At $12,840/yr net price, University of California-Irvine graduates earn $80,735/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $46,735/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $12,840 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $51,360 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $80,735/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$46,735/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 1.1 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 86.0% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $15,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $6,485/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,044/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,769/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,809/yr |
| $110,001+ | $29,595/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | Master | $190,536 | |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master | $115,339 | $85,000 |
| Law. | Doctoral | $97,959 | $133,605 |
| Physics. | Doctoral | $92,632 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $90,983 | $72,394 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $81,929 | $13,500 |
| Sociology. | Doctoral | $81,111 | |
| Criminology. | Doctoral | $79,450 | |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Master | $79,284 | |
| Economics. | Doctoral | $78,971 |
The Risk Factor
86.0% of students at University of California-Irvine graduate within 6 years. Most students who start here finish their degree.
Analysis
UC Irvine gives you a strong financial return. You pay a median net price under $13,000 a year, leave with $15,000 in debt, and hit median earnings around $81,000 a decade out. An 86% graduation rate and a 94% retention rate mean you are likely to actually finish, which is where most college financial risk hides.
Nursing is the clear winner here. You earn roughly $82,000 while carrying the lowest debt of any top program, around $13,500. That combination of high pay and low borrowing is hard to beat. Computer Science pays about $73,000 on $15,000 of debt, another clean payoff given Southern California's tech and healthcare job markets right up the road.
Watch the engineering debt loads. Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering pay in the high $60,000s but come with roughly $19,000 in debt, and Computer and Information Sciences carries $20,000 while paying less than the CS degree. You take on more borrowing for lower or similar returns, so the specific program you pick inside the tech cluster matters.
The net price tiers reward lower-income families most. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay about $6,500 a year. the $30,000 to $48,000 band pays around $8,000. Those numbers make UCI a genuinely affordable path if you qualify. Above $110,000, you pay close to $29,600 a year, more than four times the lowest tier, so the value proposition thins out for higher-income families paying near full sticker.
UCI fits you well if you are aiming at nursing, computing, or engineering and can access the lower price tiers. If your family lands in the top income bracket and you plan to study outside these high-earning fields, run the near-$30,000 annual cost against your expected major before committing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is University of California-Irvine worth the cost?
UC Irvine offers strong ROI with graduates earning $80,735 annually and graduating with only $15,000 in median debt. The low net price of $12,840 per year makes it affordable compared to most universities.
What are the highest paying majors at University of California-Irvine?
Health and Medical Administrative Services leads at $190,536 annually, followed by Nursing at $115,339 and Law at $97,959. These programs significantly outpace the overall graduate average of $80,735.
How much student debt do University of California-Irvine graduates have?
UC Irvine graduates have a median debt of $15,000, which is manageable given the average starting salary of $80,735. This debt-to-income ratio makes repayment realistic for most graduates.
Does University of California-Irvine have good financial aid?
The net price of $12,840 per year suggests decent financial aid, especially for a selective university with a 21% acceptance rate. The 86% graduation rate indicates students can afford to complete their degrees.