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College Comparison

University of Washington vs UC Irvine: Which is Better?

Side-by-side comparison of acceptance rates, SAT scores, tuition, earnings, and more, updated with the latest College Scorecard data.

School

University of Washington

Seattle, WA

School

UC Irvine

Irvine, CA

Head-to-Head Stats

MetricUW SeattleUC Irvine
Acceptance Rate42.5%25.6%wins
SAT Range (25th–75th)N/AN/A
ACT Range (25th–75th)N/AN/A
Tuition (Out-of-State)$41,997wins$45,014
Avg Net Price$13,485$12,840wins
Median Earnings (10 yr)$78,466$80,735wins
Graduation Rate83.7%86.0%wins
Retention Rate94.9%wins93.8%
Student–Faculty Ratio20:118:1wins
Total Enrollment31,588wins29,494

Verdict

Based on the data above, UC Irvine edges out UW Seattle on 5 of 8 measurable categories, including key factors like acceptance rate, earnings, and graduation rate. That said, the right choice depends heavily on your major, financial situation, and campus culture fit.

UW Seattle Strengths

  • Tuition (Out-of-State): $41,997
  • Retention Rate: 94.9%
  • Total Enrollment: 31,588

UC Irvine Strengths

  • Acceptance Rate: 25.6%
  • Avg Net Price: $12,840
  • Median Earnings (10 yr): $80,735
  • Graduation Rate: 86.0%

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