Federal data, no marketing spin COLLEGES 50 SOURCES IPEDS · CDS · SCORECARD
CAMPUS · RIVERSIDE, CA · PUBLIC

UC Riverside Acceptance Rate

University of California-Riverside
63.3%
ACCEPT
Why this page exists. I'm a parent who went through college admissions with my own kids, and I got tired of glossy brochures and sticker prices that mean nothing. For UC Riverside, the gap is real: a $38,942 published sticker, but families actually pay about $15,753/yr after aid. Every number on this page comes straight from federal data (IPEDS & College Scorecard) — the real net price, what graduates actually earn, and your honest odds. No rankings theater, no marketing spin.
50
FIT
SAFETY
UC Riverside is a safety for most applicants.
Score reflects acceptance odds × cost × outcome quality.
ACCEPTANCE
63.3%
of 62,807 applicants
SALARY · 10-YR
$67,699
across all majors
01

UC Riverside at a Glance

28,886
Total Enrollment
$17,500
Median Debt
47.0%
Pell Grant Rate

UC Riverside Rankings

Ranking2025Year
US News National Universities #76 2025
ARWU (Shanghai) #151 2024

UC Riverside Admissions Overview

University of California-Riverside is a public university in Riverside, CA with 28,886 students. With a 63.3% acceptance rate, most students who meet the requirements are admitted. The most popular majors are Biological Sciences, Social Sciences, and Business/Marketing.

Full NameUniversity of California-Riverside
LocationRiverside, CA 92521
TypePublic
Websiteucr.edu/
Total Enrollment28,886
Undergrad Enrollment24,777
Female Students51.8%

Is UC Riverside a Reach, Match, or Safety?

UC Riverside accepts 63.3% of applicants, making it accessible for most qualified students. If you meet the basic academic requirements, this is likely a Safety school for you.

Your ProfileUC Riverside Is...What to Do
Meet academic requirements Safety Strong odds — apply with confidence
Slightly below average Match Apply — still realistic

UC Riverside True Cost by Family Income

47% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating UC Riverside enrolls a meaningful share of lower-income students.

Family IncomeAnnual Net Price4-Year Total
$0-30k $8,852 $35,408
$30-48k $9,840 $39,360
$48-75k $13,111 $52,444
$75-110k $16,571 $66,284
$110k+ $30,393 $121,572

Cost Breakdown

Room & Board$19,433
Total Cost of Attendance$38,942

Want to see how UC Riverside stacks up? Compare college costs side by side and check the college rankings by net price and salary outcomes.

Popular Majors at UC Riverside

The most popular fields of study, ranked by the number of degrees awarded.

Biological Sciences
19.0%
Social Sciences
18.0%
Business/Marketing
14.0%
Psychology
10.0%
Engineering
6.8%
Best Majors at UC Riverside →

{sn} Student Demographics

White
10.9%
Black/African American
3.3%
Hispanic/Latino
39.1%
Asian
35.7%
International
4.1%

How to Get Into UC Riverside

UC Riverside is a Safety school for most students who meet the basic requirements. Don't let the higher acceptance rate fool you — UC Riverside still offers strong programs and outcomes.

63.3%
Acceptance Rate
62,807
Total Applicants

What UC Riverside Values Most in Applicants

Admission factor importance from the Common Data Set — what the school officially says matters.

FactorImportance
Academic Gpa Very Important
Rigor Of Secondary School Record Very Important
Class Rank Considered
Standardized Test Scores Important
Application Essay Very Important
Recommendation Not Considered
Extracurricular Activities Important
Talent Ability Important
Character Personal Qualities Important
First Generation Considered
Alumni Relation Not Considered
Interview Not Considered
Work Experience Considered
Volunteer Work Important

Want to know your odds? Use the college admissions calculator to see your chances at UC Riverside by GPA and SAT/ACT — or calculate your college GPA first to check where you stand.

UC Riverside Application Deadlines & Requirements

Key dates for the UC Riverside UC admission cycle. Mark these on your calendar — missing a deadline means waiting another year.

DeadlineDate
Regular DecisionNov 30
Financial Aid (FAFSA/CSS)Mar 2
UC System: All University of California campuses share the same application deadline. Submit one UC Application for all UC schools.

See UC Riverside alongside every school in our full college application deadlines calendar for 2026–2027.

{sn} Financial Aid & Student Debt

47.0%
Pell Grant Recipients
Students from low-income families
$17,500
Median Debt at Graduation
Federal loans only
$48,593
Median Earnings (6yr)
6 years after enrollment

Frequently Asked Questions About UC Riverside

What is UC Riverside's acceptance rate?
UC Riverside has an acceptance rate of 63.3%, making it accessible to most qualified applicants. This rate reflects freshman applicants for the most recent admissions cycle.
What are the most popular majors at UC Riverside?
The most popular majors at UC Riverside by degrees awarded are: Biological Sciences (19.0%), Social Sciences (18.0%), Business/Marketing (14.0%), Psychology (10.0%), Engineering (6.8%). These percentages reflect undergraduate degrees conferred in the most recent reporting year.
▎FROM THE DATA TO YOUR LIST

Plug your stats in. We'll tell you where you stand.

Browse all schools

Other Colleges in CA

Stanford University
3.9% accept · Stanford
UCLA
9.0% accept · Los Angeles
USC
10.0% accept · Los Angeles
UC Berkeley
11.7% accept · Berkeley
UC San Diego
24.5% accept · La Jolla
UC Irvine
25.6% accept · Irvine

Data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, IPEDS. UC Riverside is not affiliated with NextColleges.