University of California-Irvine
University of California-Irvine — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of California-Irvine at a Glance
The University of California, Irvine is a public land-grant research university in Irvine, California, United States. One of the ten campuses of the University of California system, UCI offers 87 undergraduate degrees and 129 graduate and professional degrees, and roughly 30,000 undergraduates and 7,000 graduate students were enrolled at UCI as of Fall 2024. The university is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity" and had $609.6 million in research and develop…
1965
61 years old
$1.0B
$1.028 billion (2025)
37,297
30,204 undergrad · 7,093 grad
7,613
1,582 acres
Identity
How to Apply to University of California-Irvine
Official admissions page$80
Fee waiver available
Fee waiver
Is University of California-Irvine Worth It?
University of California-Irvine is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $14,251/year net price and $80,735 median earnings, graduates earn 5.7× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.7 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
With a 86% graduation rate, the vast majority of students finish their degree and reach these earning outcomes.
Admission is competitive with a 29% acceptance rate, so applicants should have strong academic credentials.
Median student debt of $15,000 is manageable at just 19% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: University of California-Irvine delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How University of California-Irvine compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in CA
Ranked #1 of 10 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of California-Irvine | 100 | $14,251 | $80,735 |
| #2 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 100 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| #3 | University of California-San Diego | 100 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
| #4 | Florida State University | 100 | $11,297 | $61,675 |
| #5 | University of Florida | 100 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| #6 | University of Georgia | 100 | $13,936 | $68,726 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of California-Irvine's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 4 in CA.
Best Programs at University of California-Irvine
The highest-earning program at University of California-Irvine is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at $76,400/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at $17,800/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduate from University of California-Irvine earns $76,400, while a Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduate earns $17,800. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduates carry $15,000 in median debt vs. $14,206 for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $14,251/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $76,400 | $76,400 | $15,000 |
| Computer Science | $71,600 | $71,600 | $15,107 |
| Computer Engineering | $67,400 | $67,400 | $16,381 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $65,300 | $65,300 | $20,104 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $63,700 | $63,700 | $17,036 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $60,000 | $60,000 | $18,834 |
| Civil Engineering | $58,900 | $58,900 | $21,734 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering | $57,200 | $57,200 | $20,666 |
| Chemical Engineering | $53,000 | $53,000 | $16,248 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $52,100 | $52,100 | $16,683 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $49,800 | $49,800 | $16,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $48,800 | $48,800 | $15,500 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $42,300 | $42,300 | $20,000 |
| Mathematics | $41,100 | $41,100 | $15,000 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $40,700 | $40,700 | $16,666 |
| International/Global Studies | $36,600 | $36,600 | $17,832 |
| Economics | $36,600 | $36,600 | $15,350 |
| Chemistry | $31,700 | $31,700 | $16,090 |
| Political Science and Government | $31,300 | $31,300 | $19,469 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $31,200 | $31,200 | $20,000 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | $31,200 | $31,200 | $19,423 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $30,100 | $30,100 | $16,474 |
| Criminology | $29,700 | $29,700 | $15,908 |
| Public Health | $29,500 | $29,500 | $18,427 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $29,200 | $29,200 | $15,000 |
| Sociology | $28,600 | $28,600 | $15,244 |
| Journalism | $27,500 | $27,500 | $17,609 |
| History | $27,500 | $27,500 | $19,100 |
| Anthropology | $27,400 | $27,400 | $20,000 |
| Psychology, General | $25,900 | $25,900 | $16,666 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $25,300 | $25,300 | $18,500 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $25,300 | $25,300 | $20,733 |
| Education, General | $24,600 | $24,600 | $18,726 |
| Biology, General | $24,500 | $24,500 | $15,000 |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | $24,500 | $24,500 | $14,583 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $24,400 | $24,400 | $16,650 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $23,700 | $23,700 | $19,983 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $23,400 | $23,400 | $16,150 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $22,100 | $22,100 | $19,580 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $17,800 | $17,800 | $14,206 |
Similar Colleges in CA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Irvine, CA
- Student Body
- 30,197 students
- Admission Rate
- 29%
- Graduation Rate
- 86%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $14,251
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $80,735
- Median Student Debt
- $15,000