If you aspire to be part of the University of California Irvine Anteater community, you’re not alone in your ambition. With an overwhelming 120,000 freshman applicants, UCI admits just 21% of this sizable pool, with attending students boasting a median high school GPA of 4.22. If you haven’t quite reached that ambitious threshold, fret not—there’s still a viable path to studying at the Irvine campus. Surprisingly, over 9,000 transfer applicants are afforded this opportunity annually. Moreover, the UC Irvine transfer acceptance rate surpasses that of first-year admissions. This blog will provide insights into the UCI transfer acceptance rate, along with crucial details such as the UCI transfer deadline, applicant requirements, the UCI transfer decision date, and more.
What is the UCI transfer acceptance rate?
Here, we provide both the latest UC Irvine transfer acceptance rate and historical data. For the fall of 2023, UCI received 21,995 transfer applications and admitted 9,545 students, resulting in a transfer acceptance rate of 43.5%. In the previous cycle (fall 2022), the UCI transfer acceptance rate stood at 40.7%, with 22,843 applications and 9,296 admissions.
Examining historical data is crucial to understanding the transfer landscape, and UC Irvine has maintained a consistent range, typically falling within 37%-44% over recent years. This stability provides valuable insights for prospective transfer students gauging the competitiveness of admissions at UCI.
Apart from the previously mentioned components, aspiring UC Irvine transfer students must meet the following criteria:
- Attain a minimum of 60 UC-transferable semester credits (equivalent to 90 UC-transferable quarter units). It’s important to note that UC Irvine exclusively admits transfer students at the junior level.
- Fulfill major-specific admission requirements.
- Complete Transfer General Education Requirements.
- Have attended a California community college. Notably, in the most recent cycle, 93% of admitted students originated from California community colleges.
Following are the historical transfer rates of UCI:
| Year | Acceptance Rate |
| 2021 | 37.7% |
| 2020 | 40.5% |
| 2019 | 44.0% |
| 2018 | 41.6% |
UCI transfer acceptance rate by major?
In a university as expansive as UCI, it becomes imperative to delve into acceptance rates specific to various majors. Let’s explore the transfer acceptance rates for some of the most sought-after majors at the University of California Irvine.
| Major | Acceptance Rate |
| Biology | 41% |
| Psychology | 19% |
| Economics | 36% |
| Mechanical Engineering | 34% |
| Business Administration | 24% |
| Computer Science | 22% |
What are the UCI transfer requirements?
To complete a UC Irvine application, all students are required to submit the following components:
- University of California Application
- Personal insight questions
- Supplemental materials (for some majors)
Notably, official transcripts and letters of recommendation are not part of the UCI transfer requirements, and they are not accepted during the admissions process. However, by January 31, all applicants must complete a Transfer Academic Update (TAU) detailing their fall grades and planned spring coursework. If accepted, providing final, official transcripts will be necessary.
What is the UCI transfer GPA?
As per university statistics, the median GPA range for California community college admits stood at 3.77. California residents are required to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.4, while non-California residents must meet a minimum GPA of 2.8. It’s important to note that certain programs, including business and engineering, may have higher GPA minimums, typically set at 3.0 or above.
Is it hard to get into UCI as a transfer?
The UC Irvine transfer acceptance rate for entry in the fall of 2023 stands at 43.5%. In the previous cycle, for the fall of 2022, the acceptance rate was 40.7%. During that period, UC Irvine received 22,843 transfer applications and admitted 9,296 students. This consistent range reflects the university’s transfer acceptance rates over the past few years.
Is UCI transfer friendly?
UCI’s Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program ensures admission for exceptionally qualified students from any California Community College. Eligible transfer students can secure guaranteed admission to most majors at UCI by meeting the program’s requirements and submitting the TAG application online.
What is the UCI transfer decision date?
The UCI transfer decision date will be communicated through the Transfer Portal and is expected to be available by April 30.
What is the UCI transfer deadline?
For all academic programs, the UCI transfer deadline falls on November 30. The application window officially opens on August 1, providing applicants the opportunity to start completing all required materials. It’s crucial to note that the FAFSA deadline is set for March 2.
Conclusion
UC Irvine offers the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program, which comes with specific deadlines and requirements. To qualify for TAG, students need to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.4. However, it’s important to note that the following programs are excluded from TAG consideration:
- Art
- Business Administration
- Dance
- Music
- Nursing Science
- ALL majors in the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences.
Beyond traditional academic metrics, the admissions committee also takes into account factors such as disabilities, low family income, first-generation college attendance, the need to work, disadvantaged social or educational environments, challenging personal and family circumstances, refugee status, or veteran status.