How to Get Into UC Irvine: UCI Acceptance Rate & Strategies

UC Irvine admissions: introduction

Are you considering applying to UC Irvine? You're in good company! In the last application cycle, almost 120,000 students applied.

Keep reading to learn about acceptance rates, the grades that will make you competitive, tips for applying, and more.

It's a lot to keep track of. If you'd like some help navigating the admissions process, I'd be delighted to work with your family! You can book a one-on-one consultation here and sign up for online classes here.

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Bottom line up front

In case you're here just to see the numbers, here they are:

Overall acceptance rate: 21%
Transfer acceptance rate: 41%

How competitive are UC Irvine admissions?

Fairly tough. The overall acceptance rate is about 21%. To learn more about choosing safety, target, and reach schools, take Clarke College Insight's online course on "making the list." And read on for more specific admission statistics for men, women, and transfer applicants.

UC Irvine acceptance rate

For first-year students entering in the fall of 2022, the overall acceptance rate was 21%. The overall acceptance rate for women was 24%, and the overall acceptance rate for men was 18%.

UC Irvine early decision acceptance rate

Trick question! UC Irvine does not have an early decision or an early action program.

UC Irvine acceptance rate for transfers

For transfer students entering in the fall of 2022, the overall transfer acceptance rate was 41%. The transfer acceptance rate for women was 45%. The transfer acceptance rate for men was 37%. These numbers are so high because of students transferring from community colleges.

How hard is it to get off the waitlist at UC Irvine?

Fairly tough. Last year, 15% of waitlisted students got in eventually.

What is a good GPA for UC Irvine?

The minimum high school GPA for the whole UC system is 3.0 for in-state students and 3.4 for out-of-state students -- but those GPAs won't get you into UC Irvine. UC Irvine didn't provide an average high school GPA for the last admitted class, but it does provide class rank information:

Percent in top 10% of high school class: 98%
Percent in top 25% of high school class: 100%
Percent in top 50% of high school class: 100%
Percent in bottom 50% of high school class: 0%

If you’re in the top tenth of your class, UCI is probably a good option. If not, let’s talk about other options.

What is a good SAT/ACT score for UC Irvine?

The whole UC system, including UCI, is test-blind. That means the admission office won't look at your ACT scores or SAT scores, even if you send them in.

Tips for applying to UC Irvine

To present a strong application to UC Irvine, you need to meet its academic threshold and stand out in a good way among other applicants. Because the UC system is test-blind, your test scores can't help you here.

Demonstrate strong academic performance before fall semester of senior year. Specifically, aim to take as many AP, IB, or community college classes as you can, within reason. Get good grades in those tough classes. Your high school transcript--the classes you take and your high school GPA--are crucial for surviving the first round of cuts, especially at test-blind schools like the UCs. To find out what "within reason" means and strategies to achieve that attractive transcript with minimal stress, take my online class on academics.
Choose extracurriculars that are likely to fill a talent gap in the student body and focus on just a few. Aim to be specialized rather than well-rounded. For the full checklist of traits that will let you choose extracurriculars that you AND admissions officers will like, take my online class on extracurriculars.
Visit campus if you can, ideally some time when classes are in session. Arrange your visit through the admission office, or at least mention it to them by email, and try to meet with a student group and a professor of interest. Take notes and use them to write a compelling essay about why you like UC Irvine in particular. Those college-specific details are a great way for prospective students to show that they're likely to enroll if admitted.
Give your recommendation letter writers plenty of lead time, so no subconscious resentment about a last-minute hassle bleeds into their prose. The end of junior year is best. Equip them with brag sheets that do most of the work for them and show off your best traits.

For personalized guidance for your child's goals and strengths, you can book a one-on-one consultation here. I look forward to working with your family!

University of California, Irvine | UCI acceptance rate

University of California, Irvine admissions

More about UC Irvine

UC Irvine is a big school. It has about 31,017 undergraduates.

UC Irvine is one of the more prestigious public schools in the country. In the last US News rankings, it ranked 34th, above Boston College and UT Austin, among others.

UC Irvine has a decent number of international students, who make up about 13% of the student body. If you're interested in going to a college with international students in the student body, UCI could be an attractive option.

Some of the most popular academic programs of study at UC Irvine are engineering, computer science, biology, and business.