University of California-Riverside is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Riverside, California. It enrolls 22,593 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic CalendarQuarter
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Excellent
86/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes85
Value90
Affordability78
Selectivity50
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 76.4%, University of California-Riverside is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
76.4%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether University of California-Riverside is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
6.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of California-Riverside isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $14,304 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$14,304
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
47%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
31%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$15,606
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$49,806
Room & Board (on-campus)
$20,691
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,429
Books & Supplies
$1,576
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,730
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$7,255
Total Cost of Attendance
$38,942
Application fee: $80 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$8,852
$30,001 – $48,000
$9,840
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,111
$75,001 – $110,000
$16,571
Over $110,000
$30,393
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,20210%percentile
$7,83325%percentile
$17,500Medianpercentile
$25,00075%percentile
$30,05690%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $14,500
↓ $3,000
No Pell $15,000
↓ $2,500
Dependent students $14,771
↓ $2,729
Independent students $15,464
↓ $2,036
Female students $14,664
↓ $2,836
Male students $15,000
↓ $2,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,102, less than completers ($17,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
63% of full-time students who enrolled at University of California-Riverside graduate within six years, and 88% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
63%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
88%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of California-Riverside earn a median of $67,699 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$67,699
Earning > $25K
84%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$49,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$62,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$56,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$52,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$57,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,600, about 20% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
12.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 82% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
University of California-Riverside is home to 22,593 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 48% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
22,593
Part-Time
2%
First-Generation
48%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 39.9%9,012
Asian 35.9%8,111
White 10.3%2,334
Other 5.1%1,159
International 3.7%836
Black 3.5%800
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of California-Riverside. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityRiverside, California
Housing
Partly residential8,700 beds available
Adult Learners
5%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
University of California-Riverside offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
136 distinct programs across
20 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of California-Riverside is 23:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
23:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$18,666
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$252M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$146,692
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
1,026 instructional faculty across 6 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
374
36%
$198,242
Associate Professors
261
25%
$135,367
Assistant Professors
204
20%
$113,949
Instructors
2
0%
—
Lecturers
179
17%
$98,446
No Rank
6
1%
$93,322
Pros & Cons of University of California-Riverside
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of California-Riverside tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Best for:
Based on the data, University of California-Riverside is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about University of California-Riverside
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of California-Riverside.
Is University of California-Riverside hard to get into?
University of California-Riverside has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 76.4%.
What is the acceptance rate at University of California-Riverside?
University of California-Riverside has an acceptance rate of 76.4%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does University of California-Riverside cost?
The average net price after aid at University of California-Riverside is $14,304 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of California-Riverside worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $67,699 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $14,304 per year. That's roughly 4.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of California-Riverside known for?
University of California-Riverside is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Biology, Experimental Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of California-Riverside graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of California-Riverside are $67,699, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of California-Riverside accredited?
Yes. University of California-Riverside is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend University of California-Riverside?
University of California-Riverside enrolls 22,593 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-Riverside?
University of California-Riverside graduates 63% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of California-Riverside a public or private college?
University of California-Riverside is a Public institution.
Where is University of California-Riverside located?
University of California-Riverside is located in Riverside, California.
What programs does University of California-Riverside offer?
University of California-Riverside offers 136 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Biology, Experimental Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of California-Riverside?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of California-Riverside is 23:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in California
Other colleges in California share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
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Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
Acceptance rate
Selectivity
Completion
College outcomes
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For-profit colleges
Net price
Earnings
College ROI
College ownership
Rankings That Feature University of California-Riverside
University of California-Riverside appears in these rankings, built from the same federal data and the UCD Score.
Best Biology Colleges in California
The top Biology colleges in California, ranked by UCD Score on outcomes, value, and net price.
93 UCD Score
174 Colleges
$536 Lowest Net
$128,566 Top Earn
Best Business Administration Colleges in California
The top Business Administration colleges in California, ranked by UCD Score on outcomes, value, and net price.
93 UCD Score
216 Colleges
$536 Lowest Net
$92,446 Top Earn
Best Computer Science Colleges in California
The top Computer Science colleges in California, ranked by UCD Score on outcomes, value, and net price.
93 UCD Score
128 Colleges
$536 Lowest Net
$138,687 Top Earn
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