55%
  • UConn 81%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCI 122,699
  • UConn 55,479
  • Admitted
  • UCI 35,054
  • UConn 29,065
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCI 28.6%
  • UConn 52.4%
  • Enrolled
  • UCI 19.2%
  • UConn 15.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCI 1330
  • UConn 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCI 29
  • UConn 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCI 3.75
  • UConn 3.74
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCI A-
  • UConn A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCI Very High
  • UConn Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCI High
  • UConn Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCI 26/33
  • UConn 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • UCI 1230/1430
  • UConn 1210/1440
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCI Test-free
  • UConn Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCI Nov 30, 2026
  • UConn Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCI 19:1
  • UConn 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCI
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Biology (16%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • UConn
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCI 85%
  • UConn 83%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCI $61,800
  • UConn $62,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCI 76%
  • UConn 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCI $17,000
  • UConn $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCI $175
  • UConn $222

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCI 45%
  • UConn 45%
  • % Women
  • UCI 55%
  • UConn 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCI Very High
  • UConn Medium
  • HBCU
  • UCI No
  • UConn No
  • % White
  • UCI 15%
  • UConn 61%
  • % Asian
  • UCI 37%
  • UConn 10%
  • % Black
  • UCI 2%
  • UConn 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCI 25%
  • UConn 9%
  • % Native American
  • UCI 0%
  • UConn 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCI 0%
  • UConn 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCI 4%
  • UConn 3%
  • % International
  • UCI 16%
  • UConn 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCI 1%
  • UConn 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCI 74%
  • UConn 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCI 7%
  • UConn 42%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Irvine is larger than UConn based on total student enrollment (37,297 students vs. 28,306 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Irvine is located in Irvine, CA (Rural Fringe setting); University of Connecticut is in Storrs, CT (Town Fringe setting).
  • University of California Irvine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Connecticut is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Irvine 19:1; University of Connecticut 17:1.

UCI vs. UConn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCI or UConn? 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 UConn ($15,889 vs. $25,310).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Connecticut are 24.3% lower than at University of California Irvine ($14,380 vs. $18,991).
  • University of Connecticut is 33.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCI (about $5,322 more per year; $21,044.00 vs. $15,722.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.2% higher at UCI than at University of Connecticut (about $6,210 more per year; $49,922.00 vs. $43,712.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Connecticut than at University of California Irvine (81% vs. 55%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Irvine students is 40% larger than aid received by University of Connecticut students ($23,110 vs. $16,503).

UCI vs. UConn Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Irvine (1330) is the same as at UConn (1330).
  • Incoming UConn 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; University of Connecticut 1210/1440.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Irvine 26/33; University of Connecticut 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCI - Test-free; UConn - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCI Nov 30, 2026; UConn Jan 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UCI students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at UConn (3.74).
  • UConn has a higher acceptance rate (52.4%) than UCI (28.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.2% at UCI vs. 15.4% at UConn.

UCI vs. UConn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCI and UConn? 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 University of Connecticut's (83%).
  • Graduates from University of Connecticut earn a median of about $200 more per year than UCI graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,000 vs. $61,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Irvine graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than UConn graduates ($17,000 vs. $21,500).
  • Among borrowers, UCI graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UConn graduates ($175 vs. $222).
  • More UConn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCI students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.