Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
UCLA UCSD UCSB UC Davis Stanford UC Riverside UCSC NYU UC Berkeley Pomona Loyola Marymount Claremont McKenna| University of California Irvine | University of Southern California | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
UCI | USC | ||
| Location | Irvine, CA | Los Angeles, CA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 35,937 | 48,945 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #91 | #34 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | uci.edu | usc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
UCI | USC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,564 | $63,468 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $41,636 | $63,468 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,699 | $17,436 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $14,033 | $36,808 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $17,411 | $45,262 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 80% | 71% |
Admission |
UCI | USC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 119,191 | 69,062 | ||
| Admitted | 25,212 | 8,304 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 21.2% | 12% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.5% | 41.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.75 | 3.83 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Elite | ||
| Applicant Competition | Very High | Very High | ||
| ACT Range | 26/33 | 32/35 | ||
| SAT Range | 1230/1430 | 1450/1550 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Nov 30, 2024 |
Academics |
UCI | USC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 9:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
UCI | USC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 85% | 90% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $61,800 | $85,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 76% | 81% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $17,000 | $22,375 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $175 | $231 |
Diversity |
UCI | USC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 45% | 46% | ||
| % Women | 55% | 54% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 15% | 40% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 25% | 14% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 5% | ||
| % International | 16% | 13% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 1% |
Students |
UCI | USC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 81% | 42% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 7% | 40% | ||
Campus |
UCI | USC | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Southern California is larger than than UCI based on total student enrollment (48,945 students vs. 35,937 students)
UCI vs. USC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, UCI or USC?
- University of Southern California is 448.8% more expensive to attend than UCI for in-state tuition ($63,468.00 vs. $11,564.00)
- Out of state tuition is 52.4% higher at USC than University of California Irvine ($63,468.00 vs. $41,636.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Irvine than USC ($14,033 vs. $36,808)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Southern California are 1.5% lower than costs at University of California Irvine ($17,436 vs. $17,699)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of California Irvine than University of Southern California (80% vs. 71%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Southern California students is 160% larger than aid received University of California Irvine ($45,262 vs. $17,411)
UCI vs. USC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, UCI or USC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between USC or UCI .
- The average SAT score at University of Southern California (1391) is 216 points higher than at UCI (1175)
- Incoming USC students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at UCI (27)
- Accepted freshman USC students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at UCI (3.75)
- UCI has a higher acceptance rate (21.2%) than USC (12%)
UCI vs. USC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, UCI or USC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between USC and UCI.
- The graduation rate at USC is higher than University of California Irvine (90% vs. 85%)
- Graduates from University of Southern California earn on average $23,700 more per year than UCI graduates after ten years. ($85,500 vs. $61,800)
- University of California Irvine students graduate with a $5,375 lower median federal student loan debt than USC graduates. ($17,000 vs. $22,375)
- UCI graduates are paying $56 less per month on federal student loans than USC graduates. ($175 vs. $231)
- More USC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCI students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 76%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/