Strong graduate outcomes with earnings well above peer institutions. Robust earnings growth over time.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
UC Irvine graduates experience substantial earnings growth throughout the early career period. Median earnings begin at $56,210 six years after enrollment, rise to $67,970 at eight years, and reach $80,735 at ten years.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Strong relative performance — graduates earn notably more than peers at comparable institutions.
Financial justification for the investment.
Excellent affordability. Median debt of $15,000 is well under annual earnings, enabling comfortable repayment.
UC Irvine graduates maintain exceptionally manageable debt levels compared to national benchmarks and peer institutions. Median debt reaches $15,000, ranking at the 85th percentile nationally and falling $5,000 below the peer median of $20,000.
University of California-Irvine achieves exceptional return on investment through the combination of strong earnings outcomes and controlled educational costs. The university's return index ranks at the 92.6th percentile nationally, reflecting excellent performance in converting educational investment into career success.
Approximately 28% of UC Irvine graduates continue to graduate or professional study, based on program mix analysis with high confidence. This rate ba...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
UC Irvine's strongest return outcomes concentrate in technology and applied fields. Computer Science produces the highest median earnings at $111,041 with 805 graduates, combining scale with exceptional outcomes.
Computer Engineering follows at $100,156, while Mechanical Engineering reaches $83,948. Business programs deliver solid returns, with Business Administration at $70,854 and Business/Managerial Economics at $66,614.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Return on investment varies considerably across UC Irvine's program portfolio, reflecting different career markets and earning potentials. Earnings range from $54,469 at the 25th percentile to $117,372 at the 75th percentile, a 2.2:1 ratio showing meaningful variation in post-graduation outcomes.
