Federal data, no marketing spin COLLEGES 50 SOURCES IPEDS · CDS · SCORECARD
CAMPUS · IRVINE, CA · PUBLIC

UC Irvine Acceptance Rate

University of California-Irvine
25.6%
ACCEPT
Why this page exists. I'm a parent who went through college admissions with my own kids, and I got tired of glossy brochures and sticker prices that mean nothing. For UC Irvine, the gap is real: a $38,632 published sticker, but families actually pay about $14,958/yr after aid. Every number on this page comes straight from federal data (IPEDS & College Scorecard) — the real net price, what graduates actually earn, and your honest odds. No rankings theater, no marketing spin.
50
FIT
MATCH
UC Irvine is a match for most applicants.
Score reflects acceptance odds × cost × outcome quality.
ACCEPTANCE
25.6%
of 121,101 applicants
SALARY · 10-YR
$80,735
across all majors
01

UC Irvine at a Glance

38,000
Total Enrollment
$15,000
Median Debt
37.0%
Pell Grant Rate

UC Irvine Rankings

Ranking2025Year
US News National Universities #33 2025
QS World University Rankings #207 2025
ARWU (Shanghai) #65 2024

UC Irvine Admissions Overview

University of California-Irvine is a public university in Irvine, CA with 38,000 students. The 25.6% acceptance rate means admission is competitive but achievable for strong students. The most popular majors are Social Sciences, Psychology, and Engineering.

Full NameUniversity of California-Irvine
LocationIrvine, CA 92697
TypePublic
Websiteuci.edu/
Total Enrollment38,000
Undergrad Enrollment30,132
Female Students55.8%

Is UC Irvine a Reach, Match, or Safety?

UC Irvine accepts 25.6% of applicants, making it highly selective. Students with above-average GPAs and solid test scores (where applicable) are in Match territory. Below the median, consider it a Reach.

Your ProfileUC Irvine Is...What to Do
Above-average GPA + strong application Match Apply — worth the effort
Average GPA, some strengths Reach Apply, but have 2-3 backup schools
Below-average GPA Hard Reach Consider similar schools with higher acceptance rates

UC Irvine True Cost by Family Income

37% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating UC Irvine enrolls a meaningful share of lower-income students.

Family IncomeAnnual Net Price4-Year Total
$0-30k $8,123 $32,492
$30-48k $9,313 $37,252
$48-75k $11,642 $46,568
$75-110k $15,164 $60,656
$110k+ $30,546 $122,184

Cost Breakdown

Room & Board$18,423
Total Cost of Attendance$38,632

Want to see how UC Irvine stacks up? Compare college costs side by side and check the college rankings by net price and salary outcomes.

Popular Majors at UC Irvine

The most popular fields of study, ranked by the number of degrees awarded.

Social Sciences
17.2%
Psychology
12.4%
Engineering
11.9%
Business/Marketing
11.4%
Biological Sciences
10.5%
Best Majors at UC Irvine →

{sn} Student Demographics

White
13.0%
Black/African American
2.1%
Hispanic/Latino
26.3%
Asian
37.6%
International
13.7%

How to Get Into UC Irvine

UC Irvine is selective, but your odds are real if you meet the academic profile. Strong essays and demonstrated interest can tip the scale at schools in this selectivity range.

25.6%
Acceptance Rate
121,101
Total Applicants

What UC Irvine Values Most in Applicants

Admission factor importance from the Common Data Set — what the school officially says matters.

FactorImportance
Academic Gpa Very Important
Rigor Of Secondary School Record Very Important
Class Rank Considered
Standardized Test Scores Considered
Application Essay Very Important
Recommendation Not Considered
Extracurricular Activities Very Important
Talent Ability Very Important
Character Personal Qualities Very Important
First Generation Important
Alumni Relation Not Considered
Interview Not Considered
Work Experience Important
Volunteer Work Important

Want to know your odds? Use the college admissions calculator to see your chances at UC Irvine by GPA and SAT/ACT — or calculate your college GPA first to check where you stand.

UC Irvine Application Deadlines & Requirements

Key dates for the UC Irvine UC admission cycle. Mark these on your calendar — missing a deadline means waiting another year.

DeadlineDate
Regular DecisionNov 30
Financial Aid (FAFSA/CSS)Mar 2
UC System: All University of California campuses share the same application deadline. Submit one UC Application for all UC schools.

See UC Irvine alongside every school in our full college application deadlines calendar for 2026–2027.

{sn} Financial Aid & Student Debt

37.0%
Pell Grant Recipients
Students from low-income families
$15,000
Median Debt at Graduation
Federal loans only
$56,210
Median Earnings (6yr)
6 years after enrollment

Frequently Asked Questions About UC Irvine

What is UC Irvine's acceptance rate?
UC Irvine has an acceptance rate of 25.6%, making it highly selective. This rate reflects freshman applicants for the most recent admissions cycle.
What are the most popular majors at UC Irvine?
The most popular majors at UC Irvine by degrees awarded are: Social Sciences (17.2%), Psychology (12.4%), Engineering (11.9%), Business/Marketing (11.4%), Biological Sciences (10.5%). These percentages reflect undergraduate degrees conferred in the most recent reporting year.
Can I transfer to UC Irvine?
UC Irvine accepts transfer students, though the process is highly selective. Transfer applicants typically need a strong college GPA (3.5+), relevant coursework, and compelling reasons for transferring. The transfer acceptance rate is generally lower than freshman admission at selective schools.
▎FROM THE DATA TO YOUR LIST

Plug your stats in. We'll tell you where you stand.

Browse all schools

Other Colleges in CA

Stanford University
3.9% accept · Stanford
UCLA
9.0% accept · Los Angeles
USC
10.0% accept · Los Angeles
UC Berkeley
11.7% accept · Berkeley
UC San Diego
24.5% accept · La Jolla
UC Santa Barbara
27.8% accept · Santa Barbara

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, IPEDS. UC Irvine is not affiliated with NextColleges.