Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology
Quick Stats
Earnings, Debt & Completion
What happens to students who enroll at University of California-Irvine, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
Typical debt at graduation equals about 19% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.
Earnings rank: 89th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (CA wage index 1.21). This drives the Outcome Rating.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.
Earnings by Major at University of California-Irvine
Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.
| Major | 1 yr after | 4 yrs after | vs. national | Rank (pay) | Rank (wage-adj.) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $79,812 | $132,357 | +21% | #22 of 189 | #37 | $19,000 |
| Computer Science | $82,161 | $127,404 | +19% | #57 of 349 | #88 | $15,000 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $87,715 | $119,502 | +34% | #22 of 966 | #48 | $13,500 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | $68,786 | $108,038 | +30% | #12 of 166 | #34 | $16,500 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $80,412 | $106,871 | +6% | #46 of 258 | #166 | $19,000 |
| Materials Engineering | $58,177 | $106,547 | +17% | #2 of 34 | #6 | $7,500 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | $67,425 | $100,537 | +2% | #18 of 59 | #46 | $18,400 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $67,633 | $99,111 | +8% | #48 of 318 | #196 | $14,750 |
| Chemical Engineering | $57,540 | $97,656 | -1% | #71 of 158 | #124 | $18,250 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $67,170 | $96,874 | +4% | #45 of 118 | #83 | $16,750 |
| Civil Engineering | $73,835 | $96,354 | +11% | #14 of 233 | #100 | $17,816 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $53,517 | $96,347 | +4% | #140 of 459 | #224 | $20,000 |
| Physics | $43,144 | $96,215 | +25% | #11 of 107 | #25 | $13,590 |
| Economics | $44,087 | $83,937 | +2% | #146 of 368 | #204 | $15,004 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $48,786 | $80,755 | +18% | #133 of 1176 | #275 | $13,000 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $44,277 | $77,807 | +-0% | #47 of 84 | #65 | $15,000 |
| Mathematics | $45,924 | $77,472 | +11% | #98 of 309 | #157 | $16,950 |
| Chemistry | $43,766 | $74,810 | +15% | #39 of 209 | #81 | $13,000 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | $38,804 | $70,820 | +18% | #15 of 138 | #43 | $14,916 |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | — | $69,981 | +19% | #18 of 54 | #23 | $21,800 |
| Urban Studies/Affairs | $34,385 | $63,819 | +2% | #11 of 30 | #16 | $15,122 |
| Political Science and Government | $31,976 | $63,318 | +0% | #252 of 565 | #364 | $16,000 |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | $20,538 | $61,034 | -48% | #29 of 29 | #29 | $15,279 |
| Public Health | $35,463 | $60,430 | +3% | #86 of 215 | #135 | $17,148 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | $35,404 | $60,242 | +8% | #54 of 207 | #107 | $16,800 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $36,304 | $59,908 | +9% | #68 of 265 | #119 | $12,477 |
| Criminology | $34,522 | $57,935 | +4% | #45 of 113 | #79 | $15,383 |
| Journalism | $31,102 | $57,492 | +2% | #76 of 187 | #121 | $17,200 |
| International/Globalization Studies | $33,388 | $57,116 | -5% | #41 of 87 | #64 | $14,999 |
| Sociology | $34,050 | $56,457 | +7% | #140 of 462 | #248 | $15,000 |
| Psychology | $27,115 | $56,380 | +11% | #197 of 1027 | #436 | $14,900 |
| Biology | $25,388 | $56,273 | -2% | #481 of 841 | #686 | $15,526 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $56,003 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $36,692 | $55,360 | +1% | #126 of 225 | #176 | $9,000 |
| Education | $26,106 | $54,356 | +9% | #22 of 71 | #38 | $15,863 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $29,830 | $54,323 | -2% | #50 of 82 | #59 | $13,000 |
| English Language and Literature | $26,021 | $54,299 | +12% | #150 of 576 | #276 | $16,446 |
| History | $23,480 | $53,481 | +6% | #168 of 459 | #289 | $15,179 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $21,397 | $51,423 | +17% | #25 of 144 | #44 | $16,000 |
| Anthropology | $30,509 | $50,850 | +9% | #57 of 188 | #99 | $16,000 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $26,712 | $47,471 | -8% | #76 of 103 | #93 | $18,998 |
| Music | — | $43,120 | +1% | #141 of 268 | #192 | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $42,200 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $20,461 | $40,773 | +3% | #114 of 255 | #181 | $16,201 |
| Dance | $28,112 | $40,466 | +1% | #32 of 58 | #41 | $20,080 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $16,989 | $39,010 | -6% | #281 of 423 | #355 | $15,700 |
| Social Sciences | $34,871 | — | — | — | — | $16,338 |
| Area Studies | $30,897 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $21,818 | — | — | — | — | $18,500 |
| Philosophy | $20,922 | — | — | — | — | $21,251 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.
The University of California-Irvine Town Property Report
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🏆 Where University of California-Irvine Ranks
Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.
Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition & Fees
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $11,834 | $42,611 |
| Total Cost (On-Campus) | $39,051 | $69,828 |
Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
| Family Income | Average Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $6,485 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,044 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,769 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,809 |
| $110,001+ | $29,595 |
Programs & Career Paths
Top Degree Programs
Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.
Related Career Paths
Careers that graduates from University of California-Irvine's top programs commonly pursue.
Student Demographics
👥 Race & Ethnicity
🏠 Living Arrangements
💻 Learning Mode
📊 Age Distribution
Frequently Asked Questions
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- Outcomes (A+): Graduation and retention rates
- Affordability (C+): Net cost and financial aid access
- Resources (B): Class sizes and selectivity
- Experience (A): Campus life and learning format
- Prestige (A): Reputation and recognition
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Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology