CostByCollegeAdmissions
UC Riverside acceptance rate
The acceptance rate at University of California-Riverside is 63.3% for fall 2023. Out of 62,807 applicants, 39,758 were admitted and 5,521 enrolled.
The application numbers
| Figure | Fall 2023 |
|---|---|
| Applicants, fall 2023 | 62,807 |
| Admitted, fall 2023 | 39,758 |
| Acceptance rate, fall 2023 | 63.3% |
| Admitted students who enrolled, fall 2023 | 5,521 |
How this rate compares
Against the California pilot school average of 42.7%, the rate at University of California-Riverside is 20.6 points higher, which means a larger share of applicants were admitted.
Against the national pilot school average of 53.0%, the rate at University of California-Riverside is 10.3 points higher, which means a larger share of applicants were admitted.
Averages here are simple averages across the pilot schools that publish a rate, 31 schools in California and 235 schools nationwide on this site.
What the acceptance rate does and does not mean
The acceptance rate is the share of applicants who were offered a place. It is worked out by dividing the number of students admitted by the number who applied, for fall 2023.
A low rate means many more people applied than the school could admit. It does not by itself prove that a school is better, that teaching is stronger, or that graduates earn more. Some schools draw very large applicant pools because applying is free or simple, and some excellent schools admit a large share of a smaller, well matched pool.
A high rate does not mean admission is automatic. Schools still set entry requirements, and popular programs inside a school can be far harder to enter than the overall rate suggests. The rate also says nothing about cost. Read it beside the total cost, the average net price, and the outcomes on the cost page for University of California-Riverside.
Similar schools to compare
- University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California. Total cost $40,306 for one year.
- University of California-Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California. Total cost $40,587 for one year.
- Alliant International University-San Diego, San Diego, California. Total cost $40,776 for one year.
- University of California-Davis, Davis, California. Total cost $41,055 for one year.
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at UC Riverside?
The acceptance rate at University of California-Riverside is 63.3% for fall 2023. It is the number admitted, 39,758, divided by the number who applied, 62,807.
How many students apply to UC Riverside each year?
In fall 2023, 62,807 students applied to University of California-Riverside, 39,758 were admitted, and 5,521 admitted students enrolled.
How selective is UC Riverside compared with other schools in California?
The average acceptance rate across the pilot schools in California that publish a rate is 42.7%, and the national average across the pilot schools on this site is 53.0%. The rate at University of California-Riverside is 63.3%.
Does a low acceptance rate mean a school is better?
No. A low rate means far more people applied than the school could admit. It says nothing on its own about teaching quality, cost, or graduate earnings, which is why this site prints the rate beside cost and outcomes figures.
How much does UC Riverside cost?
The total cost for one year at University of California-Riverside is $40,285 for in state students. The cost page on this site breaks that total into tuition, fees, books and supplies, room and board, and other expenses.
What is the graduation rate at UC Riverside?
The graduation rate at University of California-Riverside is 77%, measuring the share of a starting cohort that finished within one and a half times the normal program length.
Sources: the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, United States Department of Education. Admissions figures are for fall 2023. See the methodology page for full detail.