College Search
University of California-Riverside

University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CA · City · 22,593 students
WebsiteForbes rankingScorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$14,304
Average net priceYour net price
In-state · 2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
76%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
70% typical
$67,699
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$63,395 typical
76%
Acceptance rate
Applied for fall 2024
73% typical · not scored
Accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
About

The University of California, Riverside is nationally recognized for its transformative social mobility and high-impact research, boasting particular strength in its Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering and the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. Tracing its origins to a pioneering citrus experiment station, UCR continues to excel in world-class programs like entomology, plant biology, and environmental sciences, alongside rapidly growing schools of business and medicine. The student experience is vibrant, inclusive, and collaborative, shaped by one of the most ethnically and economically diverse undergraduate populations among major U.S. research universities. Distinctively, UCR provides undergraduates with rare, direct access to tier-one research opportunities while consistently ranking as a top public university for helping students of all backgrounds achieve post-graduation success.

Wikipedia:The University of California, Riverside is a public land-grant research university in Riverside, California, United States. It is one of the ten campuses of the University of California system. The main campus sits on 1,900 acres (769 ha) in a suburban district of Riverside with a branch campus of 20 acres (8 ha) in Palm Desert. In 1907, the predecessor to UCR was founded as the UC Citrus Experiment Station, which conducted research in biological pest control and the use of growth regulators.

Location
Riverside, CA, 92521 · City campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
SNA · Orange County
37 mi away
Open in Google MapsView official campus map
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
In-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$15,606$49,806
Housing & food (on campus)$20,691$20,691
Books & supplies$1,576$1,576
Cost of attendance$38,942$85,809
Average net price$14,304Not published
Out-of-state prices
Tuition & fees$49,806
In-state: $15,606
Housing & food (on campus)$20,691
Books & supplies$1,576
Cost of attendance$85,809
In-state: $38,942
Average net priceNot published
In-state: $14,304
Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: admissions.ucr.edu
How it’s made up · out-of-state, 2026-27
University of California-Riverside’s own figures for 2026-2027, newer than the 2024-25 federal figures above, so the amounts differ.
Fees$1,202
Housing$13,793
Food$7,282
Books & supplies$1,700
Personal expenses$2,525
Transportation$1,100
Total published by the school$85,809
Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24
$0–30k
$8,852
$30–48k
$9,840
$48–75k
$13,111
$75–110k
$16,571
$110k+
$30,393
Merit aid · 2025-26
Awarded without financial need. Students with financial need can get merit awards too; they're counted as need-based aid.
Average award$12,152
Share of first-years who get one3%
Source: University of California-Riverside's Common Data Set — the school's own yearly report of its admissions and aid figures (PDF).
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
76%
Entered 2017–18
Within 4 yrs
65%
Back for yr 2
88%
Transferred
11%
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
77% graduated · 12% transferred · 10% left or unknown · none still enrolled
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$48,593
10 yrs after entry$67,699
Debt
Median at graduation$17,500
Monthly payment$186
Middle 50% owe$7.8k–$25k
90th percentile$30,056
Green marks a figure above the typical Doctoral University: 70% graduate within 6 yrs, $63,395 earned 10 yrs after entry.
Admissions
Getting in · applied for fall 2024
Admit rate
76%
Test policy
Test free
Checked Sep 2026

Wondering if University of California-Riverside is the right fit for you?

SchoolScout builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.

Personalized reach / match / safety list
Financial aid & net cost estimates
Deep dives on any school
Scholarship search
Essay prompts

If University of California-Riverside asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the school's application.

Student Body
Gender
Men 47%Women 53%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
22 : 1
Pell grant
47%
First-gen
48%
Family income
$35,809
Independent
8%
Veterans
0%
Age at entry
20.0
Part-time
2%
Race & ethnicity
White
10%
Hispanic
40%
Black
4%
Asian
36%
Two or more
5%
Non-resident
4%
Unknown
2%
Varsity sports
NCAA Division I without football · EADA 2024-25
  • Baseball
    Men's
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Golf
    Men's · Women's
  • Soccer
    Men's · Women's
  • Softball
    Women's
  • Tennis
    Men's · Women's
  • Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Volleyball
    Women's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021
After 6 yrs
$48,593
After 10 yrs
$67,699
Business Administration, Management and Operations836
Biology, General705
Research and Experimental Psychology597
Sociology325
Computer Science310
Economics299
Political Science and Government265
Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education203
Film/Video and Photographic Arts190
Mathematics172
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology163
Neurobiology and Neurosciences136
Mechanical Engineering120
English Language and Literature, General111
History103
Anthropology90
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$277M
Full-time faculty
89%
Faculty salary
$17,096/mo
Teaching spend
$16,225
per student
Federal loans
31%
Classification
Carnegie type
Doctoral University
Research activity
R1 — very high research
$232M research spending · 328 research doctorates a year
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, selective admissions

Wondering if University of California-Riverside is the right fit for you?

SchoolScout builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.

Personalized reach / match / safety list
Financial aid & net cost estimates
Deep dives on any school
Scholarship search