University of California guide · Updated September 29, 2026
UC Riverside admitted 86.1% of first-year applicants for Fall 2025, or 52,676 of 61,184, according to its Common Data Set, making it one of the most accessible UC campuses. Enrolled first-years averaged a 3.75 high school GPA. For 2026-27, California residents pay about $19,620 in tuition and required fees, including health insurance that can be waived.
UC Riverside, or UCR, is a public research university in Riverside, in the Inland Empire east of Los Angeles. It’s known for its diverse student body, strong results for first-generation and lower-income students, and research roots in agriculture and the life sciences.
Here are the official numbers: who gets in, what it costs, how big it is and what UCR offers.
| Fact | UC Riverside |
|---|---|
| Official name | University of California, Riverside |
| Type | Public research university, University of California system |
| Location | Riverside, Inland Empire, about 55 miles east of downtown Los Angeles |
| Founded | 1954 (Citrus Experiment Station, 1907) |
| First-year acceptance rate | 86.1% (Fall 2025: 52,676 admitted of 61,184 applicants) |
| Acceptance rate, California residents | 86.2% (Fall 2025: 44,686 of 51,828) |
| Transfer acceptance rate | 67.8% (Fall 2025: 9,341 of 13,778) |
| Average high school GPA | 3.75 (Fall 2025 enrolled first-years) |
| SAT/ACT | Not used in admission (UC policy) |
| Students | 27,633 total, 24,034 undergraduates (Fall 2025) |
| Tuition and required fees (2026-27, new students) | About $19,620 for California residents; nonresidents add $39,270 |
| Cost of attendance, university housing (2025-26, new students) | $44,839 for California residents; $82,441 for nonresidents |
| Retention / graduation rate | 88% / 75% in six years (2019 cohort) |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 22:1 |
| Calendar | Quarter system |
| Athletics | Highlanders, NCAA Division I, Big West Conference |
Sources: UC Riverside Common Data Set 2025-26; UCR Office of the Registrar, 2026-27 Quarterly Undergraduate Tuition and Fees; UCR Financial Aid, Cost of Attending UC Riverside. Full list at the end of the article.
In This Article
What Is UC Riverside?
UC Riverside is the University of California, Riverside, a public research university in the University of California system. Its roots go back to the Citrus Experiment Station, founded in 1907, and it opened as an undergraduate college in 1954. The official website is ucr.edu.
UCR runs on the quarter system. Undergraduates enroll in the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences; the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences; the Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering; the School of Business; or the School of Public Policy. UCR also has a School of Medicine and a School of Education.
What Is the UC Riverside Acceptance Rate?
UC Riverside admitted 86.1% of first-year applicants for Fall 2025: 61,184 students applied, 52,676 were admitted and 6,686 enrolled, according to its Common Data Set 2025-26. Unlike most UC campuses, UCR admits California residents at about the same rate as everyone else, 86.2%.
| UCR, Fall 2025 | Applied | Admitted | Acceptance rate | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-year, California residents | 51,828 | 44,686 | 86.2% | 6,431 |
| First-year, out-of-state | 3,137 | 2,810 | 89.6% | 111 |
| First-year, international | 6,219 | 5,180 | 83.3% | 144 |
| All first-year applicants | 61,184 | 52,676 | 86.1% | 6,686 |
| Transfer applicants | 13,778 | 9,341 | 67.8% | 1,607 |
Source: UC Riverside Common Data Set 2025-26, items C1, C2 and D2 (residency by known address at time of application).
Is UC Riverside a good choice if you didn’t get into a more selective UC campus? For many students, yes. It’s a full UC research university with the same systemwide tuition, degree value and access to UC graduate programs, and its high admit rate makes it a dependable option on a UC application list.
How to Get Into UC Riverside
UCR uses the UC application and reviews grades in A-G courses, course rigor and the Personal Insight Questions. Enrolled first-years for Fall 2025 averaged a 3.75 high school GPA, and 29% had a 4.0 or higher.
- Application: the UC application; the fee is $80 per campus for domestic applicants, with fee waivers for students with financial need
- Deadline: November 30; there is no early action or early decision
- Tests: SAT and ACT scores are not considered in UC admission decisions
- Minimum GPA: 3.0 in A-G courses for California residents and 3.4 for nonresidents
- Transfers: UCR participates in the UC Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) for eligible California community college students
What Does UC Riverside Cost?
For new undergraduates in 2026-27, UCR’s registrar lists quarterly charges of $6,540.93 for California residents, or about $19,620 for the year. That covers $15,588 in UC tuition and the student services fee, about $1,202 in campus fees, and about $2,823 for UC student health insurance, which can be waived with comparable coverage. Nonresidents pay an additional $13,090 per quarter, or $39,270 a year.
UCR’s financial aid office had not yet posted a full 2026-27 cost of attendance when this guide was updated. The most recent full budget, for new students entering in 2025-26, is below.
| UCR cost of attendance, new students 2025-26 (California residents) | University housing | Off campus | At home |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC tuition and fees | $14,934 | $14,934 | $14,934 |
| Campus fees and tech fees | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| UC student health insurance | $2,605 | $2,605 | $2,605 |
| Housing and food | $20,425 | $16,800 | $8,975 |
| Books and supplies | $1,750 | $1,750 | $1,750 |
| Transportation | $1,100 | $2,700 | $3,000 |
| Personal expenses | $2,525 | $2,650 | $2,675 |
| Total, California residents | $44,839 | $42,939 | $35,439 |
| Total, nonresidents | $82,441 | $80,541 | $73,041 |
Source: UCR Office of Financial Aid, 2025-26 Estimated Costs for New Students. Tuition for students entering in 2026-27 is higher, as shown above.
Many UCR students receive grant aid. UC says most California families earning up to $100,000 receive enough grant and scholarship aid to cover UC tuition under its Blue and Gold commitment, and Cal Grants, Pell Grants and the Middle Class Scholarship can reduce costs further.
“UCR is one of the lower-cost ways to earn a UC degree, especially for students in the Inland Empire who can live at home. Commuting cuts the budget by roughly $9,000 a year compared with university housing, and housing near campus costs less than in coastal UC cities.”
CalChannel Editorial Team
How Big Is UCR?
UC Riverside had 27,633 students in Fall 2025, including 24,034 undergraduates and 3,599 graduate students, according to its Common Data Set. The student-to-faculty ratio is 22:1.
About 88% of first-year students returned for their second year. Of the 2019 entering class, 64% graduated in four years and 75% within six years. Graduation rates for Pell Grant recipients are close to those of other students, which reflects UCR’s strong record with lower-income students.
Where Is UC Riverside Located?
UCR is in the city of Riverside, in the Inland Empire of Southern California, about 55 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. The campus sits at the base of the Box Springs Mountains, and Metrolink trains connect Riverside to Los Angeles and Orange County.
The campus covers about 1,900 acres, including agricultural research fields and the UCR Botanic Gardens. Its landmark is the Carillon bell tower at the center of campus. Does the inland location affect the student experience? Summers are hot and the setting is less coastal than UCLA or UC Santa Barbara, but living costs are lower and the region has a growing job market.
What Is UC Riverside Known For?
UC Riverside is known for entomology, plant science and agricultural research tied to its citrus history, as well as for engineering, business, public policy and a young School of Medicine focused on the Inland Empire’s physician shortage. It’s also nationally recognized for social mobility and for the diversity of its student body.
The UCR Highlanders compete in NCAA Division I in the Big West Conference.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UC Riverside acceptance rate?
UC Riverside admitted 86.1% of first-year applicants for Fall 2025, or 52,676 of 61,184, according to its Common Data Set.
How much does UC Riverside cost?
For new California students in 2026-27, tuition and required fees are about $19,620. The most recent full cost of attendance, for 2025-26, was $44,839 in university housing.
Is UC Riverside a good school?
Yes. UCR is a University of California research campus with an 88% first-year retention rate and a 75% six-year graduation rate, and it’s widely recognized for supporting first-generation and lower-income students.
What is UCR’s official website?
UC Riverside’s official website is ucr.edu. Official logos and brand guidelines are published by UCR’s marketing and communications office on the university’s website.
Does UC Riverside require the SAT or ACT?
No. UC campuses, including UCR, do not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions.
Where is UC Riverside located?
UCR is in Riverside, California, in the Inland Empire, about 55 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.
The Bottom Line on UC Riverside
UC Riverside is a UC research university in the Inland Empire that admitted 86.1% of first-year applicants and 67.8% of transfer applicants for Fall 2025. It’s a strong option for students who want a UC degree at a lower living cost, and it has a standout record with first-generation and lower-income students.
For new California students, plan for about $19,620 in tuition and required fees for 2026-27, plus housing and living costs. Apply by November 30, and compare UCR with UC Merced, UC Irvine and other UC campuses on the same application.
Sources
- UC Riverside Institutional Research. “Common Data Set 2025-26.” ucr.edu.
- UCR Office of the Registrar. “Quarterly Undergraduate Tuition and Fees.” ucr.edu.
- UCR Office of Financial Aid. “Cost of Attending UC Riverside.” ucr.edu.
- University of California. “Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan.” universityofcalifornia.edu.
- Wikipedia. “University of California, Riverside.” Wikipedia.org.
CalChannel Editorial Team California college guides
The CalChannel editorial team researches and writes guides to California colleges, admissions and financial aid. We build our college profiles and aid guides from colleges’ own published data, federal IPEDS data and the California Student Aid Commission. Read our editorial policy.
