UC Berkeley vs UC Irvine: A Data-Driven Comparison
Admission Difficulty: Berkeley is significantly more selective with an 11.33% acceptance rate compared to UCI's 21.15%, making Berkeley nearly twice as competitive for admission.
Cost and Value: Both schools offer similar in-state tuition (Berkeley: $14,850 vs UCI: $14,237), but UCI provides better net value with an average net price of $12,840 compared to Berkeley's $14,979. However, Berkeley graduates earn more long-term, with median 10-year earnings of $92,446 versus $80,735 at UCI. Berkeley graduates also carry less debt ($13,000 vs $15,000).
Academic Strengths: Berkeley ranks among the top public universities globally, particularly strong in engineering, computer science, business, and research. UCI excels in biological sciences, computer science, engineering, and medicine, with growing strength in technology and business programs.
Campus Experience: Berkeley's urban campus in the Bay Area offers 33,073 students access to San Francisco's tech and cultural scene but comes with higher living costs. UCI's suburban Orange County location serves 29,494 students with a newer campus and proximity to beaches and Los Angeles. Both maintain 18:1 student-faculty ratios and Division I athletics.
Outcomes: Berkeley achieves a superior 92.90% six-year graduation rate compared to UCI's 86.00%, plus higher retention (96.75% vs 93.79%).
Students seeking maximum academic prestige and earning potential despite intense competition should choose Berkeley, while those wanting strong academics with better admission odds and lower costs should consider UCI.
Admission Difficulty: Berkeley is significantly more selective with an 11.33% acceptance rate compared to UCI's 21.15%, making Berkeley nearly twice as competitive for admission.
Cost and Value: Both schools offer similar in-state tuition (Berkeley: $14,850 vs UCI: $14,237), but UCI provides better net value with an average net price of $12,840 compared to Berkeley's $14,979. However, Berkeley graduates earn more long-term, with median 10-year earnings of $92,446 versus $80,735 at UCI. Berkeley graduates also carry less debt ($13,000 vs $15,000).
Academic Strengths: Berkeley ranks among the top public universities globally, particularly strong in engineering, computer science, business, and research. UCI excels in biological sciences, computer science, engineering, and medicine, with growing strength in technology and business programs.
Campus Experience: Berkeley's urban campus in the Bay Area offers 33,073 students access to San Francisco's tech and cultural scene but comes with higher living costs. UCI's suburban Orange County location serves 29,494 students with a newer campus and proximity to beaches and Los Angeles. Both maintain 18:1 student-faculty ratios and Division I athletics.
Outcomes: Berkeley achieves a superior 92.90% six-year graduation rate compared to UCI's 86.00%, plus higher retention (96.75% vs 93.79%).
Students seeking maximum academic prestige and earning potential despite intense competition should choose Berkeley, while those wanting strong academics with better admission odds and lower costs should consider UCI.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| University of California-Berkeley | University of California-Irvine | |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance Rate | 11.3% | 21.2% |
| Enrollment | 33,073 | 29,494 |
| In-State Tuition | $14,850 | $14,237 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $45,627 | $45,014 |
| Net Price | $14,979 | $12,840 |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 92.9% | 86.0% |
| Retention Rate | 96.8% | 93.8% |
| Median Earnings (10yr) | $92,446 | $80,735 |
| Median Debt | $13,000 | $15,000 |
Top Programs by Earnings
Top 5 bachelor's programs at each school, ranked by median graduate earnings.
| University of California-Berkeley | University of California-Irvine | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Program | Earnings | Program | Earnings |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | $128,868 | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | $81,929 |
| Computer Science. | $125,388 | Computer Science. | $73,128 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | $81,456 | Computer Engineering. | $69,338 |
| Chemical Engineering. | $80,718 | Computer and Information Sciences, General. | $66,461 |
| Operations Research. | $76,460 | Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | $65,387 |