University of California Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
University of California-Riverside is a public research university in Riverside, California, with about 22,593 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 76.39% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $67,699 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $15,606
- 2024 Average Net Price: $14,304 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 76.39% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 22,593 97.8% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 75.96%
- Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
- First-Generation Students: 48.3%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 2.1% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 4.2% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 89.5%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 24,257
- Applicants (IPEDS): 62,807
- Room & Board: $20,691 annual estimate
University of California-Riverside: what the data shows
Common questions about University of California-Riverside, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is University of California-Riverside?
University of California-Riverside is located in Riverside, CA (ZIP 92521).
NCES locale classification: City.
Is University of California-Riverside public or private?
University of California-Riverside is a Public institution.
How much does University of California-Riverside cost?
Published tuition: $15,606 in-state, $49,806 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $14,304.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $8,852 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $9,840 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $13,111 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $16,571 |
| $110,001+ | $30,393 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $62,424.
How hard is it to get into University of California-Riverside?
Admission rate: 76.39%.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is University of California-Riverside?
Total enrollment: 22,593 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 24,257 students.
Graduate enrollment: 3,784 students.
About 98% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-Riverside?
150%-time completion rate: 75.96%.
First-year retention: 87.6%.
What do graduates of University of California-Riverside earn?
Median earnings: $48,593 six years after entry; $67,699 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $17,500.
46.95% of students receive Pell grants.
What is University of California-Riverside known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Business Administration and Management, General (932 completions)
- Research and Experimental Psychology, Other (626 completions)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General (583 completions)
- Computer Science (503 completions)
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics (323 completions)
- Sociology, General (260 completions)
- Political Science and Government, General (210 completions)
- Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education (179 completions)
- Mechanical Engineering (162 completions)
- Education, General (154 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is University of California-Riverside a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 76.39%; completion rate 75.96%; median earnings $67,699 at 10 years; net price $14,304. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$15,606
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at University of California-Riverside was $15,606.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$14,304
2024 Value
In 2024 University of California-Riverside had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $14,304.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$57,216 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$14,304 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$62,424 4-Year In-State Tuition
$199,224 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$20,691 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,576 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$37,873 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$151,492 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for University of California-Riverside.
Financial Aid by Income Level
46.95% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
31.03% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at University of California-Riverside was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for University of California-Riverside in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $12,960 | $35,838 | $11,473 |
| 2014 | $13,407 | $36,285 | $13,144 |
| 2015 | $13,527 | $38,235 | $11,760 |
| 2016 | $13,581 | $40,263 | $12,645 |
| 2017 | $13,917 | $41,931 | $12,344 |
| 2018 | $13,827 | $42,819 | $12,743 |
| 2019 | $13,853 | $43,607 | $12,871 |
| 2020 | $14,024 | $43,778 | $11,822 |
| 2021 | $13,754 | $43,508 | $13,233 |
| 2022 | $13,874 | $43,946 | $14,306 |
| 2023 | $14,170 | $44,947 | $13,707 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
76.39% Acceptance Rate
62,807 Total Applicants
39,758 Students Admitted
5,521 First-Time Students Enrolled
13.89% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
University of California-Riverside reported total enrollment of about 22,593 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 47% male and 53% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes Hispanic or Latino (39.9%), Asian (35.9%), and White (10.3%). About 46.95% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 48.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
97.8% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at University of California-Riverside in 2024 is 22,593 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 24,257 students. Graduate enrollment is about 3,784 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
87.6%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is Hispanic or Latino at 39.9%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
65.17% 100% Completion Time
75.96% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 65.17% of students graduating from University of California-Riverside completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Business Administration and Management, General: 54% male / 46% female
- Research and Experimental Psychology, Other: 25% male / 75% female
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 38% male / 62% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: Hispanic or Latino.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for University of California-Riverside.
Return on Investment
$17,500 Median Student Debt
$67,699 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
25.85% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
1083.22% Return on Investment
2.6 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for University of California-Riverside.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 88 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Business Administration and Management, General: 932 completions
2. Research and Experimental Psychology, Other: 626 completions
3. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 583 completions
4. Computer Science: 503 completions
5. Econometrics and Quantitative Economics: 323 completions
6. Sociology, General: 260 completions
7. Political Science and Government, General: 210 completions
8. Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education: 179 completions
9. Mechanical Engineering: 162 completions
Most popular programs at University of California-Riverside.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for University of California-Riverside graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for University of California-Riverside from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 89.5%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $17,096
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $16,225
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
University of California-Riverside is a public institution located in Riverside, CA, classified as Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Business Administration and Management, General, Research and Experimental Psychology, Other, Biology/Biological Sciences, General. Enrollment is approximately 22,593 students. Student body composition includes Hispanic or Latino (39.9%), Asian (35.9%), White (10.3%). The admission rate is 76.39%. The 150%-time completion rate is 75.96%. Approximately 46.95% of students receive Pell Grants. About 48.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
Location
Riverside, CA 92521
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 88 distinct degree programs, University of California-Riverside provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is University of California-Riverside located?
University of California-Riverside is located in Riverside, CA.
What is University of California-Riverside's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at University of California-Riverside is 76.4% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 62,807 applicants and 39,758 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does University of California-Riverside cost?
Reported tuition is $15,606 and average net price is $14,304 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $20,691 annually.
What is the student body demographics at University of California-Riverside?
University of California-Riverside reports undergraduate enrollment of about 24,257 students, Hispanic or Latino (39.9%), Asian (35.9%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend University of California-Riverside?
About 48.3% of students at University of California-Riverside are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of University of California-Riverside earn?
Median earnings are $48,593 six years after entry and $67,699 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-Riverside?
The 150%-time completion rate is 76.0% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do University of California-Riverside students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $17,500.
Is University of California-Riverside public or private?
University of California-Riverside is a public institution located in Riverside, CA.
Is University of California-Riverside an HBCU?
No. University of California-Riverside is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is University of California-Riverside a tribal college?
No. University of California-Riverside is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is University of California-Riverside a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
By the common federal eligibility proxy used here (≥25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard), yes—University of California-Riverside reports 39.9% Hispanic enrollment share.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- Riverside, California city profile
- Far West regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.