Irvine Valley College (IVC) is a public 2-year community college founded in 1979 and officially established as Irvine Valley College in 1985, located in Irvine, California, in the heart of Orange County. With approximately 14,000 students, IVC is consistently recognized as one of the top community colleges in California for transfer outcomes, academic quality, and student success. The college operates within the South Orange County Community College District alongside Saddleback College. Irvine's exceptional location — adjacent to UC Irvine, surrounded by Irvine Company campuses, and within easy reach of major technology, biotech, and financial services employers — gives IVC students a distinct advantage in career preparation and transfer pathways. The college is particularly well known for its strong STEM, business, and health science programs, and its graduates transfer to the University of California system in large numbers each year. IVC's 10-year median earnings of $62,144 — among the highest for California community colleges — reflect the quality of the local job market and the institution's strong transfer pipeline to 4-year universities. International students from over 30 countries represent approximately 3% of enrollment, attending through the college's International Student Program. The campus provides a modern learning environment with state-of-the-art facilities, and the Lasers athletic program competes in the California Community College Athletic Association. IVC tuition for California residents is among the lowest in the country, consistent with California's commitment to broad access to higher education.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
—
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$14880
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $11,860
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
