,·Public Research University·Est. 1954
“A UC campus with one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation — combining world-class research with a powerful commitment to social mobility.”
UC Riverside, founded in 1954, is a full member of the University of California system and a nationally recognized R1 research university. UCR has built a remarkable reputation as an engine of social mobility — it is consistently ranked among the top universities in the nation for upward mobility, serving one of the most diverse and economically varied student populations of any major research university. UCR is particularly strong in biological sciences, engineering, business, and the humanities, with a pioneering Plant Biology program that has roots in the famous Citrus Experiment Station. The School of Business and the Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering have grown substantially, and UCR's graduate programs in entomology, plant biology, and chemistry are internationally recognized. The campus is located in the Inland Empire — California's fastest-growing economic region — near the San Bernardino Mountains, offering outdoor recreation alongside urban amenities. Palm Springs, Los Angeles, and San Diego are all within 90 minutes, and the region's growing logistics, healthcare, and tech sectors provide strong internship pipelines for students.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
National Universities
US News 2026
Top Public Schools
US News 2026
Forbes America's Top Colleges
Forbes 2025
Test Free — No test scores needed — they won't be reviewed even if submitted.
Official SourceUC Application
Single application window for all UC campuses — no early action available
This university does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admissions.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
$13,804
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$43,558
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
A growing engineering school with strong programs in electrical, mechanical, chemical, and computer engineering, with close links to regional tech and defense industries.
UCR's flagship research school, home to internationally recognized programs in biology, chemistry, plant biology, entomology, and environmental sciences.
An AACSB-accredited business school with strong programs in accounting, finance, and management, offering students access to the rapidly growing Inland Empire economy.
A broad school offering programs across the arts, literature, social sciences, and media, with unique interdisciplinary opportunities across UCR's research centers.
4 years
ABET-accredited, with strengths in biomaterials, neural engineering, and medical devices. UCR's adjacency to the UCR School of Medicine and Riverside-area biotech provides clinical/research opportunities. STEM-designated for OPT.
4 years
ABET-accredited program with growing strengths in AI/ML, cybersecurity, and data science. Bourns College has $40M+ in annual research expenditures. Riverside CS grads have strong placement into the LA tech corridor and SoCal aerospace/defense. STEM-designated.
4 years
UCR's Department of Entomology is consistently ranked #1 in the world by US News for entomology research. The unique program leverages UCR's location in California's agricultural heartland and the Citrus Experiment Station, the seed of UCR itself.
4 years
One of the few undergraduate Creative Writing degrees in the UC system, anchored by a renowned MFA program with strengths in fiction, poetry, and screenwriting (UCR's Palm Desert MFA in Creative Writing & Writing for the Performing Arts is a distinctive Hollywood-adjacent feature).
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $77,803
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
