University of California-Riverside: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Riverside, California · Public · Open access · CDS 2024-2025
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University of California-Riverside is a public university in Riverside, California that admits about 77% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $14,304 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Business Administration, Management and Operations, Biology, General and Research and Experimental Psychology, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 76% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 21.2 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
University of California-Riverside is a public institution located in Riverside, California. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of California-Riverside admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 77%. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $14,304 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What parents should know about University of California-Riverside right now
UC Riverside became a UC campus in 1954 (its predecessor Citrus Experiment Station opened in 1907) and now enrolls about 22,903 undergraduates out of 26,809 total students. The standout 2025 story for parents is access and outcomes: U.S. News named UCR the No. 1 university in the nation for social mobility, a category UCR has topped in five of the seven years it has existed, with more than 45 percent of UCR undergraduates receiving Pell Grants. UCR also welcomed its largest-ever entering class in fall 2025, with 8,297 first-year and transfer students, almost entirely Californians, after admitting 70,557 students for fall 2025, roughly 19,000 more than the prior year. UCR was the first UC campus to offer undergraduate degrees in creative writing and public policy, is one of only three UCs offering an undergraduate business administration degree, and houses the world's largest science fiction, horror, and fantasy literature collection (the Eaton Collection). The campus has the highest share of African American students of any UC and the second-highest Latino enrollment after UC Merced, with around 43 percent of admitted students historically being first-generation. UCR placed No. 75 in the U.S. News overall ranking and 24th among public universities in the Wall Street Journal rankings, climbing 73 positions in 2024, signaling steady upward momentum families should know about.
What GPA does my child need for University of California-Riverside?
61% of enrolled students at University of California-Riverside had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.83, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What does University of California-Riverside weight in admissions?
University of California-Riverside reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean
- • Academic GPA
- • Application essay
- • Rigor of secondary school record
SAT and ACT scores University of California-Riverside typically admits
Many applicants to schools in this tier submit test scores, though the policy varies by year — check the latest test-optional status before deciding.
- • Test-blind: University of California-Riverside does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if submitted.
- • Policy detail: Not considered
How much does University of California-Riverside actually cost?
Published tuition is $15,606 for in-state students and $49,806 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $20,691 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $14,304 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 47% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | — |
| Room and board | — |
| Average net price (after aid) | $14,304 |
| Application fee | $80 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for University of California-Riverside
| Regular deadline | 12/02 |
| Notification date | March 31 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
Will my child graduate from University of California-Riverside?
These predict outcomes at University of California-Riverside better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at University of California-Riverside
The most popular undergraduate programs at University of California-Riverside, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Biology, General and Research and Experimental Psychology. Across all programs, University of California-Riverside confers roughly 3,392 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business Administration, Management and Operations program report a median income of about $74,583 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 795 | $74,583 |
| Biology, General | 639 | $61,749 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 578 | — |
| Sociology | 340 | $53,798 |
| Economics | 331 | $66,935 |
| Political Science and Government | 291 | $59,096 |
| Computer Science | 212 | — |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 206 | $47,385 |
Is University of California-Riverside safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), University of California-Riverside disclosed 478 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 21.2 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 8 violent offenses and 9 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at University of California-Riverside?
About 34% of undergraduates at University of California-Riverside live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. In Greek life, 4% of men join a fraternity and 4% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in California parents ask about
- University of California-Merced91% acceptance
- California Institute of Technology3% acceptance
- San Diego State University36% acceptance
- San Jose State University85% acceptance
- San Francisco State University96% acceptance
- California State University-Long Beach46% acceptance
- California State University-Fullerton91% acceptance
- California State University-Northridge93% acceptance
Next steps for University of California-Riverside
Common questions parents ask about University of California-Riverside
What GPA do I need for University of California-Riverside?
61% of enrolled students at University of California-Riverside had a high school GPA of 3.75 or above, and the average was 3.83, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does University of California-Riverside typically admit?
University of California-Riverside is test-blind: SAT and ACT scores are not considered in admission decisions, even if you submit them. There is no score range because scores are not read.
How much does University of California-Riverside actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at University of California-Riverside after grants and scholarships is $14,304 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $15,606 and $49,806 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is University of California-Riverside realistic for my child?
University of California-Riverside admits 77% of applicants, so the transcript and course rigour carry the decision, with no published score band to place against. Then check the $14,304 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at University of California-Riverside?
University of California-Riverside accepts about 77% of applicants out of roughly 57,714 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is University of California-Riverside test-optional?
University of California-Riverside is test-blind: it does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions, even if you submit them.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-Riverside?
About 76% of students at University of California-Riverside graduate within six years, and 65% finish in four years. 88% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does University of California-Riverside look for in applicants?
University of California-Riverside rates GPA and the application essay as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is University of California-Riverside a public or private school, and where is it located?
University of California-Riverside is a public institution located in Riverside, California.
What are the most popular majors at University of California-Riverside?
The largest undergraduate majors at University of California-Riverside by annual graduates are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Biology, General and Research and Experimental Psychology. The school awards about 3,392 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is University of California-Riverside safe? What is its campus crime rate?
University of California-Riverside reported 478 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 21.2 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at University of California-Riverside?
At University of California-Riverside, 34% of undergraduates live on campus, 4% of men are in fraternities, 4% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University of California-Riverside, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers