Overview
University of California, Irvine in Irvine, California has competed in varsity esports since 2016, with affiliations including CLOL · CVC · PlayVS. Its teams currently compete in League of Legends and VALORANT. The program publishes esports scholarship terms: partial scholarships of $3,000 or $6,000 per year (esports.uci.edu, 2026). Federal College Scorecard data shows an average net price of $14,251 per year, an acceptance rate of 29% and a graduation rate of 87% across 30,197 undergraduates.
Esports details verified 2026-10-10 · Federal data retrieved 2026-10-10
Esports scholarships at UC Irvine
Partial scholarships of $3,000 or $6,000 per year
The largest stated award ($6,000) equals about 42% of UC Irvine's average annual net price of $14,251. Actual awards depend on tryouts, roster spot and other aid.
The esports program
- Level
- Varsity
- Founded
- 2016
- Conference / league
- CLOL · CVC · PlayVS
- Facility
- UCI Esports Arena
- Titles fielded
- 2
Cost & outcomes vs. other esports schools
Compared with the median of all 405 esports programs we track.
| Tuition (in-state / out-of-state) | $15,722 / $49,922 |
|---|---|
| Average net price (after grants) | $14,251 |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 36% |
| Median debt at graduation | $15,000 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 19:1 |
Who studies at UC Irvine
30,197 undergraduates, shown as 100 people.
- White 13%
- Hispanic/Latino 27%
- Black 2%
- Asian 37%
- Two or more races 6%
- International 12%
- Other / unknown 3%
- Women
- 56%
- First-generation
- 44%
- Pell recipients
- 36%
Frequently asked questions
Does UC Irvine offer esports scholarships?
The program publishes esports scholarship terms: partial scholarships of $3,000 or $6,000 per year (esports.uci.edu, 2026). Scholarship terms can change each season, so confirm with the program before applying.
What games does UC Irvine esports compete in?
UC Irvine fields varsity teams in League of Legends and VALORANT, according to the program's published information.
How much does UC Irvine cost per year?
The average annual net price — cost after grants and scholarships for students receiving aid — is $14,251. Published tuition is $15,722 in-state and $49,922 out-of-state (U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard).
How hard is it to get into UC Irvine?
UC Irvine admits 29% of applicants, per the College Scorecard.
When did UC Irvine start varsity esports?
UC Irvine's varsity esports program began in 2016.
Sources
- Esports program and scholarship terms: esports.uci.edu (2026)
- Cost, admissions, outcomes and demographics: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved 2026-10-10
- Photo: Azusa Tarn, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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