University of California, Irvine (UCI)

Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for it produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide. UC Irvine is a center for quality education that fosters passionate, enthusiastic and ongoing expansion of knowledge and approaches to scholarship. UC Irvine is improving lives through the investigation, discovery and dissemination of knowledge in numerous forms to all levels of society. UC Irvine students, faculty and staff reach beyond the classrooms and laboratories to address social issues and improve the human condition. UC Irvine combines the strengths of a major research university with the bounty of an incomparable Southern California location. In 1965, the University of California, Irvine was founded with a mission to catalyze the community and enhance lives through rigorous academics, cutting-edge research, and dedicated public service. Today, we draw on the unyielding spirit of our pioneering faculty, staff and students who arrived on campus with a dream to inspire change and generate new ideas. We believe that true progress is made when different perspectives come together to advance our understanding of the world around us. And we enlighten our communities and point the way to a better future. At UC Irvine, we shine brighter. UCI is consistently recognized as a trailblazer in a broad range of fields, garnering national and international honors in every school. The campus’s diverse academic offerings paired with world-class leadership create an environment worthy of any passionate, dedicated scholar. Explore some of UCI’s points of pride below. UC Irvine is one of 71 universities in the U.S. and Canada elected to membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities. UC Irvine is ranked among nation’s top 10 public universities for the ninth year in a row by U.S. News & World Report. U.S. News also puts campus among the Top 10 for social mobility. UC Irvine ranks among the top universities in California Mobility Index, recognized for inclusivity and student outcomes. UC Irvine is ranked among the top 10 in nation for public universities by Forbes. UC Irvine is ranked in the top 10 for best value by Princeton Review. UC Irvine has earned a 5-star rating from Money's 2023-24 Best Colleges in America list. For the 23rd consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report has recognized UCI Medical Center as one of America’s Best Hospitals. Three UC Irvine faculty members, one postdoctoral scholar and one alumnus have received a Nobel Prize. Our Nobel laureates include recipients of the prize in chemistry (David MacMillan Ph.D. ’96, Mario Molina, F. Sherwood Rowland, Irwin A. Rose) and physics (Frederick Reines).. UCI is No. 2 in Sierra magazine’s 2021 ‘Cool Schools’ ranking of sustainability leaders. Campus has been in top 10 for unmatched 12 straight years, with 4 first-place finishes. The magazine is the official publication of the Sierra Club, one of the nation's largest and most influential environmental organizations. UCI is a two-time recipient of STARS Platinum rating for its sustainability efforts. It is one of four universities to receive the rare recognition. Money magazine named UCI the No. 1 university for beach lovers. UCI is ranked #3 among top doctoral institutions by Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education UCI ranks No. 3 for Top Colleges in the West for Diversity by The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education. UCI is recognized among the 30 Best Colleges for Students with Learning Disabilities. Ranked 4th on the list, the campus provides extensive offerings via the Disability Services Center. The U.S. Department of Education named UCI a Hispanic-serving institution, meaning that fully one-quarter of undergraduates identify as Latino and that half of all students receive financial aid. UCI is founding member of Hispanic Serving Research Universities alliance, which aims to double Latino doctoral students and increase professoriate by 20 percent. UCI also is designated as an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution. ...view more