Address: 501 Aldrich Hall, 92697 Irvine, California, United States
Computer Science, Engineering, Health Sciences
The land under UC Irvine changed hands for one dollar: in September 1960 the Irvine Company transferred 1,000 acres of the Irvine Ranch to the University of California, and the university paid a dollar because a company charter barred donating real property to a public body. President Lyndon B. Johnson dedicated the site in 1964, and UC Irvine was founded in 1965. By the fall of 1975 more than 9,000 students were enrolled.
Fall 2024 enrolment was 37,297 students, 30,204 of them undergraduates and 7,093 postgraduates, according to federal IPEDS data. The university reports 15 schools and more than 220 degree programmes, and in fall 2024 it counted 34,076 employees, including medical centre staff. In 1976 it purchased the Orange County Medical Center and the Community Clinic of Orange County to form UCI Medical Center, located in Orange about 12 miles from the main campus.
UCI became the youngest university to join the Association of American Universities in 1996 and is classed R1; the National Science Foundation ranked it 56th among US universities for R&D expenditure in fiscal year 2023, at $609.6 million. Nobel laureates linked to it include F. Sherwood Rowland and Mario Molina, a former postdoctoral researcher (Chemistry, 1995), Frederick Reines (Physics, 1995), Irwin Rose (Chemistry, 2004) and the alumnus David MacMillan (Chemistry, 2021). The teams are the Anteaters.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Bioengineering, Chemistry, Data Analytics, Engineering, Life Sciences, Software Engineering
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master, MBA
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Part of University of California system. Strong programs in information and computer sciences, engineering, and biological sciences. Growing medical center. Member of AAU.
Research:
A leading research university with strengths in computer science (AI, HCI), engineering, neuroscience, cancer research, and atmospheric chemistry. High research activity.
Famous Alumnis:
Jon Lovitz, Greg Louganis, Roy Fielding, F. Sherwood Rowland (faculty), Frederick Reines (faculty)
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
8000
Current students***:
38000
Foreign students***:
20%
Cumulative former students***:
150000
Pros
Strong STEM programs, particularly in computer science; safe and planned city of Irvine; diverse student body; rising national rankings.
Cons
Campus can feel suburban and less vibrant than some other UC campuses, Irvine is an expensive area, competitive admissions.
Best For
Students interested in computer science, engineering, or health sciences, often valuing a modern research university in a safe suburban environment with strong STEM programs.
University of California, San Diego is a sister campus of the UC system in La Jolla, with biology and biomedical sciences, engineering and oceanography among its main fields.
University of California, Santa Cruz is a public UC campus working in astronomy and astrophysics, marine biology, and computer science and engineering.
For another UC option, University of California, Riverside offers agriculture and entomology, engineering and ethnic studies.
University of Texas at Dallas is a public university in Richardson whose computer science, engineering and business (Jindal School) resemble Irvine's technology profile.
Stony Brook University in New York is a public university with health sciences, STEM disciplines and marine sciences as main fields.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Nanyang Technological University in Singapore is public and lists engineering, business, computing and data science, and science as main fields.
Simon Fraser University in Canada is a public university whose computing science, criminology and environmental science echo Irvine's range.
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, a public university in Hong Kong, concentrates on science, engineering and business.
Aalto University in Finland is public, with engineering, information and computer science, and materials science.
University of Technology Sydney in Australia offers business, engineering and IT, design, health, law and science as a public university.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Why does UC Irvine stand on land bought for a dollar?
In September 1960 the Irvine Company transferred 1,000 acres to the University of California. Company policy did not allow donating real property to a public entity, so the university paid one dollar.
When did UCI begin, and who dedicated the site?
UC Irvine was founded in 1965, and President Lyndon B. Johnson dedicated the land in 1964. By the fall of 1975 more than 9,000 students were enrolled.
What is the current size of the student body?
In fall 2024 UCI enrolled 37,297 students, including 30,204 undergraduates and 7,093 postgraduates, according to federal IPEDS data. The university counted 34,076 employees that fall, including medical centre staff.
Which schools and programmes does UCI offer?
It reports 15 schools and more than 220 degree programmes. Costs and deadlines depend on the programme and residency, and they are published on the admissions pages of uci.edu.
How did UCI come to have a medical centre?
In 1976 the university purchased the Orange County Medical Center and the Community Clinic of Orange County to form UCI Medical Center. It is located in the city of Orange, about 12 miles from the main campus.
Which Nobel laureates are linked to UC Irvine?
Frank Sherwood Rowland and Mario Molina won the 1995 Chemistry prize for work on ozone depletion, and Frederick Reines won the 1995 Physics prize. Irwin Rose (2004) and the alumnus David MacMillan (2021) also won Chemistry prizes.
How is UCI placed in research?
It joined the Association of American Universities in 1996, becoming its youngest member at the time, and is classed R1. The National Science Foundation ranked it 56th for R&D expenditure in fiscal year 2023, at $609.6 million.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Biomedical Sensors, Engineering, Innovation, User experience (UX)
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
Innovation.world is not affiliated with this school/university. We recommend to contact them directly on their website for any special request.
To complete or correct any information here or share your opinion, please comment below or > send us a direct message <.
