University of California-Riverside
#10 Best Education Colleges in California- Graduation Rate
- 76% B+
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $67,699 A
- Top 9% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $14,304 C+
- 17% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 76% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A B overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 37.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $37.7 over 20 years. Ranked #10 in Best Education Colleges in California.
Every $1 spent returns $37.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,099,465.
What The Data Says
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A B overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduates earn 66% more than the national college median.
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A 76% graduation rate — 33% above the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $37.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why University of California-Riverside Matters
University of California-Riverside is a public research university in Riverside, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 9% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 22,593
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Biology & Biomedical, Social Sciences, Business & Marketing, Psychology
Why students choose University of California-Riverside
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 76% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $14,304 a year after grants and scholarships — 17% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $67,699 ten years after enrolling — 66% above the typical college, against $17,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.73 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Nearly half of the students at the University of California-Riverside receive Pell Grants, highlighting its commitment to accessibility for low-income students. With an acceptance rate of 76%, the university welcomes a diverse student body, making it a viable option for many.
Graduates from UC Riverside earn an average of $67,699 ten years after starting their studies. While specific mobility rates are not available, the university's strong graduation rate of 76% suggests that students are successfully completing their degrees, which enhances their long-term earning potential.
Attending UC Riverside comes with an average net price of $14,304, and median student debt stands at $17,500. Students who thrive here often pursue majors in Social Sciences, Biology, Business & Marketing, Psychology, or Engineering, benefiting from a supportive environment and solid career outcomes.
Rankings
- #10 Best Education Colleges in California
- #19 Best Biology Colleges in California
- #20 Best Engineering Colleges in California
- #28 Best Bachelor's Programs in California
- #28 Best Master's Programs in California
- #28 Best MBA Programs in California
- #30 Best Computer Science Colleges in California
- #30 Best Data Science Colleges in California
Can I Get In?
How selective University of California-Riverside is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of California-Riverside? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Riverside, California, University of California-Riverside admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 76%. The graduation rate is roughly 76%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 76%
- Retention Rate
- 88%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 89%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $17,096
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 24:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.70
- First-Gen Students
- 48%
- Applicants
- 54,683
- Admitted
- 37,563
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of California-Riverside? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of California-Riverside is $49,806, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $14,304. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,852 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $17,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $15,606
- Out-of-State
- $49,806
- Avg Net Price
- $14,304
- Median Debt
- $17,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 47%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 31%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $8,852
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $9,840
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $13,111
- Family Income $110K+
- $30,393
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is University of California-Riverside Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of California-Riverside earn a median of $67,699, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $48,593
- 8 Years
- $59,554
- 10 Years
- $67,699
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.26x
- Earning > $25K
- 64%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (2,666)
- 62%
- 100% (2,666)
- 62%
- 100% (2,666)
- 62%
- 100% (2,666)
- 62%
How University Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is University of California-Riverside Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of California-Riverside delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $14,304/year ($57,216 total). Graduates earn $67,699 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,156,681 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,099,465 (37.7× your investment). The median debt is $17,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 76% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $57,216
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $2,156,681
- Net Return
- $2,099,465
- ROI Multiple
- 37.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $14,304
- Median Debt
- $17,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 76%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields University of California-Riverside awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Biology & Biomedical 19%
- Social Sciences 17%
- Business & Marketing 16%
- Psychology 10%
- Engineering 8%
- Computer Science & IT 7%
- Visual & Performing Arts 5%
- Education 4%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for University of California-Riverside's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of California-Riverside? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Riverside, California, University of California-Riverside admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 76%. The graduation rate is roughly 76%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of California-Riverside? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of California-Riverside is $49,806, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $14,304. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,852 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $17,500 in federal student loans.
Is University of California-Riverside Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of California-Riverside earn a median of $67,699, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is University of California-Riverside? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of California-Riverside. Its economic connectedness score is 1.73, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Compare University of California-Riverside
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of California-Riverside.
- University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusNorman, OK · Close peer75% grad $63,126 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Illinois ChicagoChicago, IL · Close peer61% grad $68,740 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- The University of Texas at DallasRichardson, TX · Close peer75% grad $68,227 earn 65% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- California State Polytechnic University-PomonaPomona, CA · Close peer68% grad $71,902 earn 75% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Missouri-ColumbiaColumbia, MO · Close peer76% grad $63,403 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Washington State UniversityPullman, WA · Close peer61% grad $68,905 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of California-Riverside? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of California-Riverside. Its economic connectedness score is 1.73, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note