University of California-Riverside is a public 4-year college in Riverside, California with 22,593 undergraduates. It admits 76% of applicants, costs an average of $12,672 a year after grants and graduates 75% of its students.
Figures from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, released October 15, 2026. What each number covers.
University of California-Riverside acceptance rate and admissions
University of California-Riverside admitted 76% of applicants for fall 2024. The median acceptance rate at 4-year colleges is 77%.
Test scores: Neither required nor recommended (as reported for fall 2024 admission). That means you can apply without SAT or ACT scores. Check the admissions office for the current policy.
University of California-Riverside tuition, cost and net price
| Tuition and fees, in-state (2025-26) | $16,103 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state (2025-26) | $53,705 |
| On-campus housing and food (2025-26) | $20,416 |
| Total cost of attendance (2024-25) | $38,424 |
| Average net price after grants (2024-25) | $12,672 |
Students who get federal aid pay an average of $12,672 a year after grants and scholarships, $25,752 less than the full cost of attendance. This figure covers in-state students.
What families pay, by income
Average yearly cost after grants for aided first-time students paying in-state tuition, by family income (2024-25):
Your own price depends on your family's full situation. Run University of California-Riverside's net price calculator for a personal estimate, or make a "what it costs us" card.
University of California-Riverside graduation rate, earnings and debt
- 75% of first-time, full-time students finished within six years (students who started in 2019).
- Former students earned a median of $72,974 a year, 10 years after they started (students who received federal aid and were working).
- Students who completed left with a median of $16,368 in federal student loans.
Earnings compared
Debt compared
Median debt is 22% of median earnings 10 years after entry. Many advisers suggest keeping total student debt below one year of expected pay. See the monthly payment.
University of California-Riverside majors and what graduates earn
University of California-Riverside awarded bachelor's degrees in 53 fields recently. The best-paid graduates four years out came from computer science ($117,705).
All 53 majors at University of California-Riverside
| Major | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer science | 301 | $73,293 | $117,705 | $15,611 |
| Computer engineering | 42 | $76,772 | $107,193 | $20,666 |
| Electrical engineering | 62 | $83,137 | $102,630 | $22,500 |
| Mechanical engineering | 121 | $69,819 | $93,721 | $19,958 |
| Chemical engineering | 48 | $73,094 | $91,457 | $18,086 |
| Biomedical engineering | 74 | $52,518 | $90,041 | $18,500 |
| Environmental engineering | 23 | $48,896 | $84,300 | $21,250 |
| Statistics | 22 | $53,939 | $78,492 | n/a |
| Physics | 43 | $34,470 | $74,410 | $17,500 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | 35 | $52,104 | $72,295 | $17,145 |
| Business administration | 812 | $54,234 | $72,027 | $13,763 |
| Economics | 315 | $45,759 | $66,682 | $15,000 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | 65 | $44,322 | $65,813 | $17,083 |
| Environmental science | 50 | $46,178 | $64,944 | $13,500 |
| Chemistry | 59 | $51,428 | $64,131 | $15,299 |
| Mathematics | 130 | $39,461 | $63,596 | $17,763 |
| Liberal arts and general studies | 98 | $34,349 | $62,211 | $14,875 |
| Geology and earth sciences | 16 | $31,628 | $59,677 | n/a |
| Biochemistry and molecular biology | 112 | $40,163 | $59,549 | $15,000 |
| Public Policy Analysis | 89 | $44,033 | $58,504 | $16,660 |
| Sustainability Studies | 25 | $45,627 | $58,463 | $21,500 |
| Biology | 583 | $29,365 | $58,339 | $15,616 |
| International/Globalization Studies | 21 | $40,708 | $57,959 | n/a |
| Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education | 179 | $31,262 | $57,847 | $15,000 |
| Political science | 232 | $38,295 | $56,740 | $17,708 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 34 | $35,211 | $56,555 | $12,333 |
| International relations | 57 | $41,407 | $56,108 | $15,000 |
| Sociology | 252 | $36,034 | $55,682 | $14,250 |
| Social Sciences, Other | 20 | $43,005 | $55,087 | $17,764 |
| Interdisciplinary studies, other | 2 | n/a | $54,090 | n/a |
| Film and photography | 196 | $29,349 | $52,699 | $15,500 |
| History | 110 | $32,760 | $51,913 | $17,302 |
| Neuroscience | 108 | $26,659 | $51,865 | $18,606 |
| Philosophy | 31 | $32,349 | $51,402 | $16,660 |
| English | 106 | $28,456 | $50,712 | $15,000 |
| Research and experimental psychology | 599 | $31,960 | $49,947 | $15,000 |
| Linguistics | 49 | $29,142 | $46,306 | $17,243 |
| Anthropology | 68 | $35,867 | $45,821 | $16,500 |
| Dance | 11 | $28,531 | $45,804 | n/a |
| Romance languages | 52 | $30,400 | $42,692 | $14,500 |
| Fine and studio arts | 53 | $26,177 | $40,774 | $16,500 |
| Area Studies | 7 | n/a | $39,039 | n/a |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 61 | $26,549 | $35,583 | $16,448 |
| Information science | 52 | $90,235 | n/a | $15,000 |
| Computer and information sciences | 33 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Music | 23 | $38,187 | n/a | $20,035 |
| Materials Engineering | 21 | $66,124 | n/a | $22,999 |
| Public administration | 12 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Botany/Plant Biology | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Religious studies | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Business analytics and operations research | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Four-year earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Fields with few graduates have no published earnings.
Graduate programs at University of California-Riverside
88 graduate programs awarded degrees recently. Largest first.
Show 88 graduate programs
Students and location
- 22,593 degree-seeking undergraduates (fall 2024)
- 53% women, 47% men
- 22 students for every faculty member
- Setting: large city
- Accredited by Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at University of California-Riverside?
University of California-Riverside admitted 76% of applicants for fall 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
How much does University of California-Riverside cost?
Tuition and fees for 2025-26 are $16,103 for in-state students and $53,705 for out-of-state students. After grants and scholarships, aided students paid an average net price of $12,672 a year in 2024-25.
Is University of California-Riverside test-optional?
For fall 2024 admission, University of California-Riverside reported that test scores were: neither required nor recommended. Policies change, so confirm with the admissions office.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-Riverside?
75% of first-time, full-time students finished within six years.
How much do University of California-Riverside graduates make?
Former students who received federal aid earned a median of $72,974 a year 10 years after they started, in 2024 dollars.
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More: all colleges in California · colleges in Riverside · University of California-Riverside on the College Scorecard
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, data release of October 15, 2026. What each figure means and the year it covers.