First-generation students make up half of UCI’s class of 2018

More than 7,000 students and their families will attend University of California, Irvine commencement ceremonies between Friday, June 15, and Monday, June 18, in the Bren Events Center.

Overall, UCI will grant nearly 9,800 undergraduate and graduate degrees this academic year. And in a testament to the school’s commitment to access and affordability, 50 percent of bachelor’s degrees (4,305) will be awarded to first-generation college students – the second year in a row that half are first-gen. This high percentage of traditionally underserved students is one reason why UCI has twice earned the top spot in a New York Times ranking of universities that do the most in helping students achieve the American dream.

“This graduating class continues to highlight how well UCI serves the people of our state by offering a world-class education to our best and brightest students, regardless of their financial circumstances, and acting as a powerful engine of upward economic mobility,” said Chancellor Howard Gillman.

The graduation data also validates UCI’s status as a Hispanic-serving institution, a federal designation awarded to universities where at least 25 percent of undergraduates identify as Latino and at least half of all students get financial aid. UCI remains a popular choice for California’s Latino high school graduates, receiving more fall 2018 applications from them than any other UC campus.