UCI vs. Rutgers

Deciding between University of California Irvine and Rutgers University New Brunswick? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of California Irvine
Rutgers University New Brunswick

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UCI Irvine, CA
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Setting
  • UCI Rural Fringe
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UCI 37,297
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Type
  • UCI Public 4 Year
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UCI #98
  • Rutgers #114
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UCI -
  • Rutgers -
  • Status
  • UCI Non-profit
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UCI
  • Rutgers

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UCI $15,722
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UCI $49,922
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Room & Board
  • UCI $18,991
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Average Net Price
  • UCI $15,889
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UCI $23,110
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UCI 55%
  • Rutgers 50%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UCI 122,699
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Admitted
  • UCI 35,054
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UCI 28.6%
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • UCI 19.2%
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCI 1330
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCI 29
  • Rutgers 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • UCI 3.75
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UCI A-
  • Rutgers B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • UCI Very High
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • UCI High
  • Rutgers Low
  • ACT Range
  • UCI 26/33
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • UCI 1230/1430
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UCI Test-free
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UCI Nov 30, 2026
  • Rutgers

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UCI 19:1
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UCI
    • Social Sciences (23%)
    • Biology (16%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Business (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UCI 85%
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UCI $61,800
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UCI 76%
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UCI $17,000
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UCI $175
  • Rutgers $229

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UCI 45%
  • Rutgers 46%
  • % Women
  • UCI 55%
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UCI Very High
  • Rutgers Very High
  • HBCU
  • UCI No
  • Rutgers No
  • % White
  • UCI 15%
  • Rutgers 42%
  • % Asian
  • UCI 37%
  • Rutgers 26%
  • % Black
  • UCI 2%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • UCI 25%
  • Rutgers 13%
  • % Native American
  • UCI 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UCI 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UCI 4%
  • Rutgers 3%
  • % International
  • UCI 16%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UCI 1%
  • Rutgers 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UCI 74%
  • Rutgers 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UCI 7%
  • Rutgers 13%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UCI Yes
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UCI No
  • Rutgers No
  • Meal Plan
  • UCI Yes
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UCI No
  • Rutgers Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • UCI Yes
  • Rutgers Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Irvine in Irvine, CA with Rutgers University New Brunswick in New Brunswick, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than UCI based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 37,297 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Irvine is located in Irvine, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Rutgers University New Brunswick is in New Brunswick, NJ (Small City setting).
  • University of California Irvine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Irvine 19:1; Rutgers University New Brunswick 16:1.

UCI vs. Rutgers Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCI or Rutgers? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Irvine than Rutgers ($15,889 vs. $20,522).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 17.3% lower than at University of California Irvine ($15,714 vs. $18,991).
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is 14% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCI (about $2,207 more per year; $17,929.00 vs. $15,722.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 33.3% higher at UCI than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $12,481 more per year; $49,922.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Irvine than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (55% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Irvine students is 38% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($23,110 vs. $16,742).

UCI vs. Rutgers Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCI or Rutgers? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Rutgers and UCI.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1410) is 80 points higher than at UCI (1330).
  • Incoming Rutgers students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at UCI).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Irvine 1230/1430; Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Irvine 26/33; Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCI - Test-free; Rutgers - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCI Nov 30, 2026.
  • Accepted freshman UCI students have a 0.45 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than UCI (28.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.2% at UCI vs. 20.5% at Rutgers.

UCI vs. Rutgers Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCI and Rutgers? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of California Irvine's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Rutgers University New Brunswick's (77%).
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of about $4,400 more per year than UCI graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,200 vs. $61,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Irvine graduates have a $5,215 lower median loan debt than Rutgers graduates ($17,000 vs. $22,215).
  • Among borrowers, UCI graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rutgers graduates ($175 vs. $229).
  • More UCI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 68%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.