Acceptance Rate
76%
Avg. SAT
1370
75th percentile
“At UC Riverside, you'll join a scrappy underdog in California's UC system, turning citrus groves into a powerhouse for diverse dreamers tackling real-world problems.”
Riverside, CA
Location
Large City
Campus Setting
UC Riverside traces its roots to 1907 as the University of California's Citrus Experiment Station, born from Inland Empire farmers battling pests and blight—today, you'll wander its 1,200-acre botanic gardens, the largest university collection in the U.S., amid orange groves that still fuel groundbreaking ag research. What started as a sleepy extension in 1954 has ballooned into a massive public university with nearly 25,000 undergrads, shedding its old 'UCR Mort' nickname for a reputation as the UC system's rising star for social mobility. You'll thrive here if you're a first-gen student from varied backgrounds—over 60% qualify—who grinds through challenges with grit; commuters make up half the population, drawn to affordable Riverside living far from coastal frenzy. But tradeoffs hit hard: scorching 100°F summers test your resolve, and the sprawling Inland Empire city feels more strip-mall suburban than vibrant urban hub, lacking the glamour of LA or SF.
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Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
You'll dive into UCR's strengths in environmental sciences, engineering through the Bourns College, and business at the A. Gary Anderson School, where hands-on labs let you engineer drought-resistant crops or crunch data on climate impacts—perfect if you crave applied research over ivory-tower theory. Classrooms buzz in the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences (CNAS), birthplace of modern citrus breeding, but expect massive lectures in intro courses due to the 23:1 student-faculty ratio; upper-division seminars shrink to 20-30 students, where profs push you to publish early. Research opps abound even as an undergrad—think sequencing genomes at the Institute of Integrative Genome Biology—but you'll compete fiercely for spots amid the size, and humanities lag behind STEM star power.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
22,600 undergrad • 3,784 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
12%
Black / African American
3%
Hispanic / Latino
37%
Asian
33%
Other / Multi-racial
15%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Riverside, CA
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
Campus pulses with Highlanders pride—cheer the basketball team's Big West upsets from the SRC Arena, or join over 450 clubs, from K-pop dance crews to Latinx engineering societies, reflecting UCR's top-ranked ethnic diversity. A typical week mixes late-night study grinds in the massive Orbach Library with Friday food trucks at the Bell Tower or pool parties at the rec center; residential life centers on Lothian Hall's suites for freshmen, but many commute from off-campus apartments, fostering a hustle vibe over rah-rah traditions. Social scene thrives on multiculturalism—think Diwali festivals and Holi splashes—but cliques form around majors, and the relentless heat keeps you indoors more than you'd like, while Riverside's quieter nights mean road trips to LA for bigger thrills.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
Big West Conference
ROTC & Veteran Support
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Credit for military training
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Recognized student veteran organization
Yes
Member of DoD Voluntary Educational Partnership MOU
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
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Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
88%
4 Years Graduation Rate
69%
6 Years Graduation Rate
80%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$67,699
88% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at University of California-Riverside and return in the fall. 69% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 80% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
69%
4-5 years
11%
6-8 years
1%
Non-grad
19%
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Key Statistics
Type
Public
Tuition
$11,564
Acceptance
76%
Undergrads
22,600
4-Year Grad Rate
69%
Endowment
$252M
Riverside, CA 92521
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