University of California-Irvine — ROI, Cost & Payback
University of California-Irvine charges a net price of $14,251/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $57,004. Graduates earn a median $80,735 ten years after entry, $32,375/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 1.8 years — a 20-year net return of $590,496, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
University of California-Irvine's 1.8-year payback ranks #57 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 96% of them, and #21 of 334 in California.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $14,251/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $57,004 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $80,735 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $32,375/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $15,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 1.8 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $590,496 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on University of California-Irvine's own numbers. Net price $14,251 × 4 years = $57,004 total. Median earnings $80,735 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $32,375 a year of premium. $57,004 ÷ $32,375 = 1.8 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $590,496. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do University of California-Irvine students graduate with?
A median $15,000 in federal loans among completers, or 19% of the $80,735 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of University of California-Irvine students graduate?
87% finish their degree. Spread the $57,004 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $65,522 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is University of California-Irvine expensive compared with other California colleges?
Its $14,251 net price runs $5,654 below the $19,905 median across the 334 California colleges we profile, and $22,616 less across the full degree.