The University of California, Irvine was named a “Top Producing Institution” by the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, according to a March 12 announcement. The recognition comes as the program marks its 25th anniversary and highlights UC Irvine’s support for students with high financial need who wish to study or intern abroad.
This distinction is part of the Gilman Program’s 25th Anniversary Top Producing Institution campaign, which honors U.S. colleges and universities that have supported the most Gilman Scholars from 2001 to 2025. Since the program began, UC Irvine has produced 285 Gilman Scholars who have studied in nearly 40 countries.
The university was previously recognized in 2021 by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs for being a top producer of Gilman Scholars over two decades in the large institution category, having produced 248 scholars at that time. The Gilman Program aims to make study abroad more accessible and inclusive for American undergraduates who might not otherwise participate due to financial constraints.
More than 50,000 students from all U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and other territories have participated in the program since its inception in 2001, studying or interning in over 170 countries worldwide. The list of top producing institutions is compiled by the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs together with the Institute of International Education and was announced at The Forum on Education Abroad annual conference. The full list can be found at www.GilmanScholarship.org.
University of California Irvine’s teams, known as the Anteaters, compete in NCAA Division I athletics according to the official website. The university has earned a Carnegie classification for very high research activity according to the official website and operates within the University of California system according to the official website. UC Irvine emphasizes advancing knowledge through research, education, public service, and inclusive excellence according to the official website. It also engages in international programs and research collaborations to enhance its global influence according to the official website, and holds accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission according to the official website.
As UC Irvine continues its commitment to diversity and accessibility in higher education opportunities abroad, this recognition underscores its ongoing efforts toward inclusive academic excellence.
