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University of California-Irvine

Tuition, net price, acceptance rate, graduation rate, and graduate salary · Irvine, California

Net price / year

$14,251

after grants & scholarships

higher than 56% of public 4-year colleges

Acceptance rate

29%

Graduation rate

86%

within 150% of normal time

higher than 98% of public 4-year colleges

Median earnings

$74,438

4 years after graduating

higher than 88% of public 4-year colleges

University of California-Irvine at a glance

What is the tuition at University of California-Irvine?
In-state undergraduate tuition and fees are $15,722 for the 2024-25 academic year, or $49,922 for out-of-state students.
What is the cost of attendance at University of California-Irvine?
The average cost of attendance is $38,632 a year before financial aid (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses.
What is the net price at University of California-Irvine?
The average net price for in-state students is $14,251 a year after grants and scholarships (2023-24).
What is the acceptance rate at University of California-Irvine?
About 29% of applicants were admitted (fall 2024).
Is University of California-Irvine test optional?
Test policy reported to the federal government: Tests neither required nor recommended.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-Irvine?
86% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time, or 6 years (entering classes through fall 2018).
How much do graduates of University of California-Irvine earn?
The median graduate earns $74,438 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled (2024 dollars).

Key takeaways

  • 86% of students graduate on time or within 150% of normal time, higher than 98% of public 4-year colleges.
  • Graduates earn a median $74,438 four years after finishing, more than 88% of public 4-year colleges.
  • The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 1.5 years of work (not counting income forgone while studying).
  • Families earning under $30,000 pay about $8,123 a year on average, versus $30,546 for families earning over $110,000.
  • The acceptance rate is 29%, so admission is selective.

Tuition and cost of attendance at University of California-Irvine

Average net price (in-state)

$14,251 per year

Cost of attendance minus average grants and scholarships, for first-time full-time students receiving federal aid.

Estimate your own price with the University of California-Irvine net price calculator ↗

Estimated total net cost

$57,004

Net price × 4 years, at today's prices and assuming on-time completion. Your actual cost depends on your aid.

Net price by family income

Average yearly net price for students receiving federal aid.

  1. $0–30k $8,123
  2. $30–48k $9,313
  3. $48–75k $11,642
  4. $75–110k $15,164
  5. $110k+ $30,546

Where the sticker price goes· Cost of attendance $38,632

  • Tuition & fees$15,722
  • Books & supplies$1,473
  • Room & board$18,991
  • Other expenses$5,692
Tuition & fees (in-state)
$15,722
Tuition & fees (out-of-state)
$49,922

University of California-Irvine acceptance rate and admissions

Acceptance rate

Share of applicants admitted.

Test policy: Tests neither required nor recommended

Graduation rate and salary after graduating from University of California-Irvine

Graduation rate

86%

First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time.

Retention rate

94%

Full-time first-years who return the next fall.

Typical monthly payment

$159

On a standard 10-year federal plan.

Years of earnings premium to cover cost

1.5 years

Net cost ÷ (graduate earnings − high-school graduate earnings). Excludes income forgone while studying and assumes today's earnings. A rough guide, not a prediction.

Earnings vs debt

Of graduates working and not enrolled, in 2024 dollars.

Debt-to-earnings
0.2×Median debt divided by median earnings 4 years after graduating.
Share of pay going to loans
2.6%
3-year loan default rate
0%

Outcomes by student group

The Scorecard reports some outcomes separately for groups of students. A group is left out when it is too small to report. These are school-level figures and say nothing about any individual student.

Completion within 150% of normal time, by group

Share of students who entered in 2018 and completed within 150% of normal time (six years at a four-year college, three at a two-year college).

Group rates and the all-student rate come from the same 2018 entering cohort, so they can be compared directly. Groups at small colleges can rest on very few students. Data period: Entering cohort 2018 (IPEDS).

Earnings ten years after entry

All students who entered this college, whether or not they graduated, in 2022 dollars, ten years after entry.

Typical range: middle half of students

25th percentile $54,469 · median $80,735 · 75th percentile $117,372

This is not the same as the graduates' earnings shown above. It covers everyone who entered, including students who left without a degree, ten years after entry and in 2022 dollars. The graduates' figure covers only completers, four years after finishing, in 2024 dollars. Do not compare the two directly.

Data period: Students who entered in academic years 2009-10 and 2010-11 (pooled), earnings measured in 2020 and 2021, 2022 dollars (Treasury).

Median federal student debt, by group

Median federal loan debt of students who borrowed, when they left school, by group.

Data period: Loans in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (pooled, NSLDS).

How borrowers are doing

One year after leaving school and entering repayment, here is where the 8,592 federal-loan borrowers from this college stood. It covers borrowers only, not students who did not take federal loans.

Repayment status one year after entering repayment

  • Paid in full 22%
  • Making progress 17%
  • Not making progress 8%
  • Delinquent 1%
  • Default 0%
  • Forbearance 39%
  • Deferment 12%
  • Discharged 0%
What the terms mean
Paid in full:
The borrower has paid off the loans completely.
Making progress:
Payments are reducing the loan balance, not just covering interest.
Not making progress:
The borrower is paying, but not enough to shrink the balance.
Delinquent:
Payments are late but the loan is not yet in default.
Default:
The borrower has missed payments for so long that the loan is officially in default.
Forbearance:
Payments are temporarily paused or reduced, and interest may keep adding up.
Deferment:
Payments are on hold for an approved reason, such as returning to school.
Discharged:
The loan was cancelled, for example because of a disability or a school closure.

8,592 borrowers · Data period: Borrowers who entered repayment in the AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 cohorts (pooled, NSLDS).

Programs and majors at University of California-Irvine ranked by earnings

ProgramEarnings, 4 yrs afterEarnings over timeCompared with the U.S. median for this fieldMedian debt

Computer Engineering

Bachelor's · Graduates: 148

$132,357 1 yr$79,8124 yrs$132,3575 yrs$115,244

U.S. median $109,015

U.S. middle half $86.3K–$145.2K · Above the U.S. median

$19,000

Computer Science

Bachelor's · Graduates: 577

$127,404 1 yr$82,1614 yrs$127,4045 yrs$132,705

U.S. median $107,009

U.S. middle half $74.8K–$152K · Above the U.S. median

$15,000

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

Bachelor's · Graduates: 59

$119,502 1 yr$87,7154 yrs$119,5025 yrs$118,467

U.S. median $88,910

U.S. middle half $67.9K–$114.5K · Above the U.S. median

$13,500

Management Information Systems and Services

Bachelor's · Graduates: 37

$108,038 1 yr$68,7864 yrs$108,0385 yrs$129,344

U.S. median $83,290

U.S. middle half $58.8K–$111.6K · Above the U.S. median

$16,500

Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering

Bachelor's · Graduates: 100

$106,871 1 yr$80,4124 yrs$106,8715 yrs$103,261

U.S. median $100,647

U.S. middle half $84.6K–$122.4K · Above the U.S. median

$19,000

Materials Engineering

Bachelor's · Graduates: 32

$106,547 1 yr$58,1774 yrs$106,547

U.S. median $91,449

U.S. middle half $76.7K–$109.2K · Above the U.S. median

$7,500

Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering

Bachelor's · Graduates: 64

$100,537 1 yr$67,4254 yrs$100,5375 yrs$102,765

U.S. median $98,207

U.S. middle half $81.6K–$115.9K · Above the U.S. median

$18,400

Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor's · Graduates: 235

$99,111 1 yr$67,6334 yrs$99,1115 yrs$95,534

U.S. median $92,135

U.S. middle half $77.7K–$109.1K · Above the U.S. median

$14,750

Chemical Engineering

Bachelor's · Graduates: 60

$97,656 1 yr$57,5404 yrs$97,6565 yrs$102,280

U.S. median $98,158

U.S. middle half $80.3K–$118K · Below the U.S. median

$18,250

Biomedical/Medical Engineering

Bachelor's · Graduates: 69

$96,874 1 yr$67,1704 yrs$96,8745 yrs$109,350

U.S. median $93,451

U.S. middle half $74.1K–$113.9K · Above the U.S. median

$16,750
Show all 44 programs

Civil Engineering

Bachelor's · Graduates: 118

$96,354 1 yr$73,8354 yrs$96,3545 yrs$94,661

U.S. median $86,517

U.S. middle half $73.9K–$101.2K · Above the U.S. median

$17,816

Computer and Information Sciences, General

Bachelor's · Graduates: 108

$96,347 1 yr$53,5174 yrs$96,3475 yrs$122,422

U.S. median $92,374

U.S. middle half $64.2K–$128.2K · Above the U.S. median

$20,000

Physics

Bachelor's · Graduates: 29 Small sample

$96,215 1 yr$43,1444 yrs$96,215

U.S. median $76,786

U.S. middle half $51.8K–$102.9K · Above the U.S. median

$13,590

Economics

Bachelor's · Graduates: 144

$83,937 1 yr$44,0874 yrs$83,9375 yrs$73,054

U.S. median $82,686

U.S. middle half $58.2K–$116.3K · Above the U.S. median

$15,004

Business Administration, Management and Operations

Bachelor's · Graduates: 187

$80,755 1 yr$48,7864 yrs$80,7555 yrs$89,501

U.S. median $68,257

U.S. middle half $47.6K–$93.6K · Above the U.S. median

$13,000

Business/Managerial Economics

Bachelor's · Graduates: 379

$77,807 1 yr$44,2774 yrs$77,8075 yrs$74,617

U.S. median $77,981

U.S. middle half $55.1K–$106.7K · Below the U.S. median

$15,000

Mathematics

Bachelor's · Graduates: 66

$77,472 1 yr$45,9244 yrs$77,4725 yrs$75,692

U.S. median $69,562

U.S. middle half $49.1K–$97.4K · Above the U.S. median

$16,950

Chemistry

Bachelor's · Graduates: 95

$74,810 1 yr$43,7664 yrs$74,8105 yrs$72,001

U.S. median $65,120

U.S. middle half $48.3K–$84K · Above the U.S. median

$13,000

Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences

Bachelor's · Graduates: 36

$70,820 1 yr$38,8044 yrs$70,8205 yrs$71,246

U.S. median $60,190

U.S. middle half $44.3K–$77.6K · Above the U.S. median

$14,916

Computer Software and Media Applications

Bachelor's · Graduates: 52

$69,981 —

U.S. median $58,894

U.S. middle half $35.5K–$88.2K · Above the U.S. median

$21,800

Urban Studies/Affairs

Bachelor's · Graduates: 41

$63,819 1 yr$34,3854 yrs$63,8195 yrs$62,232

U.S. median $62,532

U.S. middle half $43.6K–$81.7K · Above the U.S. median

$15,122

Political Science and Government

Bachelor's · Graduates: 253

$63,318 1 yr$31,9764 yrs$63,3185 yrs$69,342

U.S. median $63,293

U.S. middle half $44.8K–$85.4K · Above the U.S. median

$16,000

Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration

Bachelor's · Graduates: 48

$61,034 1 yr$20,5384 yrs$61,0345 yrs$92,028

U.S. median $116,539

U.S. middle half $78.6K–$140K · Below the U.S. median

$15,279

Public Health

Bachelor's · Graduates: 339

$60,430 1 yr$35,4634 yrs$60,4305 yrs$64,449

U.S. median $58,808

U.S. middle half $42K–$79.2K · Above the U.S. median

$17,148

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other

Bachelor's · Graduates: 59

$60,242 1 yr$35,4044 yrs$60,2425 yrs$59,782

U.S. median $55,693

U.S. middle half $40.3K–$72.2K · Above the U.S. median

$16,800

Natural Resources Conservation and Research

Bachelor's · Graduates: 37

$59,908 1 yr$36,3044 yrs$59,9085 yrs$59,960

U.S. median $55,012

U.S. middle half $39.4K–$72.8K · Above the U.S. median

$12,477

Criminology

Bachelor's · Graduates: 388

$57,935 1 yr$34,5224 yrs$57,9355 yrs$59,960

U.S. median $55,556

U.S. middle half $41K–$73.1K · Above the U.S. median

$15,383

Journalism

Bachelor's · Graduates: 39

$57,492 1 yr$31,1024 yrs$57,492

U.S. median $56,278

U.S. middle half $40.6K–$73.9K · Above the U.S. median

$17,200

International/Globalization Studies

Bachelor's · Graduates: 154

$57,116 1 yr$33,3884 yrs$57,1165 yrs$62,832

U.S. median $59,972

U.S. middle half $40.8K–$82.9K · Below the U.S. median

$14,999

Sociology

Bachelor's · Graduates: 202

$56,457 1 yr$34,0504 yrs$56,4575 yrs$56,549

U.S. median $52,657

U.S. middle half $37.7K–$69.5K · Above the U.S. median

$15,000

Psychology, General

Bachelor's · Graduates: 179

$56,380 1 yr$27,1154 yrs$56,3805 yrs$56,253

U.S. median $50,706

U.S. middle half $35.7K–$67.2K · Above the U.S. median

$14,900

Biology, General

Bachelor's · Graduates: 320

$56,273 1 yr$25,3884 yrs$56,2735 yrs$72,132

U.S. median $57,214

U.S. middle half $38.9K–$79.2K · Below the U.S. median

$15,526

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

Bachelor's · Graduates: 25 Small sample

$55,360 1 yr$36,6924 yrs$55,3605 yrs$53,654

U.S. median $55,000

U.S. middle half $38.4K–$73.3K · Above the U.S. median

$9,000

Education, General

Bachelor's · Graduates: 243

$54,356 1 yr$26,1064 yrs$54,3565 yrs$58,011

U.S. median $49,808

U.S. middle half $38.6K–$60.8K · Above the U.S. median

$15,863

Research and Experimental Psychology

Bachelor's · Graduates: 495

$54,323 1 yr$29,8304 yrs$54,3235 yrs$62,639

U.S. median $55,695

U.S. middle half $38.1K–$76.5K · Below the U.S. median

$13,000

English Language and Literature, General

Bachelor's · Graduates: 116

$54,299 1 yr$26,0214 yrs$54,2995 yrs$52,508

U.S. median $48,590

U.S. middle half $33.7K–$63.8K · Above the U.S. median

$16,446

History

Bachelor's · Graduates: 54

$53,481 1 yr$23,4804 yrs$53,4815 yrs$68,186

U.S. median $50,680

U.S. middle half $36.3K–$66.7K · Above the U.S. median

$15,179

Film/Video and Photographic Arts

Bachelor's · Graduates: 96

$51,423 1 yr$21,3974 yrs$51,4235 yrs$44,541

U.S. median $43,765

U.S. middle half $26K–$63.4K · Above the U.S. median

$16,000

Anthropology

Bachelor's · Graduates: 80

$50,850 1 yr$30,5094 yrs$50,8505 yrs$57,629

U.S. median $46,676

U.S. middle half $32.1K–$63.9K · Above the U.S. median

$16,000

Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies

Bachelor's · Graduates: 33

$47,471 1 yr$26,7124 yrs$47,4715 yrs$50,699

U.S. median $51,710

U.S. middle half $34.9K–$68.1K · Below the U.S. median

$18,998

Music

Bachelor's · Graduates: 16 Small sample

$43,120 —

U.S. median $42,892

U.S. middle half $26K–$58.8K · Above the U.S. median

—

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

Bachelor's · Graduates: 63

$40,773 1 yr$20,4614 yrs$40,7735 yrs$27,561

U.S. median $39,775

U.S. middle half $25.5K–$55.4K · Above the U.S. median

$16,201

Dance

Bachelor's · Graduates: 17 Small sample

$40,466 1 yr$28,1124 yrs$40,4665 yrs$32,865

U.S. median $39,980

U.S. middle half $24.9K–$57.3K · Above the U.S. median

$20,080

Fine and Studio Arts

Bachelor's · Graduates: 55

$39,010 1 yr$16,9894 yrs$39,0105 yrs$48,982

U.S. median $41,367

U.S. middle half $26.2K–$56.7K · Below the U.S. median

$15,700

Earnings are for graduates working and not enrolled, 4 years after completing, in 2024 dollars.

The U.S. median and middle half (25th to 75th percentile) are for graduates of the same field and credential level at all colleges, 4 years after completing.

The 1-year, 4-year and 5-year figures come from different graduating cohorts and dollar years (1-year: AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 graduates, 2022 dollars; 4-year: AY2017-18 and AY2018-19 graduates, 2024 dollars; 5-year: AY2014-15 and AY2015-16 graduates, 2022 dollars), so read them as three separate measures, not a single career path.

Small samples are noisy: the Scorecard adds privacy noise to program figures and some rows are based on only a handful of graduates, so rows marked “small sample” can move a lot from year to year.

What students study

The largest fields among the degrees and certificates this college awarded, grouped by two-digit CIP code (the federal Classification of Instructional Programs). Fields under 1% are left out.

Share of degrees and certificates awarded, by field

A large share means many awards, not necessarily many students or higher earnings. Data period: Awards in academic year 2024-25 (IPEDS).

Who attends

A snapshot of the undergraduate student body as this college reported it to the federal government. Shares are shown as published; they can differ slightly from 100% because of rounding.

Race and ethnicity

  • White 12.8%
  • Black or African American 2%
  • Hispanic or Latino 26.8%
  • Asian 37.5%
  • American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.1%
  • Two or more races 6.3%
  • U.S. nonresident 12.3%
  • Race and ethnicity unknown 2.2%

Federal reporting categories. Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are counted as nonresident, and students who did not report are counted as unknown. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).

Gender

  • Men 43.9%
  • Women 56.1%

Federal reporting uses two categories. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).

Students aged 25 or older

3%

of undergraduates

Many adult students work or have families while enrolled. Data period: Fall 2023 (IPEDS).

Students and campus

Undergraduate enrollment
30,197
Part-time students
2%
Receive Pell Grants
36%
Receive federal loans
20%
Students per faculty member
19 : 1
Setting
City

Similar colleges

Schools of a similar type, price, size and outcomes.

Where it ranks

This college appears in the top 50 of these TuitionScope rankings.

Guides worth reading

Plain-language explainers that help you read the numbers on this page.

More in California

Frequently asked questions

How much is tuition at University of California-Irvine?

For the 2024-25 academic year, University of California-Irvine reported undergraduate tuition and fees of $15,722 for in-state students and $49,922 for out-of-state students. These are published prices before grants and scholarships; what you pay depends on your aid.

What is the cost of attendance and net price at University of California-Irvine?

The average cost of attendance at University of California-Irvine is $38,632 a year (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses. After grants and scholarships, the average net price is $14,251 a year. That is around the middle of public 4-year colleges.

How much financial aid do students at University of California-Irvine get?

36% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. 20% receive federal loans. The average net price runs from $8,123 a year for families earning under $30,000 to $30,546 for families earning over $110,000 (2023-24).

What is the acceptance rate at University of California-Irvine?

University of California-Irvine admitted about 29% of applicants in fall 2024. That makes admission selective.

What are the graduation rate and retention rate at University of California-Irvine?

86% of first-time, full-time students at University of California-Irvine finish within 150% of normal time. 94% of full-time first-years return the next fall.

How much do University of California-Irvine graduates earn after graduation?

The median graduate earns $74,438 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled in further study (2024 dollars). One year after finishing, the median is $40,474.

Is University of California-Irvine worth it?

There is no single answer: it depends on your major, your aid and whether you finish. For University of California-Irvine, the data shows this. The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 1.5 years of work. Graduates who borrowed have a median debt of $15,000, about 0.2 times their median earnings four years after finishing. 86% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time. These are averages, not predictions, and they do not count income forgone while studying.

How much debt do University of California-Irvine graduates have?

Graduates who borrowed have a median federal-loan debt of $15,000, or about $159 a month on a 10-year plan.

Sources and data periods

All figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 2026 release). Periods differ by measure:

  • Average net price: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
  • Acceptance rate: Fall 2024, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
  • Graduation rate: Fall 2018 or AcadYr 2018-19 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25 pooled with previous years (# of total pooled years found in POOLYRS)
  • Median earnings: Treasury AY2017-18, AY2018-19 pooled cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
  • Median graduate debt: NSLDS FY2020, FY2021 pooled cohorts

Some figures are blank because the school did not report them or the group was too small to publish. How we calculate things