#252 in the world · QS 2027

University of California, Irvine

A 1960s-built UC campus around a central park, top 10 among U.S. publics for 12 years and known for social mobility.

Irvine, California, United States Public research university Founded 1965 Official website

See my chances at UC Irvine Admissions office

Acceptance rate: 29%; First-years who entered in fall 2025 (2025-26 Common Data Set)
Students: 37,268; 30,260 undergraduates
International: 12%; of students
Student–faculty: 19:1; ratio
Tuition: $59,559; 2026-27

About UC Irvine

The University of California, Irvine opened in 1965 as one of the newer UC campuses, planned as a rough circle of buildings around Aldrich Park in Orange County. It now enrolls 37,268 students, 30,260 of them undergraduates, and is a member of the Association of American Universities. Teaching is spread across 15 schools, including the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences, the Samueli School of Engineering, the Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences, the Paul Merage School of Business and the School of Social Ecology.

UC Irvine says its campus has produced five Nobel laureates, and it set up the first Earth System Science department in the U.S. U.S. News ranks it 8th among public universities for 2027 and 11th for social mobility, and places its undergraduate software engineering program 8th and psychology 12th nationally. Many students are the first in their families to finish college.

Admission goes through the single University of California application, with no early rounds and no SAT or ACT: UCI admitted about 29% of 124,231 first-year applicants for fall 2025, and only 22% of Californians. It suits students who want a large research university with strong computing, biology and social science, in a safe suburban setting near the Pacific coast.

Fiat lux

“Let there be light” — university motto

Why students choose UC Irvine

UC Irvine has been a U.S. News top 10 public university for 12 years running and is 8th in the 2027 edition.

The Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences offers nationally ranked programs, with software engineering 8th and computer science 28th in U.S. News 2027.

Through the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan, tuition and fees are covered for qualifying California families earning less than $100,000 a year.

Out-of-state and international applicants were admitted at far higher rates (48% and 43%) than Californians (22%) for fall 2025.

Admissions

First-years who entered in fall 2025 (2025-26 Common Data Set)

About 1 in 3 applicants is admitted

35,964 admitted from 124,231 applicants

Fall 2025 admit rates by residency: 22% for California residents (18,922 of 86,230), 48% for out-of-state applicants (7,784 of 16,381) and 43% for international applicants (9,258 of 21,620). 6,421 first-years enrolled. 12,967 applicants were offered a waitlist place and 5,737 were admitted from it.

Testing Test-free: UC Irvine does not consider SAT or ACT scores for admission or scholarships (fall 2027). Scores may be used after enrollment for placement.

Grades UC minimum GPA in the 15 A-G courses is 3.0 for California residents and 3.4 for nonresidents, with no grade below C. UCI says many admitted students graduate in the top tenth of their class; its CDS does not report an average GPA.

Typical entry requirements

UC A-G subject requirements	15 college-preparatory courses: 2 years history, 4 English, 3 math (4 recommended), 2 lab science (3 recommended), 2 years of one language other than English (3 recommended), 1 visual and performing arts, 1 elective; minimum A-G GPA 3.0 (California) or 3.4 (nonresidents)
English language	IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 80 Required if you have had fewer than 3 years of English-medium schooling: TOEFL iBT 80 (before January 2026) or 4.5 on the new scale; IELTS 6.5; Duolingo 115; or ACT ELA 24, SAT Writing and Language 31, AP English 3+, IB English A SL 6+ or HL 5+.

Deadlines

UC application filing period (fall 2027) Non-binding Next deadline · In 55 days

November 30, 2026

UC lists the fall 2027 filing period as October 1 to November 30, 2026; the application opens August 1. Decisions are released March 1-31, 2027.

UC has a single filing period with no early rounds; UC's official dates page gives October 1 to November 30, 2026 for fall 2027. The FAFSA, California Dream Act Application and GPA Verification Form open October 1.

How to apply

University of California application (one application for all UC campuses): four of eight personal insight questions (350 words each), self-reported academic record, and activities and awards. No test scores, recommendations or interviews.

What admissions looks for

GPA in all completed A-G courses, with extra points for UC-certified honors courses, and performance in courses beyond the A-G minimum, including AP, IB Higher Level and college courses.
The quality of your senior-year program and your performance relative to the opportunities at your high school.
Outstanding work in academic subjects or special projects, and recent marked improvement in grades.
Special talents, awards, leadership, community service and other experiences described in your personal insight questions.
Achievements in light of circumstances such as low family income, first-generation status, the need to work or other hardships.

Tips for applying to UC Irvine

1 Submit within the October 1 to November 30, 2026 window; there is no early round, so the extra time is best spent on your personal insight answers.
2 Don't send SAT or ACT scores in hope of a boost: UCI does not consider them for admission or scholarships.
3 Use the personal insight questions to show the factors UCI lists, such as special projects, marked improvement or leadership, with concrete detail.
4 Non-California applicants need at least a 3.4 A-G GPA, but they were admitted at roughly twice the rate of Californians for fall 2025.

Costs & financial aid

2026-27 · figures in USD

California residents: systemwide fees $15,588 plus campus fees $4,701 Tuition $20,289

+ housing ($12,053) and food ($7,323) living on campus $19,376 ≈ $39,665 per year

Nonresidents and international students: resident fees plus $39,270 nonresident tuition and fees Tuition $59,559

+ housing ($12,053) and food ($7,323) living on campus $19,376 ≈ $78,935 per year

Tuition Housing ($12,053) and food ($7,323) living on campus

Official cost of attendance $45,206

Financial aid

Through the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan, tuition and fees are fully covered for qualifying California-resident families earning less than $100,000 a year, and the Middle Class Scholarship helps families earning up to $234,000. UCI says 72% of students receive grants and scholarships and 57% pay no tuition. Need-based aid is aimed at California residents; applicants are automatically considered for UCI's Distinguished Scholarships through the UC application.

$45,206 California resident; $84,476 nonresident
Total cost 2026-27, living on campus: 72% (57% pay no tuition)
Students receiving grants and scholarships: 79%; average aid package $28,526
Average share of need met (full-time undergraduates, 2025-26 CDS)

Academics

Academic calendar: Quarters

Software Engineering (Bren School of ICS)

Ranked 8th nationally by U.S. News (2027); computer science is 28th and artificial intelligence 25th.

Psychology

12th nationally in U.S. News 2027.

Earth System Science

UCI set up the first Earth System Science department in the United States.

Business (Paul Merage School)

Undergraduate business ranked 31st by U.S. News (2027); economics is also 31st.

Nursing (Sue and Bill Gross School of Nursing)

Ranked 36th by U.S. News (2027), with UCI Health as the university's academic medical system.

Research

UC Irvine says its campus has produced five Nobel laureates.
It established the first Earth System Science department in the U.S.
UCI Health, the campus's health system, is building the Joe C. Wen and Family UCI Health Center for Advanced Care; the UC Irvine Arboretum and a portion of the UC Natural Reserve System support ecological research.

Schools & faculties

Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences
Samueli School of Engineering
Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences
School of Physical Sciences
School of Social Sciences
School of Social Ecology
School of Humanities
Claire Trevor School of the Arts
Paul Merage School of Business
Sue and Bill Gross School of Nursing
Joe C. Wen School of Population and Public Health
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Graduation rate

87%

First-year students who return

93%

College Scorecard: median earnings of $80,735 ten years after entry (and $56,210 six years after entry) for federally aided students. U.S. News ranks UCI 11th nationally for social mobility (2027).

Student life

The campus is laid out as a ring around Aldrich Park, with the Ring Mall linking the schools, so most of daily life is walkable. UC Irvine is building new East Campus housing to expand the number of students who can live on campus. Athletics are Division I: the UC Irvine Anteaters compete in the Big West Conference, and the anteater mascot is central to campus identity. Many students are the first in their families to go to college, and UCI ranks 11th nationally for social mobility.

UC Irvine Anteaters: NCAA Division I in the Big West Conference.
Aldrich Park, the central park at the heart of the circular campus.
U.S. News ranks UCI 16th among Best Colleges for Veterans (2027).
The UC Irvine Arboretum and a portion of the UC Natural Reserve System.

Housing. UCI is expanding on-campus housing with new East Campus residences; on-campus housing and food are budgeted at $19,376 for 2026-27.

Location

Irvine is a planned city in Orange County, Southern California. UC Irvine describes it as one of the world's safest and most economically vibrant communities, and the campus is Orange County's second-largest employer. The flip side is cost: living on campus is budgeted at $19,376 a year for housing and food, on top of fees.

Nearest airport: John Wayne Airport, Orange County (SNA)

Notable alumni

MC
Michael Chabon

Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist; MFA in creative writing
RF
Richard Ford

Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist; MFA from UCI's creative writing program
DB
David Benioff

Co-creator of Game of Thrones; UCI creative writing program
GL
Greg Louganis

Four-time Olympic diving champion; graduated from UC Irvine
PM
Paul Mockapetris

Inventor of the Domain Name System (DNS); PhD in information and computer science, 1982
RF
Roy Fielding

Defined the REST architectural style; PhD 2000
JL
Jon Lovitz

Comedian and Saturday Night Live cast member; studied drama at UC Irvine

Frequently asked questions

What is UC Irvine's acceptance rate?

UC Irvine admitted 35,964 of 124,231 first-year applicants for fall 2025, about 29%. The rate was 22% for California residents, 48% for out-of-state applicants and 43% for international applicants.

Does UC Irvine require the SAT or ACT?

No. UC Irvine does not consider SAT or ACT scores for admission or scholarships; scores may only be used after enrollment for course placement.

When is the UC Irvine application deadline for fall 2027?

Apply through the UC application during the filing period, October 1 to November 30, 2026, according to UC's official dates page. There is no early action or early decision.

What GPA do you need for UC Irvine?

The UC minimum is a 3.0 A-G GPA for Californians and 3.4 for nonresidents, but admission is competitive and UCI says many admitted students graduate in the top tenth of their class.

How much does UC Irvine cost for out-of-state and international students?

For 2026-27, nonresidents pay $59,559 in tuition and fees ($20,289 plus $39,270 nonresident tuition), and the total cost living on campus is about $84,476. California residents pay $45,206 all-in.

Sources & methodology

Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.