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

UC Irvine 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. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates. We were one of the youngest universities elected to membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities. The New York Times twice ranked UC Irvine 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 UC Irvine the top university for beach lovers. 

These are some of the reasons why UC Irvine attracted more than 150,000 undergraduate applications in 2025, 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.

UC Irvine 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 new UCI Health - Irvine medical center, near the main campus, has brought the finest academic health care to south Orange County. The Susan & 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 second-largest employer, UC Irvine contributes $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide.

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

A major intellectual and cultural center, UC Irvine 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 our Anteater athletes have won more than two dozen national championships.

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

Sincerely,

Howard Gillman
Chancellor