Understanding UCI Tuition and Fees: A Comprehensive Breakdown

Navigating the costs associated with higher education can be daunting. This article provides a detailed breakdown of tuition, fees, and other expenses at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), offering clarity for prospective and current students. UCI is committed to partnering with students and their families to make the process of understanding and managing educational costs as simple and stress-free as possible.

Tuition: The Base Cost of Education

Tuition provides general support for the University's operating budget, including costs related to instruction, and funds student financial aid. University of California, Irvine's tuition is $15,343 for in-state and $49,193 for out-of-state students. Compared with the national average cost of in-state tuition of $12,436, University of California, Irvine is more expensive. For students coming from out of state, the tuition is more expensive than the national average cost of out-of-state tuition of $29,815.

It is crucial to understand that the tuition, fees, and charges posted to the student billing statement are estimates based on existing amounts. These figures may not be final. Actual tuition, fees, and charges are subject to change by the Regents of the University of California and could be affected by state funding reductions.

Tuition Stability Plan

In the summer of 2021, the University of California Board of Regents approved the Tuition Stability Plan. This new tuition model adjusts University-wide tuition and fees for each incoming undergraduate class-both freshmen and transfer students-and calls for the tuition to be held flat throughout that class’s attendance at UC.

Mandatory Fees: Supporting Campus Life and Services

In addition to tuition, students are required to pay various fees that support different aspects of campus life, student services, and university operations. These fees are generally non-refundable to students who do not use all or any of these services.

Student Services Fee: This fee is required of all students regardless of the number of courses taken, unless otherwise noted. This fee is a charge to each student for co-curricular programs, activities, and services which benefit the student and which are complementary to, but not a part of, the instructional programs. Graduate students studying out of the State may be eligible to pay 15 percent of the Student Services Fee.
UCI Student Center Fee: This fee is required of all students regardless of the number of courses taken.
Bren Events Center Fee: This fee is required of all students regardless of the number of courses taken or units carried.
Recreation Center Fee: This fee is required of all students regardless of the number of courses taken or units carried.
Campus Spirit Fee: This fee is required of all undergraduate students regardless of the number of courses taken or units carried.

Read also: Affording ECU
Measure S Fee: This fee is required of all undergraduate students regardless of the number of courses taken or units carried.
Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) Fee: This fee is required of all undergraduate students for the fall, winter, and spring quarters regardless of the number of courses taken or units carried.
Anteater Express Fee: This fee is required of all undergraduate students regardless of the number of courses taken or units carried.
Measure U Fee: This fee is required of all undergraduate students for the fall, winter, and spring quarters regardless of the number of courses taken or units earned. The purpose of the fee is to support the New University, the official UC Irvine student-operated newspaper.
Club Sports Fee: This fee is required of all undergraduate students regardless of the number of courses taken or units carried. The purpose of the fee is to provide a permanent source of operating and programming support for the Club Sports Program at the Irvine campus.

Read also: Withdrawals for College: A Guide
SOAR Fee: This fee is required of all undergraduate students for the fall, winter, spring, and summer quarters regardless of the number of courses taken or units carried. The purpose of the fee is to provide a permanent source of operating and programming support for the Student Outreach and Retention (SOAR) Center.
Food Pantry Fee: This fee is required of all undergraduate students for the fall, winter, spring and summer quarter regardless of the number of courses taken or units carried. The purpose of the fee is to cover the expenses of operating the current food pantry which provides free non-perishable food to students who experience food insecurity. This includes, but is not limited to, the cost of food, transportation, marketing and maintenance.
Document Fee: The one-time mandatory document fee is charged to every new, incoming and transfer law student in the fall semester. The fee provides lifetime access to official transcripts and academic verifications without a fee for in-person pickup or delivery by USPS. Services not covered by the document fee are still subject to transaction fees.

Health Insurance Fees

The University of California requires all students to have major medical health insurance as a non-academic condition of enrollment.

Undergraduate Student Health Insurance Fee: The Undergraduate Student Health Insurance Fee is charged over three quarters (fall, winter, and spring) to provide 12-month coverage from September through August. The fee is required of all undergraduate students regardless of the number of courses taken or units carried. The fee is used to provide undergraduate students with health insurance. If students provide evidence of comparable coverage from another source, participation in the mandatory plan may be waived via ZOT Account Online.
Graduate Student Health Insurance Fee (GSHIP): All law students are automatically enrolled in the UC Graduate Student Health Insurance Plan (GSHIP), and the premium for this insurance is assessed each term on the law student's registration fee statement. Visit the UCI Student Health Services webpage for detailed information about GSHIP. If you are interested in waiving out of GSHIP for the 2025-2026 academic year, the waiver request period is listed on the SHC webpage. If approved, the waiver is in effect for the current term and the remainder of the 2025-2026 academic year. A new waiver request must be submitted at the beginning of each academic year. The Graduate Student Health Insurance Fee is charged over three quarters (fall, winter, and spring) to provide 12-month coverage from September through August. The fee is required of all graduate and medical students regardless of the number of courses taken or units carried. The fee is used to provide graduate and medical students with health insurance. If students provide evidence of comparable coverage from another source, participation in the mandatory plan may be waived via ZOT Account Online.
Medical Student Disability Insurance Fee: The Medical Student Disability Insurance Fee is required of all medical students.

Fees Based on Enrollment and Program

eTech Fee: The eTech Fee is a nonrefundable per-unit fee, required of all students enrolled in undergraduate lecture courses during the fall, winter, spring, and summer quarters. The fee is used to fund the UC Irvine Educational Technology Initiative maintaining and improving existing educational technology, and providing new educational technology services and capabilities supporting the educational goals of UCI students. The fee is $5.50 per unit of undergraduate lecture course, up to a maximum amount of $82.50 (or 15 units) per quarter. It will be assessed after the third week of instruction.
Nonresident Supplemental Tuition: Nonresident Supplemental Tuition is required of all students who have been classified as nonresidents for tuition purposes for that quarter or semester and are ineligible for any exemptions from Nonresident Supplemental Tuition. Further information is available in our section on Residency.
Professional Degree Supplemental Tuition Deposit: A $1,000 advance deposit on the Professional Degree Supplemental Tuition is required of all new M.B.A. students upon their acceptance of admission.
Course Material Fees: Course Material Fees, such as lab fees, are charged by the department offering the course.

Optional Fees

The UC Student Association (UCSA) and the UC Graduate and Professional Council (UCGPC) Fees: The UC Student Association (UCSA) and the UC Graduate and Professional Council (UCGPC) Fees support UCSA and UCGPC operational costs. Both are optional fees approved by the Regents and are set at $7 per year. Students may opt out of paying the fee by declining the UCSA/UCGPC fee below before Friday of the 3rd week of the quarter or, for law students, the 5th week of the semester; select the opt out feature in StudentAccess.
**The UC Graduate and Professional Council fee is a non-mandatory fee that graduate students are assessed during the fall, and spring terms to support the systemwide UC Student Association.
The Associated Students Fee: The Associated Students Fee is administered by the Associated Students of UCI, the Associated Graduate Students, the Merage Student Association, and the Associated Medical Students. These funds provide social activities, lectures, forums, concerts, and other activities at either a reduced charge, or no charge, to UCI students.

Additional Expenses: Beyond Tuition and Fees

While tuition and fees cover the direct costs of education and campus services, students should also budget for other essential expenses. These costs are estimates based on a modest but adequate standard of living and are updated annually. The cost of living depends upon a student’s personal situation and choices.

Housing: Students have the choice to live on campus in a residence hall or off-campus. Each of the living arrangements has a different cost. Please see typical off-campus housing costs near UC Irvine.
Books and Supplies
Food
Transportation
Personal Expenses
Computer Purchases: In special circumstances, J.D. students occasionally incur expenses during the year that may warrant an increase in our standard budget listed above. Computer Purchases (up to $2,000).

As you’re comparing costs of different institutions, also consider the total cost and the net price. The total cost is the sticker price, plus the cost of food and housing, books and supplies, and transportation and personal expenses. At University of California, Irvine, the total cost is $38,240 for in-state students and $70,129 for out-of-state students.

Financial Aid: Making Education Accessible

Recognizing that the cost of education can be a significant investment, UCI offers various financial aid programs to help students meet their financial needs.

The Office of Student Financial Services determines eligibility for institutional financial aid and ensures that eligible students are appropriately awarded federal student aid.

UCI offers some of the most generous aid programs. It is recommended to discover the kinds of aid that are available and how you can apply.

Applying for Aid

First things first, using the calculator doesn’t mean you’re applying for aid. For that, go to Applying for Aid.

Important Considerations

Changes in Fees and Tuition: The tuition, fees, and charges posted to your billing statement or account are estimates based on currently approved amounts. These figures may not be final. Actual tuition, fees, and charges are subject to change by the Regents of the University of California and could be affected by increases or reductions in State funding, or other developments. Figures for tuition and fees represent currently approved or proposed amounts and may not be final. Actual tuition and fees are subject to change by the University of California as determined to be necessary or appropriate.
Method of Instruction: Some or all instruction for all or part of the academic year may be delivered remotely. Tuition and fees have been set regardless of the method of instruction, and will not be refunded in the event instruction occurs remotely for any part of the academic year.
Department of Defense Tuition Assistance (TA) Program: Department of Defense Tuition Assistance (TA) Program requires that participating institutions charge tuition to TA recipients on a per-unit basis rather than as a flat amount per term.
M.D. Students: M.D. students are required to pay the full Tuition for each term in which they enroll, including the summer term. The summer term Tuition level for M.D.

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