University of California-Riverside
Riverside, California · Public · 76.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 83/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
UC Riverside scores 83 (Strong Value). Net price of $14,304 against in-state tuition of $15,606 reflects meaningful aid that often reduces costs below sticker. Average 6-year earnings of $36,800 look modest, but the 10-year median of $67,699 reflects significant later-career growth - many UCR graduates pursue graduate or professional school before entering the labor market at higher earnings. The 76.0% completion rate is solid for a campus serving 46.9% Pell-eligible students. The payback period of 6 years is favorable. UCR's repayment rate subscore of 48 (72.7%) is the weakest component and reflects the significant share of students in income-driven repayment plans.
University of California-Riverside scores in the top 11% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of California-Riverside
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $15,606/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $49,806/yr |
| Average net price | $14,304/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $57,216 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $67,699 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $36,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $17,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $186 |
| Estimated payback period | 6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 76.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 22,593 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $15,606/year ($49,806/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $14,304/year, or roughly $57,216 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $8,852/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $30,393/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $17,500, which works out to about $186 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($36,800) and comes to 0.48, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $8,852 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,840 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,111 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,571 |
| $110,001+ | $30,393 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The lowest income bracket (0-$30,000) pays $8,852 per year at UCR. With a 6-year payback at median earnings, Pell-eligible completers at UCR face a favorable financial return, particularly in engineering and computer science. The 76% completion rate reflects the campus's success retaining low-income students.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families in the $48,001-75,000 range pay $13,111 per year, and the $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $16,571. These are modest costs for a UC degree with real brand value in California.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $30,393 per year, or roughly $121,572 over four years.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of California-Riverside with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $72,027 | B |
| Biology | $58,339 | D |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $49,947 | D |
| Sociology | $55,682 | C |
| Computer Science | $117,705 | A |
| Economics | $66,682 | C+ |
| International Relations | $56,740 | C |
| Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education | $57,847 | C |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $52,699 | D |
| Mathematics | $63,596 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
Computer Science is UCR's highest-earning and second-largest technical program: 310 graduates, $81,034 year-one, $117,705 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.235 (ROI grade A) reflects median debt of $19,083 against year-one earnings above $81k - an efficient return. Year-four earnings above $117k reflect mid-career software engineering compensation in California's premium tech market.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering graduates 120 students with $62,554 year-one and $93,721 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.336 (ROI grade B+) reflects median debt of $21,000 against solid earnings. The Inland Empire's manufacturing and logistics sectors, combined with the LA/Orange County aerospace and defense base, absorb UCR mechanical engineers. Year-four earnings near $94k confirm competitive mid-career compensation.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is the largest program at 836 graduates - a significant output volume for UCR's business school. Year-one earnings of $43,213 and year-four of $72,027 are solid for a regional California public institution. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.382 (ROI grade B) reflects median debt of $16,508, which is low for California.
Biology
Biology graduates 705 students - by far the largest program at UCR - with $26,863 year-one earnings. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.707 (ROI grade D) reflects median debt of $19,000 against modest year-one earnings that reflect the large share of biology graduates in pre-med, graduate school, or early research roles. Year-four earnings of $58,339 suggest most who stay employed (rather than continuing education) reach a more sustainable position by mid-career.
Economics
Economics graduates 299 students with $37,149 year-one and $66,682 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.498 (ROI grade C+) reflects median debt of $18,500. Year-four earnings of $66k suggest economics graduates move into finance, consulting, and policy roles in the California market, but year-one earnings are modest. The long run - 10-year median earnings of $67,699 for the campus overall - likely reflects significant economics graduate placement in higher-earning roles.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 69.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 72.7% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 69.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 73.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of California-Riverside’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 76.4% |
| Enrollment | 22,593 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 46.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $17,096 |
The high acceptance rate reflects a genuine access mission for Inland Empire students rather than low academic standards.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
The 10-year earnings trajectory ($67,699) is the most favorable metric and reflects the long-run value of the UC brand.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of California-Riverside (this school) | 83 | $14,304 | $67,699 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 96 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| University of Illinois Chicago | 85 | $10,974 | $68,740 |
| University at Buffalo | 83 | $20,995 | $70,814 |
| University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus | 83 | $15,300 | $63,126 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | 75 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See University of California-Riverside side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
No current test score data is reported. Enrollment of 22,593 and a 46.9% Pell grant rate reflect a large, economically diverse student body from the Inland Empire. The school's diversity is a genuine strength.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, University of California-Riverside pays off. You'd pay about $14,304 a year after aid ($57,216 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $67,699 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 6 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 76.0% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings.
Median debt of $17,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $36,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of California-Riverside: Common Questions
Is University of California-Riverside worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of California-Riverside pays off. It scores 83/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $14,304 a year after aid ($57,216 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $67,699 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6 years to earn back.
How much does University of California-Riverside cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $14,304 a year, or roughly $57,216 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of California-Riverside graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $67,699 ten years after enrolling, roughly $25,899 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of California-Riverside?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 6 years for University of California-Riverside. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of California-Riverside graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $17,500, against average earnings of $36,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-Riverside?
The six-year graduation rate is 76.0%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.