University of California-Irvine

The University of California-Irvine is a public university located in Irvine, California, with an enrollment of approximately 30,197 students. It is a selective institution: its 28.6% acceptance rate means that roughly one in four applicants is admitted. Among those who enroll, 94.1% return for their second year, and 86.9% ultimately graduate.

Published tuition is $15,722 per year for California residents and $49,922 for out-of-state students. The average annual net price — the total cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, and living expenses, after grant and scholarship aid is applied — is $14,251. This figure represents the average across all students who receive aid, so individual costs will vary. About 36.1% of students receive Pell Grants, a federal aid program for lower-income students.

Student borrowing is relatively limited: 20.3% of all enrolled students take out federal student loans. Among those who completed a program and borrowed, the median federal loan debt at graduation was $15,000. Of borrowers entering repayment, 77.6% are making progress in paying down their loan balance within three years — a sign that most borrowers are keeping up with their obligations rather than seeing their debt grow.

Ten years after enrollment, the median earnings for students who received federal financial aid — a group that includes both graduates and those who did not complete a credential — is $80,735. Because this figure covers all federally aided enrollees rather than graduates only, it likely understates the earnings of completers.

UC Irvine offers programs relevant to a range of career-focused fields. On this site, relevant programs include biomedical engineering, computer network support, environmental engineering, law, and urban planning, among others. Prospective students should contact the university directly to confirm current program availability and requirements.