Public

Large

Big West Conference

University of California, Riverside SAT Scores, ACT Scores, Acceptance Rate, and Admissions Requirements

SAT RangeN/A

ACT RangeN/A

Average GPA3.83

Acceptance Rate76.8%

UC Riverside’s 76.8% acceptance rate means admission is within reach for many prepared students, but its test-free policy changes the playbook: SAT or ACT scores will not be used in admissions. Your strongest move is to keep your GPA near or above the 3.83 entering average and show steady strength in rigorous classes.

Data on this page is sourced from our college data partners and was last updated on July 9, 2026.

University of California, Riverside facts and stats

Quick Facts

University of California, Riverside enrolls 22,599 undergraduates in a suburban campus setting. UC Riverside has an 88% freshman retention rate, above the national average of roughly 70%, and a 76% six-year graduation rate. The student-to-faculty ratio is 22.3:1. UC Riverside is test-free for admissions.

Location

Riverside, CA

Undergrad Enrollment22,599

Freshman Retention88%

SettingSuburban

Student to Faculty Ratio22.3:1

Graduation Rate76%

Test PolicyTest-free

How does your GPA compare at UC Riverside?

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Key University of California, Riverside application dates

Key dates

Application deadlines

Regular Decision

December 2

Early Action

Not offered

Early Decision

Not offered

Priority Deadline

—

Financial aid deadlines

Financial Aid Priority

March 2

Test dates

SAT test dates

August 22, 2026

Registration deadline: August 7, 2026

September 12, 2026

Registration deadline: August 28, 2026

October 3, 2026

Registration deadline: September 18, 2026

ACT test dates

September 19, 2026

Registration deadline: August 14, 2026

October 17, 2026

Registration deadline: September 11, 2026

December 12, 2026

Registration deadline: November 6, 2026

Take tests early for the best outcomes

UC Riverside is test-free, so SAT/ACT scores are not used in admission and do not need to be timed around the December 2 Regular Decision deadline. Any retakes or superscoring strategy only matters for other test-using colleges on your list.

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What you'll actually pay

UC Riverside, a public Big West Conference university, lists in-state tuition at $13,146 and out-of-state tuition at $47,346. About 65% of students receive aid, and the FAFSA priority deadline is March 2.

In-State Tuition$13,146

Out-of-State Tuition$47,346

Room and Board$20,691

Average Merit Award$5,791

Application Fee$80

Students on Aid65%

Average Aid Package$31,144

Average Debt at Grad$18,559

Out-of-state tuition at UC Riverside is $47,346, compared with $13,146 in-state, and room and board is $20,691. About 65% of students receive aid, with an average aid package of $31,144. The average merit award is $5,791. Graduates leave with an average debt of $18,559.