UCI vs. UCLA vs. UC Berkeley vs. UCI

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Irvine in Irvine, CA with University of California Los Angeles in Los Angeles, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Los Angeles is larger than UCI based on total student enrollment (47,335 students vs. 37,297 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Irvine is located in Irvine, CA (Rural Fringe setting); University of California Los Angeles is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
• University of California Irvine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Los Angeles is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Irvine 19:1; University of California Los Angeles 20:1.

UCI vs. UCLA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCI or UCLA? 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 Los Angeles than UCI ($14,512 vs. $15,889).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of California Los Angeles are 3.3% lower than at University of California Irvine ($18,369 vs. $18,991).
• University of California Irvine is 3.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCLA (about $519 more per year; $15,722.00 vs. $15,203.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.1% higher at UCI than at University of California Los Angeles (about $519 more per year; $49,922.00 vs. $49,403.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Irvine than at University of California Los Angeles (55% vs. 49%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Los Angeles students is 10.9% larger than aid received by University of California Irvine students ($25,627 vs. $23,110).

UCI vs. UCLA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCI or UCLA? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UCLA and UCI.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at University of California Los Angeles (1420) is 90 points higher than at UCI (1330).
• Incoming UCLA students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (32 vs. 29 at UCI).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of California Irvine 1230/1430; University of California Los Angeles 1300/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: University of California Irvine 26/33; University of California Los Angeles 29/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCI - Test-free; UCLA - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCI Nov 30, 2026; UCLA Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled freshman UCLA students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at UCI (3.75).
• UCI has a higher acceptance rate (28.6%) than UCLA (9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.2% at UCI vs. 50.4% at UCLA.

UCI vs. UCLA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCI and UCLA? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• University of California Los Angeles's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than University of California Irvine's (85%).
• Graduates from University of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $8,900 more per year than UCI graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,700 vs. $61,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Los Angeles graduates have a $700 lower median loan debt than UCI graduates ($16,300 vs. $17,000).
• Among borrowers, UCLA graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCI graduates ($168 vs. $175).
• More UCLA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UCI students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 76%)

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.