University of California, Irvine

UC Irvine admitted about 28.9% of first-year applicants in the most recent cycle, drawing roughly 124,000 first-year applications, admitting around 35,964, and enrolling about 6,400. That makes it selective, though less so than the most competitive UC campuses.

It is competitive but not the longest of long shots: UCI admitted about 28.9% of roughly 124,000 first-year applicants. Because it is test-free, admission turns on the rigor of your high school record and your academic GPA — both rated very important — along with your essays, activities, and talent, so a strong A-G transcript and well-developed application matter most.

Counterintuitively, out-of-state applicants are admitted at a higher rate than California residents. In the most recent cycle, UC Irvine admitted about 47.4% of domestic non-residents (7,764 admitted from 16,386 who applied) compared with 21.9% of California residents (18,873 from 86,250). International applicants were admitted at 41.8%. The catch is that the non-resident pool is far smaller, so non-residents still make up only about 9% of enrolled undergraduates. Because UCI is test-blind, the strength of your coursework, your essays, and your activities drive the decision regardless of where you live.

No. Like all University of California campuses, UC Irvine is test-blind and does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if you submit them. Standardized test scores are listed as not considered in UCI's review; scores may only be used after you enroll, for course placement or to satisfy certain requirements.

UC Irvine does not publish an average admitted GPA in its Common Data Set. As a UC campus it requires a minimum 3.0 GPA (3.4 for non-California residents) in the required A-G college-preparatory courses to be eligible, but because UCI weighs no test scores, the rigor of your coursework and your academic GPA are both rated very important — and admitted students typically present GPAs well above the minimum.

Yes — a lot. UC Irvine rates the application essay as a very important factor in its holistic review, alongside the rigor of your record, your GPA, activities, and talent. Because UCI considers no test scores and does not factor in recommendation letters or interviews, your personal insight responses are one of the few places to show who you are, so a specific, well-revised set of essays carries real weight.

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For the 2025-2026 year, annual tuition and required fees are about $16,454 for California residents and $54,056 for out-of-state and international students, with on-campus food and housing adding roughly $19,650. About 44% of first-years receive need-based grant aid, the average aid package is near $30,774, and UCI meets about 86% of demonstrated need; UC's Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan also covers system-wide tuition for eligible in-state families earning under $80,000.

The social sciences are the single most popular area at about 17% of bachelor's degrees, followed closely by engineering and computer science at roughly 22% combined, the biological sciences at about 17%, and psychology at 12%. Business and a wide range of arts, humanities, and health programs round out the most common fields of study.