Founded in 1965, University of California-Irvine. is a Public college. Located in California, which is a city setting in California, the campus itself is Urban. The campus is home to 27,331 full time undergraduate students, and 5,423 full time graduate students.
The University of California-Irvine Academic calendar runs on a Quarter basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 18:1. There are 1179 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at University of California-Irvine include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.
Quick Facts
Acceptance Rate
40%
Application Deadline
Application Fee
70
SAT Range
1060-1330
ACT Range
24-30
Admissions at UCI are considered More Selective, with ,123% of all applicants being admitted.
In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 8 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.
0% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 100% were in the top quarter, and 96% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.
STUDENT LIFE Reviews
We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at University of California-Irvine.
384 Students rated on-campus housing 3.7 stars. 21 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate off-campus housing?
333 Students rated off-campus housing 3.2 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus food?
407 Students rated campus food 3.5 stars. 16 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus facilities?
411 Students rated campus facilities 4.3 stars. 42 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate class size?
413 Students rated class size 3.6 stars. 17 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate school activities?
410 Students rated school activities 3.9 stars. 30 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate local services?
417 Students rated local services 4.1 stars. 43 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate academics?
413 Students rated academics 3.9 stars. 36 % gave the school a 5.0.
University of California-Irvine REVIEWS
What's your overall opinion of University of California-Irvine?
180 Students rated University of California-Irvine
Samina
Prospective04/03/2025
I’m drawn to the University of California, Irvine because of its strong academic programs, particularly in the sciences. UC Irvine’s biology and pre-health programs are well-known, which aligns perfectly with my goal of becoming a general dentist. I also appreciate the research opportunities that the school offers, allowing students to work alongside faculty in labs and get hands-on experience.
In addition to academics, UC Irvine has a vibrant campus community with many student organizations and extracurricular activities. I’d be excited to join groups that support students in the health field and maybe even explore photography or badminton, which are hobbies I enjoy.
Ramila
The University of California - Irvine is overall a pretty good school, compared to other schools in the area. To start, the campus is absolutely beautiful, surrounded by tons of nature and amazing architecture. In addition, the location is in one of the most central parts of Orange County, with a less than 5-minute walk to shops and food and is also highly safe. As a woman, I walked around alone after my night classes and felt safe.
Sadly, with how large classes are, most professors do not care to engage and therefore create an impersonal environment. Unless you really push to go out of your way to talk to them, they will never know your name. The TAs are amazing though! Lots of the material is expected to be learned outside of class, and during lectures, it is mainly for discussing the confusing details.
You can expect there to be very sweet and friendly people on campus, but expect a lot of competitive people. Not everyone is willing to become friends and study together, but luckily the classes are so big you are bound to find a friend!
In hindsight, I loved my time here, and a lot of the things I learned were actually useful in my future.
A.C.
Prospective04/01/2025
I think irvine is honestly an amazing school.
Gabrielle
The campus is very safe and there are a lot of campus organizations for students to get involved in. I believe that while some of the classes may feel large, the professors always make themselves a resource for students. As a chemistry major, our professors were always encouraging.
Sarah
UCI helped me gain many close connections that I cherish to this day. I think the professors I had aided and taught their students well and always supported students when they needed it. The campus life was one that was suited for me, and I enjoyed all the different activities available.
Adnane
The University of California, Irvine (UCI) is known for its strong academic programs, particularly in the sciences, engineering, and social ecology. Its location near tech hubs and its research facilities make it a great choice for students interested in hands-on learning and innovation. UCI’s commitment to sustainability, with initiatives for a green campus and numerous research centers focusing on environmental issues, is impressive and relevant to today’s global challenges.
Additionally, UCI has many cute and quiet shops on campus and they are pretty accessible and are scattered around the overall campus. I love the vibe when I'm near the shops and it is very secluded feeling and gives me a sense of privacy. Overall, I feel that the trees and locations of the shops make me feel very comfortable just shopping on campus at any time in the day in my opinion.
Seb
My first impressions of University of California, Irvine were generally positive: the campus is beautiful, each school within the university has a unique flair to it, and the on-campus community is generally welcoming and diverse. As someone with various interweaving, intersectional, identities, the on-campus community was my primary measure of my school and I found that my initial view of UCI was generally favorable because of how inclusive the campus seemed. However, during the months that followed my initial perception of UCI, I found that, in reality, the school is much more divisive and obsessed with maintaining its optics for it to be truly diverse under its current administration. What makes the campus' division much more tragic is the fact that the community that is at UCI has so much potential to flourish productively in how it highlights its voices, and yet the administration continuously silences student voices---during, what they call, "the year of free speech" no less. The result of the administrative inadequacies has resulted in a community so divided against itself that it no longer feels safe to voice opinions on important topics or through the lens of personal experiences as the primary filter speech must go to first and foremost is the public optics of saying something, in order to continue to accrue funding and social capital. UCI is first and foremost an institution, not a community. However, within UCI there lies communities that inspire hope in myself for what the future of my school looks like.
Alycia
UC Irvine is a good university to go to. It'a best undergraduate programs are in engineering and business. Some of the university highlights are the beautiful park campus, rigorous academic curriculum, and variety of eateries within driving distance.
Karina
UC Irvine is a very diverse school with students from all around the world. While it is not a party school there are parties mostly in the Greek scene of the school. There are many dance teams on campus that range from urban to traditional. The cities in the area have plenty to do including concerts however a car is needed to get anyway other than the neighboring grocery stores. It is a large and hilly school so expect to do a lot of walking. The dining hall food is good, not terrible, not great.
Sarai
UC Irvine is a well rounded University that is accessible and very calm. The campus feels very safe and clean which makes it special and different. Everyone is friendly and your teachers want you to succeed! It is my first year here in Irvine as an undergraduate and my experience so far has been great.
Elijah
UCI has been a really good experience so far. I have only experienced 1 quarter at the time, I am writing this but have learned so much already. It is a great campus with the surrounding areas being equally as nice. It is also a nice and welcoming environment.
Chelsea
UC Irvine is a very clique-oriented school. Many students are born and raised in Orange County, some are affluent international students, and some are like me, who are from the state but cannot relate to the culture of UCI. Overall, my experience at UCI has been relatively mediocre as I could not communicate with my professors due to the horrifically large class sizes of 400+ and the lack of relationship-building with the teaching assistants. I felt I was deemed as only a number instead of a student who yearned to learn in their classroom.
Edleen
I have a positive opinion of University of California - Irvine, but a huge reason is the community. I've had wonderful professors and befriended or met so many individuals that I see myself maintaining connections with for as long as humanly possible. I've found a sense of belonging at this school.
Ajay
I love UCI. It was my top school and it has not disappointed me at all. It has been difficult due to covid but I can say that my first year was not bad. The campus is wonderful and the professors I've had have been excellent. Nothing like the nightmare professors I have heard of. I am excited to finish my degree there.
Thu
I was a visitor during my sophomore years in high school and, I love the university. Everyone there was so wonderful on campus and, they were supportive of all of the visitors, from students to teachers from every high school. They have excellent service and, they organized the event very well. I was so surprised by how big the school is and how many college students actively engaged in the events and encourage us, high school students, to take part in leadership and be part of the team. They give numerous helpful advice as well as valuable lessons in life as a college student, and I have so much fun learning it during the event. Overall, it was a wonderful experience, and I hope one day I will make it in.
The fall 2020 acceptance rate for University of California-Irvine is 40%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020, _____ students were offered admission.
What should every freshman at your school know before they start?
It is tough when you start out, trying to get used to your schedule, locating classes, and getting used to the workload. Becoming to involved in keeping those balanced won't do much to help your own sanity. With that I would certainly go with the cliche but true, "Don't be afraid to be yourself." A lot of college is about finding yourself and setting the desirable niche where you can grow as an individual and develop a strong stance. Follow what you want and don't be afraid about an "in-group" , because there aren't any in college. It is important not to mold yourself into someone you want people to like because there are plenty of people that will come and go, but the ones that like you for who you are will stay and most likely for the rest of your life. Don't be afraid in the beginning to show people who you are. College is an all around learning experience so you need to make sure you set aside time to learn about yourself.
Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.
The University of California - Irvine is a top all-around school, a school where one can find boundless possibilities and quality education that will surely help a student mature and grow.
I feel that UC Irvine is open to everybody who applies. I'm not saying that there are qualifications but come to UC Irvine with your game face on because everybody here is pretty competetive in their classes and the professors are pretty helpful.
What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?
It really does feel like a bubble, because the troubles outside of Irvine may seem very irrelevant and distant. Perhaps because of it, it is a slightly more conservative campus and within the city, and it is more difficult to garner passion and energy from the city's citizens and the university's students. We don't have much school spirit, and there are a lot of commuters. Anywhere you go you will need a car, public transportation doesn't help. Cost of living is slightly higher, and everything closes around 10pm.
Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!
Our mascot is undoubtedly one of the most haphazardly chosen mascots in the history of naming: we are Anteaters. Personally, I love it but it does require a taste.
I have a couple of professors that know my name. They tend to make the effort to bond with the students if they are approached. Professors in the School of Social Sciences are really fun and have many experiences they like to share. Studying is directly proportional to whether you go to class AND pay attention. Class participation is common but very dependent on the professor asking for it. UCI students are very relaxed and tend to leave intellectual conversations to the classroom or for their organizations. Competition is not clearly seen, but it exists. UCI gives plenty of opportunities to get students into the job field they like.
What is the stereotype of students at your school?
A lot of people called UCI a university for Chinese students or something to that extent. Also, UCI is not considered a 'party school,' but a commuter school where students come and go.
UCI allows for a lot of on campus leadership positions. Students truly can find various ways to get involved as fast as their fall quarter freshman year. Due to the diversity of the campus, people are opened to more ethnicities and races. One thing I would like to see in the near future would be a football team. Athletics are strong at UCI, and just last year (2006-2007) they were awarded the DIVISION I-AAA ALL-SPORTS TROPHY (given to the best all-around sports program in Division I, AAA). The school is growing but currently is at a nice amount of students with 20,000 or so. Not college town but UCI is literary part of Newport Beach, it should be called UC Newport. On campus the best place to go is the student center or right across the street to the University Center. Irvine is a rather calm but nice city in the OC. The beach is just 10 minutes away. Three malls (South Coast Plaza, Fashion Island, and Irvine Spectrum) within miles.
Is the stereotype of students at your school accurate?
The numbers might speak for themselves, but the fact of the matter is that the student population at UCI is by far the most diverse in the UC system. This allows for more opportunities to meet more people and of different backgrounds.
What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?
I often talk about how beautiful the campus is. Aldrich park is overly gorgeous and is a wonderful place to eat, study, and chat with friends. I also often talk about the safety of Irvine. One of safest cities around! I really enjoy the idea of feeling safe, especially when walking back to my car after a late night class gets out.
If you live in the dorms in Mesa Court you could dine at Mesa Commons. Everyone gets to see this dining location during orientation, but it is like a buffet. You could eat anything you want. If you live in Middle Earth you could eat at Pippin Commons. I could tell you more about Pippin since I live in Middle Earth. Pippin is a lot bigger than Mesa and in my opinion, a lot nicer. They throw these big events for the holidays and you get better food options on these days, plus there are performances by talented singers and dancers from UCI. I'm sure they do these at Mesa too, but like I said, I cannot really tell you much about Mesa. Pippin is also buffet-style. Near Middle Earth, there is also Brandywine Commons. It is the smallest dining area, but sometimes they have really good food. You could go to any of the dining areas although you are not a resident from that particular area.
Besides dorm dining options, we have a lot of different places to get some food here or around campus. At the Student Center we have: Starbucks, Jamba Juice, Anthill Pub and Grille (I have not been here yet, but I hear it is a very popular place to hang out and eat), Bene’s pasta, Organice Greens-to-go, Panda Express, Quizno’s, Topio’s Pizza (very good), Wahoo’s Fish Tacos, and Wendy’s. We also have Phoenix Food Court, where they sell burritos and other kinds of food. We have BC’s Cavern Food Court and Subway. There are also small places for coffee, snacks, and hot chocolate around campus, such as Café Espresso and Espress Yourself Coffee Cart. At the University Town Center we have Taco Bell, In-N-Out, and Jack in the Box. You could also take the shuttle to Koba and Del Taco. There are unlimited dining options a short drive away from campus as well, including Italian and French restaurants.
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I decided to come to UC Irvine the first time I came to visit the campus. The beauty of the campus just captivated me. Also, knowing that they had the major I wanted convinced me even more. Also, its pretty cool living a few minutes from the beach.
All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA.
Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.
68% of students attending University of California-Irvine receive some sort of financial aid.
41% were awarded federal grants.40%received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.
