American Dream

UCI is #1 best college in the U.S.

"I am delighted to see UC Irvine become the first-ever public university to score the top spot. What an impressive feat!" - UC President Janet Napolitano

In 2019, Money magazine named UCI No. 1 on its annual list of the nation’s “Best Colleges,” making it the first public university to achieve the top spot. The ranking acknowledges UCI’s continued commitment to providing accessible, high-quality education and fostering alumni success. The campus scored well across the board but especially in the measures of low-income and Pell Grant enrollment and favorable graduate outcomes – reflecting UCI’s role in advancing upward social mobility and doing the most for the American dream.

Read Press Release Read More on Medium Listen to the Podcast

One of the thorniest problems in society is the vanishing American dream. It’s no secret that a college degree is the best way for young adults to catapult themselves from a disadvantaged past to a better future. But that path is increasingly elusive.

Too many of America’s best colleges and universities enroll more students from the wealthiest 1 percent of families than from the bottom 60 percent. This imbalance damages the U.S. economy, widens the gulf between rich and poor, and goes against a fundamental mission of universities: to empower and expand opportunities for everyone.

UCI has won national praise for its success in breaking this pattern and creating an educational “big tent.” This website highlights some of the personal student stories, national rankings, diversity outreach programs and other elements of UCI’s quest to make the American dream more attainable for all.

Average Mid-career salary by institution. Data: The Equal Opportunity Project, PayScale
Institution	Average Mid-career salary
New Jersey Institute of Technology	$119700
University of California, Irvine	$118800
UCLA	$114800
Stony Brook University	$108800
California State Polytechnic University	$108300
CUNY Baruch College	$103000
CUNY Queens College	$95200
CUNY Brooklyn College	$94800
CUNY City College	$90400
CUNY Hunter College	$87500
Top 100 Best Value Colleges Average	$113200