December 14, 2017

Sweet 116,000! UCI again breaks undergraduate applications record

Campus also receives most state-resident minority freshman bids in UC system

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Irvine, Calif., Dec. 14, 2017 — A diverse group of 116,192 students, both incoming freshmen and transfers, have applied to the University of California, Irvine for fall 2018 – a campus record.

It’s an increase of 12,000 applicants over last year’s high of 104,000 and a 41 percent increase over the last five years – the largest surge in the UC system, which has seen a significant rise in applicants this decade.

“The verdict is in: High school and transfer students understand that UCI’s distinctive combination of quality, accessibility and affordability makes it a preferred destination among America’s leading universities,” said Chancellor Howard Gillman. “Earlier this year, The New York Times selected UCI as the college ‘doing the most for the American dream,’ and these 116,000+ applicants exemplify our continued commitment to inclusive excellence.”

UCI remains a popular choice for high school seniors. Among UC campuses, UCI ranks third – behind only UCLA and UC San Diego ­– for total first-year applications (94,866). Of those, 71,130 come from in-state students, which places UCI second in that category.

UCI received 94,866 freshman applications for fall 2018 – the third-most among UC campuses – with 71,130 of them coming from California residents. It also got 21,326 bids for admission from transfer students.
Elena Zhukova / UCI

The freshman cohort also includes the UC’s largest number of underrepresented minority California residents (29,978). The campus attracted the most Chicano/Latino applicants (25,930) and the second-highest count of African American applicants (3,770). Almost half of in-state, first-year applicants (48.5 percent) are first-generation students.

“These spectacular results represent exactly what we have set out to achieve: sending the message to California residents of all cultural or economic backgrounds that an exceptional education is not only available but affordable at UCI. Our campus is the best place to nurture and support their dreams and aspirations,” said Thomas Parham, vice chancellor for student affairs.

The applications data also validates UCI’s recognition as a Hispanic-serving institution, which the campus received for the first time this year. The federal designation is awarded to universities with more than 25 percent Latino undergraduates. It builds on UCI’s status as an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution, demonstrating the school’s dedication to providing a superior education to every qualified student.

UCI is also named among the top-performing institutions for Latino students in a report released today by The Education Trust.

In addition, UCI participates in the Achieve UC initiative, which reaches out to schools and communities that have significant numbers of UC-eligible students but send relatively few to the university. This year, for example, Parham visited students at Cabrillo High School in Long Beach to share the message that their academic goals can be achieved at UCI.

Highlights of the UCI applications for fall 2018 are:

  • Total: 94,866 freshmen and 21,326 transfer students
  • Commitment to diversity: Among UC campuses, UCI received the largest number of in-state underrepresented minority freshman applications (29,978), the most Chicano/Latino California-resident freshman applications (25,930) and the second-most African American in-state freshman applications (3,770).
  • Outpacing the system: UCI experienced 11.5 percent growth in freshman applicants and 11 percent growth overall, compared with 5.7 percent and 5.7 percent, respectively, systemwide.

About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. The campus has produced three Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 30,000 students and offers 192 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 $5 billion annually to the local economy. For more on UCI, visit www.uci.edu.

Media access: Radio programs/stations may, for a fee, use an on-campus ISDN line to interview UCI faculty and experts, subject to availability and university approval. For more UCI news, visit wp.communications.uci.edu. Additional resources for journalists may be found at communications.uci.edu/for-journalists.