One of the nine universities that make up the University of California system, UC Irvine is a large public research university located in southern California.
The school was founded in 1965, making it the youngest of the UC schools.
During the 2022 admission cycle, UC Irvine received a total of 119,210 applications for first-year admission.
The school accepted 25,213 students from this applicant pool, making the acceptance rate for that year 21%.
With a student-to-faculty ratio of around 18:1, UC Irvine offers students relatively small class sizes. In fact, just over 55% of classes at the school have 20 or fewer students.
Located only 5 miles from the Pacific Ocean, Irvine’s campus is suburban and stretches across just under 1,500 acres.
Considering the fact that the school has a total enrollment of over 37,000 students, UC Irvine can be considered a large school in terms of both campus size and student body size.
Here, we have compiled all of the information you may want to know if you are interested in learning more about what the prestigious University of California – Irvine has to offer.
Read on to find out what academic and athletic programs the university is most well-known for, what clubs they have, and so much more.
What Majors and Academics Are UC Irvine Known For?
At the undergraduate level, UC Irvine offers more than 85 different major programs, with an additional 70+ minor programs.
Adding these to all of the graduate/postgraduate degrees they have, UCI offers a grand total of 222 different degree programs.
UC Irvine is perhaps most well-known for its strength in research — especially in the medical sciences — as well as its innovation.
The UCI Medical Center, the research hospital run by the college, has been named among the best hospitals in the country by US News and World Report for 22 years in a row.
Over its brief history, no less than five individuals associated with UC Irvine have become Nobel Prize Laureates. Four of these prizes were in chemistry, while the fifth was in physics.
Beyond medical science and research, UC Irvine is also widely known for its substantial efforts toward sustainability.
In fact, in 2022, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education named UCI the #1 school in the US in terms of how sustainable their campus is.
Some of UCI’s most popular major programs include psychology, computer and information sciences, and business management.
Is UC Irvine a Good School?
To say that the University of California – Irvine is a good school is perhaps an understatement — it is one of the best public institutions for higher education in the United States.
It is tied for being the #34 best school in the nation, according to the most recent edition of US News and World Report’s annual college rankings.
Looking only at public schools, on the other hand, UCI is tied for eighth among national colleges.
In addition, UCI boasts a first-year retention rate of 94%.
In other words, the vast majority of students who go to the school for a year ultimately return for an additional year of study, suggesting that they are quite content with what UCI has to offer.
One of UCI’s biggest assets is its professors, among whom are multiple Nobel laureates. Many of the school’s faculty members are world leaders in the sciences, academia, and business.
UC Irvine Traditions
Despite being the most recently-established school in the University of California system, UC Irvine has developed a number of cherished traditions in its 57-year-long history.
During the fall of each year, the school hosts the Rainbow Festival. A tradition that started in 1984, the festival provides an annual opportunity for the UC Irvine campus community to celebrate diversity.
Sponsored by the university’s Cross-Cultural Center, festivities include a cultural fair, workshops, and a speaker series. Past speakers have included such illustrious figures as Maya Angelou and Alice Walker.
Another UCI tradition occurring in autumn is Midnight Magic. In October each year, the school celebrates the start of the men’s and women’s basketball season with various activities, allowing players and coaches to introduce themselves to each other and other students.
Inspired by a similar celebration started by the University of Maryland, UCI’s Midnight Madness has been a cherished part of campus life since 1988.
Other events include a slam dunk contest, scrimmages, a three-point shootout, and various prize giveaways.
The Student Parent Orientation Program is a summertime UCI tradition, a mandatory part of first-year orientation.
Intended to help introduce students and families to life at UCI, SPOP is a two-day, one-night program that involves classes, seminars, and even a student-staff talent show.
Prominent Clubs & Extracurricular Activities at UC Irvine
Students at the University of California – Irvine can choose from among more than 600 different student organizations, from musical performance groups, to community service opportunities, interest-based clubs, student government, and so much more.
Extracurricular organizations at UC Irvine include almost 50 fraternities and sororities. As of the fall of 2021, Greek life membership at the school is just under 1,500 students — or 5.42% of the student body population.
UCI’s ski and snowboard club is the school’s largest student organization, with hundreds of members each year. Founded in 1971, it is also one of Irvine’s oldest clubs.
The ski and snowboard clubs regularly make trips to some of the most beautiful places to ski and snowboard, offering students — of any and all experience levels — a chance to try out winter sports, enjoy the beauty of nature, and connect with peers.
Other popular clubs at UC Irvine include Best Buddies, a social club that allows students to connect with people in the community who have intellectual disabilities. One of the most highly-anticipated activities that Best Buddies has is an annual trip to Disneyland.
There is also Co-SIGN, which stands for College Student Interest Group in Neurology. The club hosts lectures, workshops, and other events aiming to help students explore neurology.
What Sports Are UC Irvine Known For?
The University of California – Irvine is home to 18 NCAA Division I athletic teams, which compete as a part of the Big West Athletic Conference.
The school’s sports teams are known as the Anteaters, donning blue and gold as their spirit colors.
Since the school was founded, Irvine’s Anteaters have brought home a total of 28 national championship victories across nine different team sports.
In individual sports, there have been 64 Irvine students to win national championship titles.
One of Irvine’s best athletic programs is the men’s baseball team. Before joining NCAA’s Division I, the men’s baseball team won two championship games. Since joining the Big West Conference, the baseball Anteaters have been ranked as high as first in the country.
Both the men’s and women’s soccer teams are also known to be fiercely competitive as well, with the men’s team being ranked as high as #3 in the country and claiming six Division I tournament appearances.
Since the Big West Conference Tournament began in 2008, the men’s Anteaters have won four tournament championship games. The women’s soccer team has made two NCAA Division I tournament appearances.
Why UC Irvine?
There are many reasons that thousands of students have made the decision to attend the University of California – Irvine.
One of these reasons is location. UCI is situated on the West Coast, which offers close proximity to the Pacific Ocean, its scenic beaches, and the desert and mountains.
The campus setting is suburban, which appeals to many students who want to enjoy the close-knit sense of community offered by more rural schools, but with all the benefits of city living, such as nightlife, dining, and entertainment options.
According to Times Higher Education’s 2022 college rankings, UC Irvine is ranked #3 in the nation in terms of diversity.
This shows that the school is well-equipped to serve and support students of all backgrounds, a crucial characteristic for many students.
In 2022, Forbes ranked UC Irvine #9 among public universities in the US in terms of best value.
Thus, another reason to consider attending UC Irvine is that the school has a great record for ensuring that students see a high return on investment for their tuition money.
UC Irvine is simply an excellent school to attend.
