In 1997, UC Irvine received 17,000 applications and admitted two-thirds of that group. By 2007, applications had more than doubled and the acceptance rate had fallen to 56%. Fast-forward to 2023 — over 120,000 individuals applied, and the UC Irvine acceptance rate was hovering right around 25%. Need further proof of the school’s increased popularity? Ten years ago, the University of California-Irvine saw 95% of its undergraduates coming from the Golden State; today, roughly one-quarter come from other states/countries. That’s what being ranked one of the top 10 public universities in the United States can do for you.
Today, UC Irvine is a school that is difficult to gain acceptance into even for students with straight A’s in high school. Therefore, all future applicants need to be aware of the latest admissions data as well as how they leapfrog other qualified students. To accomplish this goal we will touch on the following topics:
- UC Irvine’s Class of 2027 acceptance rate
- UC Irvine in-state vs. out-of-state acceptance rate
- SAT/ACT policy at UCI and GPA of admitted applicants
- Admissions trends
- The demographics of current UC Irvine students
- UC Irvine’s yield rate
- How UC Irvine’s admissions officers evaluate candidates
- Tips for applying to UCI
- How to approach the UC Personal Insight essays
- How to assess whether applying to UC Irvine is even worth the $70 application fee (for you)
Let’s begin with an examination of the most recent University of California, Irvine admissions data.
UC Irvine Acceptance Rate – Class of 2027
UC Irvine accepted 31,181 of the 121,095 first-year applicants seeking admission into the Class of 2027. This means that the UC Irvine acceptance rate was 25.7%, several points higher than the previous year.
Historical UC Irvine acceptance rates are as follows:
| Applicants | Admits | Acceptance Rate | |
| Class of 2026 | 119,194 | 25,208 | 21% |
| Class of 2025 | 107,943 | 31,109 | 29% |
| Class of 2024 | 97,938 | 29,301 | 30% |
UC Irvine In-State vs. Out-of-State Acceptance Rate
If you are a California resident, your road to UC Irvine will be much more difficult than if you live out of state or are an international student:
In-State
- Applicants: 86,418
- Admits: 17,623
- Acceptance Rate: 20%
Out-of-State/International
- Applicants: 34,677
- Admits: 13,561
- Acceptance Rate: 39%
What GPA do you need to get into UC Irvine?
The University of California System has adopted a test-blind policy (more on that below). Class rank is not considered, either. That moves GPA to center stage, and those admitted into the Class of 2027 possessed a median weighted GPA of 4.2; the median unweighted GPA was a 3.95.
Admissions Trends & Notes
- The acceptance rate dropped considerably between the Class of 2025 and 2026 (8 percentage points) but was on the rise again for the Class of 2027.
- UC Irvine’s pool of admitted students typically varies between 25,000-30,000.
- All University of California schools continue to use a test-blind policy.
- 46% of students who earned degrees in 2023 were first-generation.
- 37% of students entering Irvine in one recent school year were Pell Grant recipients.
- Since 2015, applications to UCI have increased by 50%.
- UCI was number 2 in the entire University of California system in applications from underrepresented minorities and low-income students.
Who Gets Into UC Irvine?
Let’s look at the demographics of UC Irvine students:
Most UC Irvine students hailed from the Golden State and paid in-state tuition. The total geographic breakdown of the Class of 2027 is as follows:
- California residents: 76%
- Other U.S. States (non-residents): 10%
- Other countries (non-resident, international): 14%
Looking at ethnic identity, the breakdown of the Class of 2027 is as follows:
- Asian American: 43%
- Hispanic: 25%
- Black or African American: 4%
- White: 11%
- International: 14%
UC Irvine Acceptance Rate (Continued)
International students typically came in the greatest numbers from the following countries:
- China
- South Korea
- India
- Taiwan
- Indonesia
The breakdown by gender of the Class of 2027 shows far more women than men:
- Male: 42%
- Female: 56%
UC Irvine’s Yield Rate
UC Irvine’s yield rate—the percentage of accepted students who elect to enroll, divided by the total number of students who are admitted—is 22%. To compare this school to other elite public institutions, UT-Austin, UNC-Chapel Hill, and UGA all have roughly twice the yield rate of UCI.
How UC Irvine Rates Applicants
There are seven factors that UC Irvine ranks as being “very important” to their admissions process: rigor of secondary school record, GPA, application essays, talent/ability, extracurricular activities, volunteer experience, and work experience. The only “important” factor is character/personal qualities.
UC Irvine, along with all other University of California campuses, droppedall standardized testing requirementsstarting with the Class of 2025. This makes the traditionally holistic review process at UC Irvine even more pronounced.
In the words of the UCI admissions office:
- “Students admitted to UCI excel in their college preparatory courses and will graduate in the upper tenth of their high school senior class. These scholarly achievements are hallmark traits of most Anteaters.”
- Having good grades matters. But it’s not the only thing we take into consideration when reviewing your application.
- “Academic accomplishments in light of your experiences and special circ*mstances, including but not limited to: disabilities, low family income, first generation to attend college, need to work, disadvantaged social or educational environment, difficult personal and family situations or circ*mstances, refugee status or veteran status.”
Tips for Applying to UC Irvine
If you plan on joining the 120,000+ Anteater hopefuls for the next admissions cycle, you should know the following:
- While a holistic process, UC Irvine does not offer interviews.
- As mentioned previously, UC Irvine is test-blind, meaning that even if you submit SAT or ACT scores, they will not be considered.
- UCI does not accept or review letters of recommendation.
- UC Irvine does not consider “demonstrated interest” in the admissions process.
- Make sure to dedicate sufficient time and effort to the supplemental essays required by UC Irvine. In the 2024-25 cycle, there are eight total prompts, of which applicants must choose four. Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words.
UC Essays
1) Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
2) Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
3) What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
4) Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
UC Irvine Acceptance Rate (Continued)
5) Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
6) Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
7) What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
8) Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you stand out as a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?
The best approach here is to select the four prompts that are the best fit for you and elicit the most compelling and personal responses. For detailed advice, visit our blog entitledHow to Master the UC Personal Insight Prompts.
Should I apply to UC Irvine?
Getting into UC Irvine has never been more a challenging endeavor, as it now requires close to perfect grades (note the median unweighted GPA of 3.95). Without test scores entering the equation, your essays will also be extremely important to your admissions prospects. Moreover, if you’re an in-state student, your credentials will need to be even more impressive. Out-of-state or international student? Your geographic location will likely provide you with an admissions boost.
UC Irvine Acceptance Rate – Final Thoughts
With very few students able to consider UC Irvine as a “safety” these days, all students need to make sure that they formulate an appropriate college list, containing a complement of “reach,” “target,” and “safety” schools. You’ll definitely want to do this in collaboration with an admissions professional who is aware of the latest trends and strategies associated with your prospective colleges.
Ready to begin crafting your UC applications? Consider checking out the following:
- Should You Start College Applications in the Summer?
- What is Demonstrated Interest?
- Do Colleges Look at Social Media?
- College Fair Advice for High School Students
- How to Write the UC Activities List
- The Best UC Schools Ranked
- 25 Inspiring College Essay Topic Ideas
