The average acceptance rate at UCI over the past 10 years is 30.53%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 28.57%. Compared to the previous year, it became slightly easier to gain admission to UCI in 2025.
The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 21.19%, and the 2025 yield is 19.22%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 7.31% from 2015 to 2025.
The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 28.57%, representing an increasingly selective admissions process. This indicates that UCI has become more competitive over the past decade, as the institution receives a growing number of applications while maintaining or reducing the number of admitted students.
The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 19.22%. This stable yield rate reflects consistent conversion of admissions offers into actual enrollments at UCI. The stability indicates predictable enrollment outcomes and sustainable admission practices.
For the 2025 admission cycle, UCI received approximately 122,699 applications, admitted 35,054 students, and enrolled 6,736 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that UCI is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.
UCI 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at UCI over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 30.53%, while the most recent rate stands at 28.57%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.
For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 28.57%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 28.76% and for women is 32.01%.
The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at UCI have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 38.68% | 36.95% | 40.16% |
| 2016-17 | 40.65% 1.97% |
38.56% 1.60% |
42.43% 2.27% |
| 2017-18 | 36.51% -4.14% |
35.27% -3.29% |
37.56% -4.87% |
| 2018-19 | 28.76% -7.75% |
29.72% -5.55% |
27.95% -9.60% |
| 2019-20 | 26.54% -2.22% |
24.89% -4.83% |
27.95% -0.01% |
| 2020-21 | 29.92% 3.38% |
29.58% 4.69% |
30.20% 2.25% |
| 2021-22 | 29.00% -0.92% |
26.00% -3.58% |
31.00% 0.80% |
| 2022-23 | 21.15% -7.85% |
18.12% -7.88% |
23.80% -7.20% |
| 2023-24 | 25.57% 4.41% |
22.96% 4.85% |
27.86% 4.06% |
| 2024-25 | 28.57% 3.00% |
25.59% 2.63% |
31.22% 3.35% |
| Average | 30.53% | 28.76% | 32.01% |
UCI has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 20.73% in 2015 to 19.22% in 2025, representing a 7.31% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 21.19%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.
The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at UCI from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 7.31% over this period.
| Year | Total | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 20.73% | 20.69% | 20.77% |
| 2016-17 | 20.71% -0.02% |
22.24% 1.55% |
19.53% -1.24% |
| 2017-18 | 21.07% 0.36% |
22.03% -0.21% |
20.31% 0.78% |
| 2018-19 | 21.19% 0.12% |
22.95% 0.92% |
19.63% -0.68% |
| 2019-20 | 23.93% 2.74% |
23.67% 0.72% |
24.13% 4.50% |
| 2020-21 | 19.68% -4.26% |
19.89% -3.78% |
19.50% -4.63% |
| 2021-22 | 21.00% 1.32% |
19.00% -0.89% |
22.00% 2.50% |
| 2022-23 | 22.47% 1.47% |
21.62% 2.62% |
23.03% 1.03% |
| 2023-24 | 21.95% -0.52% |
22.27% 0.65% |
21.72% -1.31% |
| 2024-25 | 19.22% -2.73% |
19.27% -3.00% |
19.18% -2.54% |
| Average | 21.19% | 21.36% | 20.98% |
Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 99,419, the average number of admitted is 29,499, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 6,225.
The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at University of California-Irvine from 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | 71,775 | 27,764 | 5,756 |
| 2016-17 | 77,816 8.42% |
31,630 13.92% |
6,551 13.81% |
| 2017-18 | 85,092 9.35% |
31,063 -1.79% |
6,545 -0.09% |
| 2018-19 | 95,059 11.71% |
27,337 -11.99% |
5,793 -11.49% |
| 2019-20 | 95,565 0.53% |
25,360 -7.23% |
6,069 4.76% |
| 2020-21 | 97,938 2.48% |
29,301 15.54% |
5,765 -5.01% |
| 2021-22 | 107,950 10.22% |
31,306 6.84% |
6,574 14.03% |
| 2022-23 | 119,191 10.41% |
25,212 -19.47% |
5,664 -13.84% |
| 2023-24 | 121,101 1.60% |
30,962 22.81% |
6,796 19.99% |
| 2024-25 | 122,699 1.32% |
35,054 13.22% |
6,736 -0.88% |
| Average | 99,419 | 29,499 | 6,225 |
The following table compares University of California-Irvine' acceptance rate to similar schools.
| 2024 | 2025 | Change % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of California-Irvine | 25.57% | 28.57% | 11.73% |
| California State University-Northridge | 93.45% | 93.15% | 0.32% |
| California State University-Long Beach | 46.27% | 47.12% | -1.80% |
| California State University-Fullerton | 90.52% | 86.74% | 4.36% |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 31.32% | 29.75% | 5.28% |
| University of California-Riverside | 76.39% | 63.30% | 20.68% |
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