In 1980, Jacobs was the co-recipient, with Andrew J. Viterbi, the 1980 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) biannual award.
In 1992, Jacobs was awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year Award in High Technology by the Institute of American Entrepreneurs, and in May 1993, he was awarded the American Electronics Association (AEA) "Inventing America's Future" award.

In 1994, for his development of CDMA, Jacobs was awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation.

In 1994, he was also awarded the "Cornell University Entrepreneur of the Year" Award.

In 1995, Jacobs won the IEEE Alexander Graham Bell Medal – For outstanding contributions to telecommunications, including leadership, theory, practice and product development.

In 2001, Jacobs was awarded the Bower Award for Business Leadership in 2001.

In 2004, Jacobs and his wife Joan Jacobs are contributors to public arts and education in San Diego.
For this, Jacobs was awarded the Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship in 2004.

In 2005, Jacobs delivered the 2005 commencement speech at MIT, and the 2008 commencement speech at the Jacobs School of Engineering.

In 2007, Jacobs and Andrew J. Viterbi received the 2007 IEEE/RSE Wolfson James Clerk Maxwell Award, for "fundamental contributions, innovation, and leadership that enabled the growth of wireless telecommunications".

In 2009, he was named a Fellow of AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science).

In 2011, he received the Marconi Prize together with Jack Wolf.

In 2011, he was named a Marconi Prize recipient and Marconi Fellow.

In 2011, Branson was inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.

In 2012, Jacobs was named the W. P. Carey School of Business Dean's Council of 100 Executive of the Year, which honors change-making business leaders who serve as models for today's business students.

In 2013, Jacobs was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

In 2013, he received the Medal of Honor from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), which is the highest honor an engineer can receive from his or her peers.
The IEEE said he was receiving the award not just for his innovations but for "the ability to translate innovation into industry applications, time after time after time."

In November 2013, he was conferred the title of "Distinguished Honor Chair Professor"   of National Tsing Hua University, TAIWAN.

On August 19, 2014, Jacobs was conferred the "Honorary Doctor of Engineering Degree" (Honoris Causa) from National Tsing Hua University, TAIWAN.

On October 25, 2014, Jacobs was conferred the "Honorary Doctor of Engineering Degree" from Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, CHINA.

In 2014, Jacobs was elected to the Computer History Museum as a Fellow – for "his pioneering work in digital mobile telephony, data and communications, and technology".

In 2015, Jacobs received the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy, for having made a significant and lasting impact on a particular field, nation and/or the international community.

In 2017, Jacobs, along with Andrew Viterbi, received the IEEE Milestone Award for their CDMA and spread spectrum development that drives the mobile industry.

On February 1, 2018, he was appointed as an Honorary Advisor to the President of National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan.

In March 2018, he was named the winner of IMEC Lifetime of Innovation Award
In July 2019, he was conferred "Honorary Doctorate Degree" by the University of York, UK.

In October 2019, he received the IET Mountbatten Medal in London, UK.
In 1980, Jacobs was the co-recipient, with Andrew J. Viterbi, the 1980 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) biannual award. In 1992, Jacobs was awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year Award in High Technology by the Institute of American Entrepreneurs, and in May 1993, he was awarded the American Electronics Association (AEA) "Inventing America's Future" award.
In 1994, for his development of CDMA, Jacobs was awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation.
In 1994, he was also awarded the "Cornell University Entrepreneur of the Year" Award.
In 1995, Jacobs won the IEEE Alexander Graham Bell Medal – For outstanding contributions to telecommunications, including leadership, theory, practice and product development.
In 2001, Jacobs was awarded the Bower Award for Business Leadership in 2001.
In 2004, Jacobs and his wife Joan Jacobs are contributors to public arts and education in San Diego. For this, Jacobs was awarded the Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship in 2004.
In 2005, Jacobs delivered the 2005 commencement speech at MIT, and the 2008 commencement speech at the Jacobs School of Engineering.
In 2007, Jacobs and Andrew J. Viterbi received the 2007 IEEE/RSE Wolfson James Clerk Maxwell Award, for "fundamental contributions, innovation, and leadership that enabled the growth of wireless telecommunications".
In 2009, he was named a Fellow of AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science).
In 2011, he received the Marconi Prize together with Jack Wolf.
In 2011, he was named a Marconi Prize recipient and Marconi Fellow.
In 2011, Branson was inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.
In 2012, Jacobs was named the W. P. Carey School of Business Dean's Council of 100 Executive of the Year, which honors change-making business leaders who serve as models for today's business students.
In 2013, Jacobs was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
In 2013, he received the Medal of Honor from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), which is the highest honor an engineer can receive from his or her peers. The IEEE said he was receiving the award not just for his innovations but for "the ability to translate innovation into industry applications, time after time after time."
In November 2013, he was conferred the title of "Distinguished Honor Chair Professor"   of National Tsing Hua University, TAIWAN.
On August 19, 2014, Jacobs was conferred the "Honorary Doctor of Engineering Degree" (Honoris Causa) from National Tsing Hua University, TAIWAN.
On October 25, 2014, Jacobs was conferred the "Honorary Doctor of Engineering Degree" from Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, CHINA.
In 2014, Jacobs was elected to the Computer History Museum as a Fellow – for "his pioneering work in digital mobile telephony, data and communications, and technology".
In 2015, Jacobs received the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy, for having made a significant and lasting impact on a particular field, nation and/or the international community.
In 2017, Jacobs, along with Andrew Viterbi, received the IEEE Milestone Award for their CDMA and spread spectrum development that drives the mobile industry.
On February 1, 2018, he was appointed as an Honorary Advisor to the President of National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan.
In March 2018, he was named the winner of IMEC Lifetime of Innovation Award
In July 2019, he was conferred "Honorary Doctorate Degree" by the University of York, UK.
In October 2019, he received the IET Mountbatten Medal in London, UK.
Irwin M. Jacobs