University of California, Irvine
#175
QS Rank
28%
Acceptance rate
"24%"
Intl. students
$56,682
Tuition/yr
36,000
Enrollment
"15:1"
Student:Faculty
About University of California, Irvine
Elite public UC in Irvine, CA. Outstanding engineering, STEM, and business programs.
The University of California, Irvine (UCI) is a public research university founded in 1965 and located in Irvine, Orange County, California. It is one of ten campuses in the University of California system and holds Carnegie R1 (Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity) and Opportunity University designations as of 2025. UCI enrolls approximately 35,000 students across more than 192 degree programs.
UCI has particular strengths in computer science, engineering, biological sciences, and business. The Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences ranks among the top 25 undergraduate computer science programs in the US according to US News, and the Paul Merage School of Business offers STEM-designated MBA and accountancy programs valued by international students for post-graduation work authorization. The Henry Samueli School of Engineering covers aerospace, biomedical, chemical, civil, and computer engineering.
UCI is the only member of the Association of American Universities (AAU) in Orange County, and it sits roughly 50 miles southeast of Los Angeles. US News ranked it 32nd among all US national universities in 2025, its highest ever position, and 11th among US public universities. Times Higher Education placed it 97th globally in 2026.
World University Rankings
Campus & Location
CA
Suburban
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
All graduates from CRICOS-registered programs qualify for 12-month Optional Practical Training (OPT). STEM-designated programs (CS, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Sciences) qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension — 36 months total of US work authorisation.
For Nepali students
- UCI's computer science, engineering, and business programs carry STEM designation, making graduates eligible for a 24-month OPT STEM extension, giving Nepali students up to three years of US work authorization after graduation to build experience before pursuing H-1B sponsorship.
- Annual nonresident tuition and fees for undergraduates are approximately USD 56,682 for 2025–26 per UCI's official registrar; while this is a high-cost institution, UCI is consistently rated among the top US public universities for value and return on investment by Princeton Review and Money Magazine, which matters for students on a tight budget seeking strong employment outcomes.
- International students at UCI can apply for merit-based campuswide scholarships and graduate students may access teaching assistantships and research fellowships, need-based federal aid is not available to international students, so Nepali applicants should plan finances accordingly.
- With 24 percent of students being international (approximately 8,000 students) and a South and Southeast Asian student presence, Nepali students will find multicultural student organisations and an International Center that provides immigration advising and community programming.
Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents
A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:
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