UC Irvine: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Natural Sciences II, School of Biological Sciences
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Located in the heart of Orange County, University of California, Irvine is a public research university with an acceptance rate of 27%. The 1,500-acre University of California, Irvine campus has a circular design with Aldrich Park in the center. In academics, UC Irvine has many highly ranked programs including biology and health sciences, criminology, English, and psychology. The university has an 18-to-1 student/faculty ratio, and for its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences, UC Irvine was awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. In athletics, many of the UCI Anteater teams compete in the NCAA Division I Big West Conference.

Considering applying to UC Irvine? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, UC Irvine had an acceptance rate of 27%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 27 students were admitted, making UC Irvine's admissions process highly competitive.

Admissions Statistics (2018-19)
Number of Applicants 95,566
Percent Admitted 27%
Percent Admitted Who Enrolled (Yield) 24%

SAT Scores and Requirements

Beginning with the 2020-21 admissions cycle, all of the UC schools will offer test-optional admissions. Applicants may submit SAT or ACT scores, but they are not required. University of California will institute a test-blind policy for in-state applicants beginning with the 2022-23 admissions cycle. Out-of-state applicants will still have the option of submitting test scores during this period. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 88% of UC Irvine's admitted students submitted SAT scores.

SAT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th percentile 75th percentile
ERW 600 720
Math 650 790
ERW=Evidence-Based Reading and Writing

This admissions data tells us that most of UC Irvine's admitted students fall within the top 20% nationally on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to UCI scored between 600 and 720, while 25% scored below 600 and 25% scored above 720. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 650 and 790, while 25% scored below 650 and 25% scored above 790. While SAT scores are no longer required, an SAT score of 1510 or higher is considered competitive for UC Irvine.

Requirements

Beginning with the 2020-21 admissions cycle, all of the UC schools, including UC Irvine, will no longer require SAT scores for admission. For applicants who submit scores, note that UC Irvine does not consider the optional SAT essay section. UC Irvine does not superscore SAT results; your highest combined score from a single test date will be considered. Subject tests are not required, but are recommended for students with an interest in science, public health, and engineering majors.

ACT Scores and Requirements

Beginning with the 2020-21 admissions cycle, all of the UC schools will offer test-optional admissions. Applicants may submit SAT or ACT scores, but they are not required. University of California will institute a test-blind policy for in-state applicants beginning with the 2022-23 admissions cycle. Out-of-state applicants will still have the option of submitting test scores during this period. During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, 41% of UC Irvine's admitted students submitted ACT scores.

ACT Range (Admitted Students)
Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile
English 24 31
Math 25 32
Composite 25 34

This admissions data tells us that most of UC Irvine's admitted students fall within the top 22% nationally on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to University of California, Irvine received a composite ACT score between 25 and 34, while 25% scored above 34 and 25% scored below 25.

Requirements

Beginning with the 2020-21 admissions cycle, all of the UC schools, including UC Irvine, will no longer require ACT scores for admission. For applicants who submit scores, note that UC Irvine does not consider the optional ACT writing section. UC Irvine does not superscore ACT results; your highest combined score from a single test administration will be considered.

GPA

In 2019, the middle 50% of UC Irvine's incoming freshmen class had GPAs between 4.0 and 4.25. 25% had a GPA above 4.25, and 25% had a GPA below 4.0. These results suggest that most successful applicants to UC Irvine have primarily A grades.

Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph

UC Irvine Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph
UC Irvine Applicants' Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph. Data courtesy of Cappex.

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to University of California, Irvine. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

University of California, Irvine, which accepts just over one-quarter of applicants, has a selective admissions process with above average grades and standardized test scores. However, UC Irvine, like all of the University of California schools, has holistic admissions and is test-optional, so the admissions officers are evaluating students on more than numerical data. As part of the application, students are required to write four short personal insight essays. Since UC Irvine is a part of the University of California system, students can easily apply to multiple schools in that system with one application. Students who show special talent or have a compelling story to tell will often get a close look even if their grades and test scores are a bit below the norm. Impressive extracurricular activities and strong essays are all important parts of a successful application to UC Irvine. Note that the University of California, Irvine does not accept letters of recommendation, unless they are specifically requested. Admission interviews are not offered by the university.

Keep in mind that California residents who apply must have a GPA of 3.0 or better with no grade lower than a C in 15 college preparatory "a-g" courses. For non-residents, your GPA must be 3.4 or better. Local students from participating high schools may also qualify if they are in the top 9% of their class.

All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and University of California, Irvine Undergraduate Admissions Office.

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Grove, Allen. "UC Irvine: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/uc-irvine-gpa-sat-act-data-786670. Grove, Allen. (2023, April 5). UC Irvine: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/uc-irvine-gpa-sat-act-data-786670 Grove, Allen. "UC Irvine: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/uc-irvine-gpa-sat-act-data-786670 (accessed March 28, 2024).