What Does it Really Cost to Attend the University of California Irvine?

A report by CollegeCalc reveals that the average in-state tuition rate for California colleges is $13,947. However, many of the top schools in the Golden State come with far larger price tags. Fortunately, the variability involved in college pricing means that students don’t always have to pay the rate listed in the brochure to earn their degrees.

If your high schooler is set on attending the University of California-Irvine, it’s important to do your research with regard to both tuition costs and local area considerations. Read on to find out why college pricing varies so dramatically, along with what it actually costs to attend UC-Irvine.

Why College Costs Are Highly Variable

When it comes to estimating college costs, list prices can be deceiving. The truth is a majority of students don’t end up paying the price listed in the brochure. You can estimate the net price, or actual cost of attending a school by adding up the value of all forms of financial aid (including local, state, and federal aid, grants, and scholarships) and subtracting that number from the sticker price.

Because UC-Irvine is a public school, students often expect to pay less in tuition and fees than they would at a private institution. However, the truth is that public schools may have less funding available in the form of grants because they don’t have the robust endowments of private college. Families need to do their research to find out what option is truly the most affordable.

What Is the List Price at University of California-Irvine?

UC-Irvine has a high list price, which may be particularly prohibitive for students applying from out of state. For the 2016-2017 school year, the total price for tuition and fees was $32,930 for in-state students. Out-of-state applicants faced a bill of $59,612 a year. In most cases, applicants in the top 30% of accepted students and those from families earning less than $175,000 a year paid less than sticker price to attend Colgate.

What Is the University of California-Irvine Financial Aid Net Price?

University of California-Irvine students generally pay less than the list price in tuition and fees. For the 2016-2017 year, in-state applicants paid an average of $28,011. For out-of-state applicants, the average cost after financial aid was $54,693.

What Is the Family Income-Based Cost of Attending University of California-Irvine?

Your family’s income level will have a significant effect on the amount you pay to attend UC-Irvine. Below are average family income-based tuition prices for this institution:

How Much Merit Aid Do UC-Irvine Students Receive?

While merit aid can help reduce college tuition costs, students should note that average awards at UC-Irvine are relatively small. Currently, just 4.6% of students receive merit-based aid with an average gift of $331. For students who don’t qualify for financial aid, net prices range from $32,599 for in-state applicants to $59,281 for those applying from out of state. These numbers give UC-Irvine the No. 386 position out of the 1000 schools CollegeVine analyzed for merit aid generosity.

How Many UC-Irvine Students Take Out Loans?

A majority of UC-Irvine students take out loans to finance their education. At present, 92% of students at this school borrow money, with an average federal loan amount of $3,556.

Student Outcomes at UC-Irvine

Before deciding whether the University of California-Irvine is worth the cost, take some time to assess their student outcomes. With a six-year graduation rate of 86%, parents can feel relatively secure in the knowledge that their students will graduate on schedule. Ten-year salary numbers are strong, with alumni earning an average of $58,400.

Local Area Cost Considerations

Located in Orange County, UC-Irvine is an ideal college to attend if you love the idea of studying by the beach. However, all that sun and sand doesn’t come cheap; the cost of living in Irvine is 211.5, which means it’s more than twice as expensive as the average U.S. city. Housing is similarly costly, and students can expect to spend $2044 for a one-bedroom, $2551 for a two-bedroom, and $3586 for a three-bed.

While working part-time is a good way to supplement financial aid awards, students may have to work long hours and the state has a minimum wage of just $11 per hour. If you stick around after graduation however, you might expect to earn $69,588 a year.

Ways to Save Money on College

Students who opt to work while attending school may be able to land a coveted work-study position. Not only are these jobs conveniently located on campus, but they also give students plenty of time to read and do homework while earning a paycheck.

Additionally, students can reduce their college tuition bills by applying for independent scholarships. For example, the National Merit Scholarship program offers recognition and grants to the top 1 percent of PSAT scorers. Currently, the fund provides scholarship money to around 15,000 students a year. For more information on scholarship opportunities at University of California-Irvine, check out the school’s website.

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