UC Irvine vs The Pennsylvania State University (PSU)

Envision yourself immersed in the vibrant academic landscapes of the University of California-Irvine (UCI) and The Pennsylvania State University (PSU). UCI, nestled in sunny Southern California, boasts a diverse student body and a strong focus on research and innovation. PSU, located in the heart of Pennsylvania, offers a rich blend of academic programs, a vibrant student life, and a strong commitment to community engagement. While both universities share a reputation for academic excellence, they differ in several key aspects, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
The Pennsylvania State University logo

The Pennsylvania State University

University of California-Irvine logo

University of California-Irvine

Overview

Location University Park, Pennsylvania Irvine, California
Campus setting City: Small City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Quarter
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 87.0% 93.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 92.3% 28.8%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $65

Graduate: $65
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $120
SAT range 1140 - 1360 N/A
ACT range 25 - 31 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 32.0%
Students submitting ACT score 6.0%
Total number of applicants 96,686 107,950
Total number of admissions given out 89,207 31,110
Admitted students who chose to enroll 16,049 6,489
Yield rate 18.0% 20.9%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $38,270

Out of state: $55,848
In state: $35,033

Out of state: $64,787
Average net price $24,012 $11,633
Tuition
In state: $18,368

Out of state: $35,946
In state: $11,442

Out of state: $41,196
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,360

Meal plan: $5,618
$16,869
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

51.0%
Average amount $9,884
78.0%
Average amount $16,868
Students receiving federal student loan 49.0%
Average amount $5,305
18.0%
Average amount $4,696
Students taking out private loans 13.0%
Average amount $19,837
2.0%
Average amount $7,702

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 73,476
Men 53.7% Women 46.3%
29,449
Men 45.4% Women 54.6%
Graduate students 15,438
Men 51.7% Women 48.3%
7,056
Men 49.8% Women 50.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students 34.1% 13.5%
International students 10.5% 18.0%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Large
Dormitory capacity 20,547 15,493
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Pennsylvania New Jersey New York Maryland Virginia California Washington Hawaii Texas New York

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Engineering
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Health Professions
  • Social Sciences
  • Business
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Engineering
  • Education
Students to faculty ratio 15:1 18:1
Institutional accreditation Middle States Commission on Higher Education Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 72.3% 83.7%
Dropout rate 25.7% 6.4%
Transferred out N/A 9.1%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Information Science/Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $109,295
  • Year 2: $120,549
  • Year 3: $125,527
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $99,798
  • Year 2: $95,930
  • Year 3: $120,289
Computer Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $100,190
  • Year 2: $97,959
  • Year 3: $113,544
Mining and Mineral Engineering (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $98,403
  • Year 3: $108,754
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $100,372
  • Year 2: $100,455
  • Year 3: $107,874
Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $96,574
  • Year 2: $99,291
  • Year 3: $104,370
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $95,304
  • Year 2: $97,855
  • Year 3: $104,056
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $92,512
  • Year 2: $94,864
  • Year 3: $103,461
Management Information Systems and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $92,632
  • Year 3: $98,201
Nuclear Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $89,155
  • Year 3: $94,780
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $122,124
  • Year 2: $190,536
  • Year 3: $178,048
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $104,708
  • Year 2: $90,983
  • Year 3: $109,642
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $109,417
  • Year 2: $115,339
  • Year 3: $102,324
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $77,451
  • Year 2: $97,959
  • Year 3: $101,335
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,618
  • Year 2: $81,929
  • Year 3: $95,882
Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $79,284
  • Year 3: $95,654
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,796
  • Year 2: $73,128
  • Year 3: $86,654
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,841
  • Year 2: $65,332
  • Year 3: $85,004
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,056
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $80,300
Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,396
  • Year 2: $65,387
  • Year 3: $80,210

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