Getting in
For Fall 2025, 61,184 first-year students applied to UC Riverside, 52,676 were admitted and 6,686 enrolled: an acceptance rate of 86.1%.
Source: UC Riverside Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1. Read Sep 30, 2026.
By residency, first-year applicants, Fall 2025
| Applicants | Applied | Admitted | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| California residents | 51,828 | 44,686 | 86.2% |
| Out-of-state | 3,137 | 2,810 | 89.6% |
| International | 6,219 | 5,180 | 83.3% |
Source: UC Riverside Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C1, residency table. Read Sep 30, 2026.
By school or major. UC Riverside's Common Data Set reports one first-year acceptance rate for the whole campus, with no rate by school or major.
Source: UC Riverside Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
Early decision and early action. UC Riverside has no early decision or early action plan. The Common Data Set answers no to both.
Source: UC Riverside Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), sections C21 and C22. Read Sep 30, 2026.
Majors
102 majors across 6 schools. Every undergraduate major in UC Riverside's official 2026-2027 General Catalog, grouped by the college or school that offers it, with the degree it leads to. Programs closed to new students, minors and graduate programs are left out.
College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences51
- Administrative Studies (B.A.)Only offered as a major combined with another program: Art History, Economics, History, Political Science, Religious Studies or Sociology.
- African American Studies (B.A.)
- Anthropology (B.A.)
- Anthropology (B.S.)
- Art (Studio) (B.A.)
- Art History (B.A.)
- Asian American Studies (B.A.)
- Asian Studies (B.A.)
- Business Economics (B.A.)
- Chicano Studies (B.A.)
- Creative Writing (B.A.)
- Dance (B.A.)
- Economics (B.A.)
- English (B.A.)
- Environmental Studies (B.A.)
- Ethnic Studies (B.A.)
- Gender and Sexuality Studies (B.A.)
- Global and Community Health (B.A.)
- Global Studies (B.A.)
- History (B.A.)
- Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Interdisciplinary (B.A.)
- Languages and Literatures/Chinese (B.A.)
- Languages and Literatures/Classical Studies (B.A.)
- Languages and Literatures/Comparative Ancient Civilizations (B.A.)
- Languages and Literatures/Comparative Literature (B.A.)
- Languages and Literatures/French (B.A.)
- Languages and Literatures/Germanic Studies (B.A.)
- Languages and Literatures/Japanese (B.A.)
- Languages and Literatures/Languages (B.A.)
- Languages and Literatures/Russian Studies (B.A.)
- Latin American Studies (B.A.)
- Law and Society (B.A.)Only offered as a major combined with another program: Anthropology, Economics, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology or Sociology.
- Liberal Studies (B.A.)
- Linguistics (B.A.)
- Middle East and Islamic Studies (B.A.)
- Media and Cultural Studies (B.A.)
- Music (B.A.)
- Music and Culture (B.A.)
- Native American Studies (B.A.)
- Neuroscience (B.A.)
- Neuroscience (B.S.)
- Philosophy (B.A.)
- Political Science (B.A.)
- Psychology (B.A.)
- Psychology (B.S.)
- Religious Studies (B.A.)
- Sociology (B.A.)
- Sociology (B.S.)
- Southeast Asian Studies (B.A.)
- Spanish (B.A.)
- Theatre, Film and Digital Production (B.A.)
Source: UCR General Catalog 2026-2027, College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, Undergraduate Majors and Options (p. 83) (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences35
- Biochemistry (B.A.)Emphases: Biology; Chemistry; Medical Sciences.
- Biochemistry (B.S.)Emphases: Biology; Chemistry; Medical Sciences.
- Biology (B.A.)
- Biology (B.S.)
- Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology (B.A.)
- Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology (B.S.)
- Chemistry (B.A.)
- Chemistry (B.S.)Options: Chemical Physics; Chemistry with Education Focus; Environmental Chemistry.
- Earth Sciences (B.A.)Options: Climate Change; Geobiology; Geophysics.
- Earth Sciences (B.S.)Options: Climate Change; Geobiology; Geophysics; Geosystems.
- Genetics and Molecular Biotechnology (B.S.)
- Geology (B.S.)
- Geophysics (B.S.)
- Entomology (B.A.)
- Entomology (B.S.)
- Environmental Sciences (B.A.)Options: Atmospheric Sciences; Environmental Management; Environmental Toxicology; Hydrologic Sciences; Soil Sciences.
- Environmental Sciences (B.S.)Options: Atmospheric Sciences; Environmental Management; Environmental Toxicology; Hydrologic Sciences; Soil Sciences.
- Mathematics (B.A.)Option: Pure Mathematics.
- Mathematics (B.S.)Option: Pure Mathematics.
- Applied Mathematics (B.A.)Options: Biology; Chemistry; Economics; Environmental Sciences; Physics.
- Applied Mathematics (B.S.)Options: Biology; Chemistry; Economics; Environmental Sciences; Physics.
- Computational Mathematics (B.A.)
- Computational Mathematics (B.S.)
- Data Science (B.S.)
- Mathematics for Secondary School Teachers (B.S.)
- Microbiology (B.A.)
- Microbiology (B.S.)
- Neuroscience (B.A.)
- Neuroscience (B.S.)
- Physics (B.A.)
- Physics (B.S.)Options: Applied Physics and Engineering; Astrophysics; Biophysics; Physics Education.
- Plant Biology (B.A.)
- Plant Biology (B.S.)
- Statistics (B.A.)
- Statistics (B.S.)Options: Statistical Computing; Quantitative Management.
Source: UCR General Catalog 2026-2027, College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Undergraduate Majors and Options (p. 91) (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering11
- Bioengineering (B.S.)
- Chemical Engineering (B.S.)Options: Biochemical Engineering; Chemical Engineering; Nanotechnology.
- Computer Engineering (B.S.)
- Computer Science and Engineering (B.S.)
- Computer Science with Business Applications (B.S.)
- Data Science (B.S.)
- Electrical Engineering (B.S.)
- Environmental Engineering (B.S.)Options: Air Pollution Control Technology; Water Pollution Control Technology.
- Materials Science and Engineering (B.S.)
- Mechanical Engineering (B.S.)Options: Design and Manufacturing; Energy and Environment; General Mechanical Engineering; Mechanics of Materials and Structures.
- Robotics (B.S.)
Source: UCR General Catalog 2026-2027, Bourns College of Engineering, Undergraduate Majors and Options (p. 96) (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
School of Business3
- Actuarial Science (B.S.)
- Business Administration (B.S.)
- Business Analytics (B.S.)
Source: UCR General Catalog 2026-2027, School of Business, Undergraduate Majors (p. 100) (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
School of Education1
- Education, Society, and Human Development (B.A.)
Source: UCR General Catalog 2026-2027, The School of Education (p. 105) (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
School of Public Policy1
- Public Policy (B.A.)
Source: UCR General Catalog 2026-2027, The School of Public Policy, Undergraduate Study (p. 110) (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
Deadlines for Fall 2027
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
| Plan | Apply by | Decision | Binding |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC application | November 30 | Notifications begin in March | No |
One UC application covers every UC campus. You can open it on August 1 and submit it between October 1 and November 30. If you are admitted, your Statement of Intent to Register is due May 1.
Source: UC Riverside Admissions, First Year (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
Testing
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
UC Riverside will not consider SAT or ACT scores when making admission decisions or awarding scholarships, so scores are not considered even if you send them. If you do send them, they may be used another way to meet minimum eligibility requirements, or for course placement after you enroll.
Source: UC Riverside Admissions, First Year (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
The Common Data Set agrees: it answers no to using SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions.
Source: UC Riverside Common Data Set 2025-2026 (opens in a new tab), section C8. Read Sep 30, 2026.
Changes already in effect
For students applying in fall 2026, entering fall 2027
- Math. A statistics or additional math course taken in fall 2026 or later no longer makes up for a missing or low grade in Algebra II or Math III. It still counts as an extra year of math. Seniors applying this fall: this already applies to courses you take this year.
Source: UC Admissions, Quick Reference Guide to UC Admissions (August 2026) (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
- Math. From fall 2026, AP Statistics no longer meets two years of the UC math requirement. AP Precalculus (with a score of 4 or 5), AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC and IB HL Mathematics Analysis and Approaches still do.
Source: UC Admissions, Quick Reference Guide to UC Admissions (August 2026) (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
Applying next year?
For students applying in fall 2027, entering fall 2028
Not announced yet. When we checked UC Riverside's admission pages on September 30, 2026, we found no announced changes for fall 2028 entry. The deadlines and rules above are for fall 2027 entry.
Source: UC Riverside Admissions, First Year (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
Cost, and what families paid after aid
The published cost of a year at UC Riverside, 2026-2027:
| Item | In-state | Out-of-state |
|---|---|---|
| UC tuition and fees | $15,588 | $15,588 |
| Nonresident supplemental tuition | $0 | $39,270 |
| Campus and tech fees | $1,202 | $1,202 |
| UC Student Health Insurance | $2,824 | $2,824 |
| Housing (university housing) | $13,793 | $13,793 |
| Food | $7,282 | $7,282 |
| Books and supplies | $1,700 | $1,700 |
| Transportation | $1,275 | $1,100 |
| Personal expenses | $2,875 | $2,525 |
| Total | $46,539 | $85,284 |
UCR's estimate for students who start as first-years in 2026-2027 and live in university housing. The out-of-state table prints $85,809 as its total, but its items add to $85,284, the figure shown here. New first-years also pay a one-time $300 orientation fee and a $225 document fee in their first term.
Source: UC Riverside Financial Aid, Cost of Attending (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
Average net price per year, by family income, 2023-24:
| Family income | Paid after grants |
|---|---|
| $0 to $30,000 | $8,852 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $9,840 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $13,111 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $16,571 |
| Over $110,000 | $30,393 |
| All incomes | $14,304 |
What first-year, full-time in-state students who received federal aid paid after grants and scholarships, by family income, in 2023-24, the latest year the Department of Education publishes. Your own price comes from UC Riverside's aid offer.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education (opens in a new tab). Read Sep 30, 2026.
Similar schools
Chosen for how close each is to University of California, Riverside on acceptance rate, public or private, location and majors offered.
California State University, FullertonFullerton, CA · Public88.1% admitted$6,555 average net price
Washington State UniversityPullman, WA · Public86.1% admitted$14,971 average net price
University of OregonEugene, OR · Public87.4% admitted$22,182 average net price
University of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu, HI · Public88% admitted$15,664 average net price
University of California, MercedMerced, CA · Public97% admitted$11,983 average net price
Admitted: each school's latest first-year acceptance rate, so the year can differ from school to school; each school's page names its year and source. Average net price: what federal aid recipients paid per year after grants, 2023-24, and the in-state figure for a public university.