Welcome to the University of California, Irvine.  I am delighted you have chosen to pursue your education with us.

UCI is consistently ranked among the nation’s best universities. Achievements in the sciences, arts, humanities, medicine, and management have garnered top 50 national rankings for more than 40 academic programs. Five UCI researchers have won Nobel Prizes. We were the youngest campus ever to be welcomed into the prestigious Association of American Universities. The New York Times twice ranked UCI as number one in the nation for economic diversity in its student body, citing us as "doing the most for the American dream." And you will be especially glad to hear that Money magazine named UCI the top university for beach lovers. 

These are some of the reasons why UCI attracted more than 142,000 undergraduate applications in 2022, the fourth largest number of applications in the entire nation. Our graduate programs are also extremely competitive. You are on this campus because we know you have what it takes to succeed at the highest level.

UCI reaches beyond the classroom and laboratory to help solve societal issues and support human development. We are a hub for stem cell research, a trailblazer in understanding global warming, and a leader in promoting health and wellness. Our nationally ranked medical center in Orange is the home of the only National Institutes of Health-designated comprehensive cancer center and the only Level 1 trauma center in Orange County. The UCI Medical Center-Irvine, under construction near the main campus, will bring the finest academic health care to south Orange County. The Susan and Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences is the first university-based health sciences enterprise to incorporate integrative health research, teaching, and patient care across its schools and programs. Our law school is widely recognized for its public service. Orange County’s largest employer, UCI generates an annual economic impact on the county of $7 billion.

We are also national leaders in research and practice relating to sustainability and environmental protection. UCI is the most energy-efficient campus in California, and is consistently among the top 10 “Coolest Schools” in Sierra magazine’s annual ranking of the nation’s greenest universities.

A major intellectual and cultural center, UCI offers numerous public activities and events. The Claire Trevor School of the Arts and the School of Humanities produce engaging and entertaining cultural programs, and UCI’s Anteater athletes have won more than two dozen national championships.

I encourage you to take advantage of all that UCI has to offer. I look forward to seeing you on campus.

Sincerely,

Howard Gillman
Chancellor