How many students apply to UC Irvine each year?

UC Irvine receives a massive number of applications, typically over 120,000 first-year applicants and thousands more for transfers, with recent figures showing over 124,000 first-year applicants and around 25,000 transfer applicants for Fall 2024, totaling over 147,000 total applications, making it one of the most popular UC campuses.

How many people apply to UCI per year?

Madeleine Karydes. Every autumn season, over 120,000 hopeful students apply to UC Irvine. Fewer than 3 in 10 are accepted. That sheer volume of applicants makes UCI one of the most popular public universities in the country — and one of the most competitive campuses in the University of California system.

Is UCI or UCLA harder to get into?

It is generally harder to get into UCLA than UC Irvine (UCI) because UCLA has a significantly lower acceptance rate (around 9-11%) compared to UCI (around 21-29%), making UCLA a more selective university, though both are highly competitive public universities within the UC system. UCLA often receives more applications and focuses heavily on strong UC GPAs, making its admissions borderline elite, while UCI is selective but less so than UCLA, with strong applicants often getting into UCI but not UCLA, notes Quora users. 

What percentage of applicants get into UC Irvine?

The acceptance rate at UC Irvine is 28.8%.

In other words, of 100 students who apply, 29 are admitted. This means the school is quite selective. If you have strong academic scores, you have a great shot at getting in.

How many applications did UCI get in 2025?

Fast-forward to 2025, and over 124,000 individuals applied and under 30% were accepted.

UC Irvine FAQ

Is UCSD or UCI harder to get into?

Generally, UC San Diego (UCSD) is slightly harder to get into than UC Irvine (UCI) based on acceptance rates, with UCSD typically having a lower rate, but both are highly selective, and difficulty heavily depends on your intended major, with STEM fields (especially CS at UCSD) being particularly competitive at both. For recent cycles, UCI's acceptance rate hovered around 29%, while UCSD's was around 27%, making UCSD the more selective choice by a small margin. 

Which UC has the most applicants?

In 2024-25, they received 250,755 applications—207,131 for freshman admission and 43,644 for transfer admission. In fact, UCLA holds the distinction of being the most applied-to university in the country, while other UCs like UCSB, UC Irvine, UCSB, UC Berkeley, and UC Davis aren't far behind.

What is the hardest major to get into at UC Irvine?

The hardest major to get into at UC Irvine is typically Nursing Science, known for extremely low acceptance rates (around 1-1.5%), followed by highly impacted programs in Computer Science, Business Administration, and certain Engineering disciplines like Mechanical Engineering, due to high demand and limited spots, requiring exceptional grades and prerequisites. 

What is the hardest UC to get into in California?

The hardest University of California (UC) to get into is consistently UCLA (Los Angeles), followed closely by UC Berkeley (UCB), both having the lowest acceptance rates, often in the single digits to low teens, making them the most selective public universities in California and the nation. UCSD and UCI are also very competitive, while other UCs like UCSB, UCDavis, and UC Merced round out the most selective tier, with acceptance rates reflecting high demand and rigorous standards. 

Is getting into UCI impressive?

The acceptance rate at UC Irvine is 28.8%.

For every 100 applicants, 29 are admitted. This means the school is very selective. If you meet UC Irvine's requirements for GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and other components of the application, you have a great shot at getting in.

What is the #1 hardest college to get into?

There isn't one single #1 hardest school, as it changes slightly by year and criteria, but Harvard University, Stanford University, MIT, and Caltech consistently rank among the top with extremely low acceptance rates (often 3-4%) and intense competition for spots, though other top global universities like Oxford and Tsinghua are also incredibly selective. Harvard is frequently cited as the hardest due to its high volume of applications and focus on global leadership potential, while Caltech is known for its extreme difficulty in STEM. 

What is the 9% rule for UC?

The UC's 9% rule refers to two guarantee programs for top-performing California resident high school graduates: the Statewide Guarantee (top 9% statewide via a specific index) and the Local Guarantee (ELC) (top 9% in their specific high school). California residents in either group are guaranteed a space at a UC campus (though not necessarily their first choice) if they meet all requirements and space is available, with the index considering UC GPA and A-G course completion.
 

Why is UC Irvine so popular?

UC Irvine (UCI) is popular for its strong academics, high rankings (especially as a top public university and "best value"), commitment to research/innovation, and diverse, vibrant community, offering great career prep through industry ties and hands-on learning, plus a desirable Southern California location. Its strengths lie in STEM, health sciences, and social sciences, supported by a strong sense of community and sustainability focus, attracting students seeking both opportunity and a supportive environment. 

Is UCI a public ivy?

Yes, the University of California, Irvine (UCI) is widely considered a Public Ivy, a term for public universities offering an Ivy League-quality education, appearing on multiple "Public Ivy" lists from sources like the Greenes' Guides and College Contact, alongside other top UCs like Berkeley, UCLA, and UCSD. UCI's strong academics, research, and selectivity place it in this elite group of public institutions providing excellent undergraduate value.
 

Is it harder to get into UCI or UCLA?

It is generally harder to get into UCLA than UC Irvine (UCI) because UCLA has a significantly lower acceptance rate (around 9-11%) compared to UCI (around 21-29%), making UCLA a more selective university, though both are highly competitive public universities within the UC system. UCLA often receives more applications and focuses heavily on strong UC GPAs, making its admissions borderline elite, while UCI is selective but less so than UCLA, with strong applicants often getting into UCI but not UCLA, notes Quora users. 

What major is UC Irvine most known for?

UC Irvine (UCI) is well-known for strong programs in Biological Sciences, Computer Science, Engineering (especially Mechanical & Aerospace, Electrical & Computer), Psychology, and Business/Economics (like Managerial Economics), with popular choices also including Criminology, Public Health, and various Social Sciences. Its strengths often lie in interdisciplinary studies connecting science, technology, and health.
 

What are the big 3 UC schools?

Three University of California (UC) campuses are UC Berkeley, UCLA (Los Angeles), and UC San Diego, with other major ones including UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside, UC Merced, and the graduate-only UC San Francisco. These campuses offer diverse academic programs and unique campus cultures across California, from the Bay Area (Berkeley) to Southern California (UCLA, UCSD).
 

Is UC Irvine or UCSD harder to get into?

Generally, UC San Diego (UCSD) is slightly harder to get into than UC Irvine (UCI) based on acceptance rates, with UCSD typically having a lower rate, but both are highly selective, and difficulty heavily depends on your intended major, with STEM fields (especially CS at UCSD) being particularly competitive at both. For recent cycles, UCI's acceptance rate hovered around 29%, while UCSD's was around 27%, making UCSD the more selective choice by a small margin. 

Does UCI admit by major?

Due to the high volume of competitive applications we receive, we are unable to admit all applicants to their first choice major listed on their application.

Is UC Irvine a tier 1 school?

Yes, UC Irvine (UCI) is considered a top-tier research university, often grouped with "Tier 1" public institutions nationally due to its strong rankings, R1 Carnegie classification (highest research activity), and inclusion in "Public Ivy" lists, though within the UC system, it's sometimes seen as just below UCLA/Berkeley (Tier 2 UC), but still very high. 

Where do top 1% send kids to college?

The "top 1%" of students, referring to those from the highest income brackets, tend to attend elite universities like MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, and Yale that consistently rank high in national and global lists, with some even having more students from the top 1% income bracket than the bottom 60% combined, according to The New York Times data. Top-ranked institutions like MIT, Princeton, Harvard, and Stanford are frequent top contenders in various 2026 rankings from U.S. News & World Report and Times Higher Education. 

Is UCI or UCSB harder to get into?

Therefore, the acceptance rate alone is not a good indicator that UC Santa Barbara is a better school or will be more difficult for you specifically to get into. On the flipside, UC Irvine is easier to get into based on acceptance rate alone.

Which UC has the happiest students?

UC Davis Is One of the 25 Happiest Public Universities in the US.