Quad

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CAQuad's selectivityVery selective
Known forBig campusVery diverseHigh earnersHigh graduation rate
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

1 in 4 applicants admitted

U. California-Irvine admits about 1 in 4 applicants (29%). That puts it in the "Very selective" tier, more selective than 93% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

29%

29%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityVery selective

Applied

122,699

Admitted

35,054

Yield

19%

of admits enroll

Applications +84% since fall 2014 · admit rate 37% → 29%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A very large campus of 30,197 undergrads, where 36% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.

30.2K

undergrads · larger than 97% of colleges

Diversity index

0.75

Pell Grant

36%

above the median

First generation

44%

above the median

Large cityNCAA D-I · Big West ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
Steady · index 0.73 → 0.75 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Biology/Biological Sciences, General (10% of graduates). 19 students for every faculty member, more than at 87% of colleges. 83% of faculty are full-time. Spends $29,852 a year on instruction per student.

19 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 87% of colleges

Most popular major

Biology/Biological Sciences, General

10% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer Engineering

$132.4K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

83%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$29.9K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $33,527 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $9.2K more than the national median. The 55% who received grants paid $15,889 on average; the other 45% paid the full sticker price of $39,051 in-state / $69,828 out-of-state.

27%

$33.5K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $9.2K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price, in-state
$39,051 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 27% of full price

Federal loans

20%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost rising · +13% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $80,735 ten years after enrolling, more than at 91% of colleges; 87% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.7 years of that salary.

87%

87%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$80.7K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$15K

≈ $159/month for 10 years

Retention

94%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 86% → 87% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price held about steady after inflation, while what the average first-year paid rose 13%, as grants covered less of it. Applications rose 84% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 37% to 29%.

  • Cost

    Rising

    +13% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +84%

  • Selectivity

    More selective

    admit rate 37% → 29%

  • Diversity

    Steady

    index 0.73 → 0.75

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

University of California-San Diego

27% admit · 34.9K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso West
Compare side-by-side

Stony Brook University

49% admit · SAT 1415 · 18.1K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso public
Compare side-by-side

San Diego State University

37% admit · 35.4K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso West
Compare side-by-side

The University of Arizona Global Campus

20.2K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso public
Compare side-by-side
Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  13. 13
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    University of California-Irvine (2026)

    University of California-Irvine · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 110653 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything