University of California-Irvine
A good fit for competitive applicants and families looking for lower cost. no major red flags in the data. solid earnings of $65,800 within 10 years; strong 86% graduation rate.
About This School
University of California-Irvine is a public institution located in Irvine, California with approximately 29,494 undergraduate students enrolled. The school is moderately selective, accepting approximately 26% of applicants. The average net price after financial aid is $12,840 per year. The graduation rate is 86%, and the typical graduate earns $65,800 within 10 years of enrollment.
The University of California, Irvine is a public land-grant research university in Irvine, California, United States. One of the ten campuses of the University of California system, UCI offers 87 undergraduate degrees and 129 graduate and professional degrees, and roughly 30,000 undergraduates and 7,000 graduate students were enrolled at UCI as of Fall 2024. The university is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity" and had $609.6 million in research and development expenditures in 2023, ranking it 56th nationally. UCI became a member of the Association of American Universities in 1996.
This is a strong option for students who want serious research opportunities at a competitive UC campus without the price tag — the average net cost of just $12,840/year and a median debt of only $13,820 at graduation make it one of the better financial values in public higher education. The 86% graduation rate and 94% freshman retention signal that students who get in tend to follow through, and median earnings of $65,800 a decade out show solid return on that investment. Worth considering if you're drawn to STEM or social sciences and want a large research university with genuine upward mobility outcomes.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (29,494 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Other Schools in California
California State University-Fullerton
Fullerton, CA · Public
California State University-Long Beach
Long Beach, CA · Public
University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, CA · Public
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA · Public
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · Public
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Public
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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