University of California-Irvine: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Irvine, California · Public · Selective · CDS 2025-2026
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University of California-Irvine is a public university in Irvine, California that admits about 29% of applicants, making it a selective school. The average family pays about $14,251 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Computer Science, Biology, General and Business/Managerial Economics, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 87% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 9.5 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
University of California-Irvine is a public institution located in Irvine, California with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of California-Irvine admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 29%. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $14,251 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What parents should know about University of California-Irvine right now
UC Irvine, founded October 4, 1965, has roughly 30,204 undergraduates and has become one of the most application-heavy universities in the country. For fall 2025 it received 124,231 first-year applications and admitted 35,964 students for an acceptance rate of 28.94 percent, with California residents admitted at 21.9 percent and international students at 42.8 percent; admitted students had a median weighted GPA of 4.19. Like all UCs, Irvine is test-blind, so admission rests on coursework, GPA, and the four UC personal insight questions. UCI is academically known for criminology, ranked 2nd nationally, and for top-30 placements in computer science, psychology, public health, and chemistry. It is also the home of the first Earth System Science Department in the United States, and the UCI Machine Learning Repository hosts 682 datasets used in roughly 26,000 scientific articles. For families weighing return on investment, the 2024 Princeton Review ranked UCI 5th among public universities for ROI, and Forbes previously placed it 3rd among 300 best-value colleges. Approximately half of undergraduates live on campus, with 17,878 students housed in 2024, which can ease the housing search in expensive Orange County. Five Nobel laureates are affiliated with UCI, and the medical school admit rate of 3.98 percent makes its School of Medicine one of the 20 most selective in the nation, a useful detail for families with pre-med interests.
What GPA does my child need for University of California-Irvine?
Admitted students at University of California-Irvine typically present unweighted GPAs in the 3.6–3.9 range with several honors or AP courses.
What does University of California-Irvine weight in admissions?
University of California-Irvine reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • Application essay
- • Extracurricular activities
- • Talent/ability
- • Volunteer work
- • Work experience
- • Character/personal qualities
SAT and ACT scores University of California-Irvine typically admits
Many applicants to schools in this tier submit test scores, though the policy varies by year — check the latest test-optional status before deciding.
- • Test-blind: University of California-Irvine does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if submitted.
- • Policy detail: Not considered
How much does University of California-Irvine actually cost?
Published tuition is $15,722 for in-state students and $49,922 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $18,991 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $14,251 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 36% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | — |
| Room and board | — |
| Average net price (after aid) | $14,251 |
| Application fee | $80 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for University of California-Irvine
Will my child graduate from University of California-Irvine?
These predict outcomes at University of California-Irvine better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at University of California-Irvine
The most popular undergraduate programs at University of California-Irvine, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Computer Science, Biology, General and Business/Managerial Economics. Across all programs, University of California-Irvine confers roughly 4,373 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Computer Science program report a median income of about $132,705 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science | 744 | $132,705 |
| Biology, General | 668 | $72,132 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | 648 | $74,617 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 605 | $62,639 |
| Public Health | 473 | $64,449 |
| Economics | 447 | $73,054 |
| Criminology | 398 | $59,960 |
| Psychology, General | 390 | $56,253 |
Is University of California-Irvine safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), University of California-Irvine disclosed 288 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 9.5 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 2 violent offenses and 53 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at University of California-Irvine?
About 47% of undergraduates at University of California-Irvine live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in California parents ask about
- University of California-San Diego27% acceptance
- University of California-Santa Barbara33% acceptance
- University of California-Santa Cruz66% acceptance
- University of California-Riverside76% acceptance
- University of California-Merced91% acceptance
- California Institute of Technology3% acceptance
- San Diego State University36% acceptance
- San Jose State University85% acceptance
Next steps for University of California-Irvine
Common questions parents ask about University of California-Irvine
What GPA do I need for University of California-Irvine?
Admitted students at University of California-Irvine typically present unweighted GPAs in the 3.6–3.9 range with several honors or AP courses.
What SAT or ACT score does University of California-Irvine typically admit?
University of California-Irvine is test-blind: SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admission decisions, even if you submit them. There is no score range because scores are not read.
How much does University of California-Irvine actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of California-Irvine after grants and scholarships is $14,251 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $15,722 and $49,922 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is University of California-Irvine realistic for my child?
University of California-Irvine admits 29% of applicants, so the transcript and course rigour carry the decision, with no published score band to place against. Then check the $14,251 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at University of California-Irvine?
University of California-Irvine accepts about 29% of applicants out of roughly 124,231 who apply each year. That makes it a selective school.
Is University of California-Irvine test-optional?
University of California-Irvine is test-blind: it does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if you submit them.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-Irvine?
About 87% of students at University of California-Irvine graduate within six years. 93% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does University of California-Irvine look for in applicants?
University of California-Irvine rates course rigor, GPA, the application essay and extracurricular activities as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is University of California-Irvine a public or private school, and where is it located?
University of California-Irvine is a public institution located in Irvine, California.
What are the most popular majors at University of California-Irvine?
The largest undergraduate majors at University of California-Irvine by annual graduates are Computer Science, Biology, General and Business/Managerial Economics. The school awards about 4,373 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is University of California-Irvine safe? What is its campus crime rate?
University of California-Irvine reported 288 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 9.5 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at University of California-Irvine?
At University of California-Irvine, 47% of undergraduates live on campus, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by University of California-Irvine, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers