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Irvine City HallPhoto: Azusa Tarn · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Irvine

Irvine is a college town: 16 of every 100 residents are students

The University of California-Irvine (35,954 students on campus) and Irvine Valley College (7,416) are inside the city. Across California, 8 of every 100 residents are enrolled in college.

College town16% of residents are studentsIrvine Valley CollegeConcordia University-IrvineWestcliff UniversityUniversity of California-IrvineStanbridge University

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Irvine. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
25
129,541 students on campus
Nearest college
0.4 mi
Irvine Valley College
Residents in college
16%
Above CA (8%)
Nearest community college
0.4 mi
Irvine Valley College · $1,156 tuition
Nearest public university
4.5 mi
University of California-Irvine · $15,722 in-state
Students on campus in Irvine
52,532
next to 318,764 residents

What stands out about college in Irvine

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A college town16 of every 100 Irvine residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.Five colleges within 5 milesConcordia University-Irvine admits 66% of applicants; Westcliff University admits 73%; University of California-Irvine admits 29%. Together they have 52,532 students on campus.A community college 0.4 miles awayIrvine Valley College in Irvine: tuition and fees $1,156 a year for California residents.In-state price at University of California-IrvineLiving in California, the University of California-Irvine charges $15,722 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $49,922. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.
Town & gown

What it’s like to live in Irvine

How much the colleges shape the town, from the Census Bureau’s survey of residents.

16 of every 100 Irvine residents are in college (CA: 8).

52,532students on campus at Irvine’s 5 colleges, next to 318,764 residents (dorm students count as residents)
34,279college students live in Irvine households rather than dorms
34.0median age · CA 37.9
51%of residents are women · CA 50% (±0.6 points)
56%of homes rented · CA 44%
$2,997median rent · 47% above the state
IrvineIrvine, CA
Cost of living$2,997/mo median rentD−SafetyCrime reported to the FBIB−HealthCDC estimatesA+Jobs & incomeIncome, jobs, getting aroundB+HandbookTrash day, parking, who to call

How students change Irvine’s other numbers

Read the town’s other grades with this in mind. How TownRatings handles college towns →

Jobs & income B+

Students who live off campus count in the Census poverty figures: 10.9% of Irvine residents are below the poverty line, 8.0% when college students are left out (that estimate could be off by 1 points either way). 32% of the students themselves are below the line. In college towns, the Jobs & income grade uses the rate without students and leaves unemployment out.

Cost of living D−

The Cost grade counts the share of renters paying 30% or more of income on rent, leaving it out only where students are a quarter of residents or more. Here they are 16%, so student incomes still weigh on that figure.

Health A+

CDC’s estimates follow each place’s age mix, and Irvine’s median age is 34.0 (California 37.9), so the adult figures describe a young population.

Safety B−

Crime is counted per resident, and students who live here count as residents. A college with its own police department reports its incidents under that department, not the city.

Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Irvine

17 private colleges within 15 miles, one public college within 4.5 miles, and seven community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of California-IrvineSanta Ana CollegeOrange Coast CollegeIrvine
University or collegeCommunity college
Irvine Valley CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,416 on campus · In Irvine$2knet price57%graduate$49kearningsTuition and fees: $1,156 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Concordia University-IrvineUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,999 on campus · In Irvine66%admitted$28knet price58%graduate$65kearningsWestcliff UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 4,526 on campus · In Irvine73%admitted$35knet price62%graduateUniversity of California-IrvineUniversity or college · Public · 35,954 on campus · In Irvine29%admitted$14knet price87%graduate$81kearningsStanbridge UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,637 on campus · In Irvine10%admitted$45knet price62%graduate$62kearningsCareer Networks InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 971 on campus · 5.3 mi · Santa Ana$50knet price89%graduate$45kearningsPacific CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 238 on campus · 5.9 mi · Costa Mesa56%admitted$29knet price62%graduate$70kearningsInterior Designers InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 107 on campus · 6 mi · Newport Beach$55kearningsVanguard University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,956 on campus · 7.5 mi · Costa Mesa62%admitted$21knet price57%graduate$60kearningsOrange Coast CollegeCommunity college · Public · 14,830 on campus · 8 mi · Costa Mesa$7knet price48%graduate$47kearningsTuition and fees: $1,392 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Santiago Canyon CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,854 on campus · 8.1 mi · Orange$2knet price48%graduate$45kearningsTuition and fees: $1,164 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Laguna College of Art and DesignUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 807 on campus · 8.1 mi · Laguna Beach94%admitted$43knet price52%graduate$48kearningsSanta Ana CollegeCommunity college · Public · 18,643 on campus · 8.7 mi · Santa Ana$3knet price31%graduate$44kearningsTuition and fees: $1,180 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Soka University of AmericaUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 476 on campus · 8.8 mi · Aliso Viejo43%admitted$18knet price92%graduate$55kearningsChapman UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 9,961 on campus · 9.2 mi · Orange65%admitted$47knet price82%graduate$70kearningsCoastline Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 728 on campus · 9.4 mi · Fountain Valley · mostly online$16knet price34%graduate$44kearnings92% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Tuition and fees: $1,364 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.South Coast CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 241 on campus · 9.6 mi · Orange$17knet price17%graduate$45kearningsSaddleback CollegeCommunity college · Public · 9,188 on campus · 10.6 mi · Mission Viejo$4knet price48%graduate$51kearningsTuition and fees: $1,156 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.The Chicago School at AnaheimUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 483 on campus · 10.8 mi · Anaheim$57kearningsEarnings are reported for all 8 campuses that file with it.Graduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Platt College-AnaheimUniversity or college · For-profit · 405 on campus · 10.9 mi · Anaheim$23knet price64%graduate$41kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.California Career InstituteUniversity or college · For-profit · 517 on campus · 11.7 mi · AnaheimConcorde Career College-Garden GroveUniversity or college · For-profit · 202 on campus · 11.7 mi · Garden Grove97%admitted$25knet price84%graduate$46kearningsWest Coast University-Orange CountyUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,873 on campus · 12.2 mi · Anaheim$33knet price60%graduate$103kearningsEarnings are reported for all 6 campuses that file with it.Golden West CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,281 on campus · 13.8 mi · Huntington Beach$5knet price49%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $1,380 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Bethesda UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 248 on campus · 15 mi · Anaheim$11knet price11%graduate

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at Over $110k, where Irvine’s median household income ($136,719) falls.

Irvine Valley CollegeIn Irvine · sticker $13,001 · tuition $1,156$9,432a year
Santa Ana College8.7 mi · Santa Ana · sticker $12,375 · tuition $1,180$10,160a year
Saddleback College10.6 mi · Mission Viejo · sticker $13,939 · tuition $1,156$10,603a year
Santiago Canyon College8.1 mi · Orange · sticker $13,818 · tuition $1,164$11,014a year
Bethesda University15 mi · Anaheim · sticker $13,575$13,575a year
Orange Coast College8 mi · Costa Mesa · sticker $15,561 · tuition $1,392$13,862a year
South Coast College9.6 mi · Orange · sticker $18,982$18,982a year
Concorde Career College-Garden Grove11.7 mi · Garden Grove · sticker $29,040$26,760a year
Vanguard University of Southern California7.5 mi · Costa Mesa · sticker $52,665$27,684a year
Platt College-Anaheim10.9 mi · Anaheim · sticker $28,170$28,170a year
University of California-IrvineIn Irvine · sticker $38,632$30,546a year
Soka University of America8.8 mi · Aliso Viejo · sticker $55,064$30,940a year
Concordia University-IrvineIn Irvine · sticker $58,682$31,967a year
West Coast University-Orange County12.2 mi · Anaheim · sticker $34,887$34,887a year
Westcliff UniversityIn Irvine · sticker $44,210$40,799a year
Laguna College of Art and Design8.1 mi · Laguna Beach · sticker $57,989$46,889a year
Stanbridge UniversityIn Irvine · sticker $49,714$49,714a year
Career Networks Institute5.3 mi · Santa Ana · sticker $52,552$52,552a year
Chapman University9.2 mi · Orange · sticker $83,146$55,066a year
Pacific College5.9 mi · Costa Mesa · sticker $30,789—a year
Coastline Community College9.4 mi · Fountain Valley · mostly online · sticker $24,290 · tuition $1,364—a year
Golden West College13.8 mi · Huntington Beach · sticker $14,618 · tuition $1,380—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Irvine: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k$120k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →University of California-IrvineOrange Coast CollegeSantiago Canyon CollegeSanta Ana CollegeChapman UniversitySaddleback College
University of California-Irvine87% graduate$81k earnings$15k typical debt
Santa Ana College31% graduate$44k earnings$7k typical debt
Orange Coast College48% graduate$47k earnings$10k typical debt
Chapman University82% graduate$70k earnings$20k typical debt
Saddleback College48% graduate$51k earnings$10k typical debt
Santiago Canyon College48% graduate$45k earnings$5k typical debt
Irvine Valley College57% graduate$49k earnings$6k typical debt
Golden West College49% graduate$43k earnings$7k typical debt
West Coast University-Orange County60% graduate$103k earnings*$33k typical debt
Stanbridge University62% graduate$62k earnings$20k typical debt
Concordia University-Irvine58% graduate$65k earnings$24k typical debt
Vanguard University of Southern California57% graduate$60k earnings$22k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Platt College-Anaheim (4); West Coast University-Orange County (6).

Majors

What students study in Irvine

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Irvine’s 5 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 14%Liberal arts 13%Social sciences 10%Computer science 8%Psychology 8%Biology 8%Everything else 39%

Biggest programs

Biology, GeneralUniversity of California-Irvine · 766 graduates a year
$56k4 yrs out
Research and Experimental PsychologyUniversity of California-Irvine · 633 graduates a year
$54k4 yrs out
Business/Managerial EconomicsUniversity of California-Irvine · 576 graduates a year
$78k4 yrs out
Computer ScienceUniversity of California-Irvine · 467 graduates a year
$127k4 yrs out
CriminologyUniversity of California-Irvine · 465 graduates a year
$58k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralUniversity of California-Irvine · 457 graduates a year
$56k4 yrs out
Public HealthUniversity of California-Irvine · 392 graduates a year
$60k4 yrs out
EconomicsUniversity of California-Irvine · 386 graduates a year
$84k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Irvine

Is Irvine a college town?

Yes. 16 of every 100 Irvine residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), against 8 across California. The University of California-Irvine has 35,954 students on campus, next to 318,764 residents.

What colleges are in Irvine?

The University of California-Irvine, Irvine Valley College, Westcliff University, Stanbridge University and 1 more are inside the city.

Why is Irvine’s poverty rate so high?

Students who live off campus count in the Census figures. 10.9% of residents are below the poverty line; leaving college students out, 8.0% are (ACS 2020–24, give or take 1 points).

What is the closest community college to Irvine, and what does it cost?

Irvine Valley College in Irvine, 0.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,156 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $2,090, counts housing and food at full cost.

How hard is it to get into the University of California-Irvine?

The University of California-Irvine admitted 29% of applicants in the Scorecard’s latest year.

Neighbors talk college

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Irvine. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →