University of California-Riverside

Overview of University of California - Riverside

---

Students come to the UCR campus for one reason: the academics. Indeed, UCR supports three colleges and four professional schools. Undergraduates can take advantage of all of those, with the exception of the school of medicine. That means that a student can pick one of the 80 possible major degrees from the following schools: College of Engineering, College of Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences, College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, School of Business, School of Education, and the School of Public Policy.

When not in class, or studying, UCR students have loads of opportunities to expand their learning and extra-curricular interests. In fact, students who are involved in the various organizations and sporting activities tend to be more engaged academically and have a well-rounded educational experience. To that end, UCR supports over 450 student organizations, a well-appointed Student Rec Center, and loads of cultural, athletic, and entertaining events all year long.

Top Rankings For University of California - Riverside

---

Admissions

---

Tuition Cost & Financial Aid

---

Since UCR is a state school in California, Golden State residents as well as students in Western Undergraduate Exchange states can attend at a lower cost than non-residents. Those who qualify for in-state tuition can attend for only $15,000, including books, supplies, and fees. Out-of-state students face higher costs of closer to $45,000. When all living expenses are tallied, the total gross cost of a year at UCR is $35,000 for in-state/on-campus students and $65,000 for non-resident/on-campus scholars. Off-campus students are estimated to pay approximately $4,000 less, but that depends on housing availability. While those numbers may seem a bit stiff for a publicly funded institution, readers should note that they are the gross cost.

In actual practice, students may pay a much lower average net price that accounts for financial aid such as grants and scholarships. The average net cost for UCR is a mere $13,000. In fact, the lowest-income students pay only $8,000, which is a far more digestible number than the stated gross price. Even the highest income households only pay a total net of $28,000, which is less than tuition at many equivalent private schools.

Sticker Price

---

Academics

---

University of California – Riverside is part of the elite Cal system. Their peers include Berkeley, UCLA, UC Santa Cruz, and UC Santa Barbara, among other incredible institutions. As such, it's clear that UC Riverside delivers a top-notch education at the cost of a public university. However, UCR's academic prowess is evidenced by more than its affiliations.

UCR also boasts great retention and graduation number that are the envy of higher education. Retention numbers measure the rate at which first-time, full-time students return for a second year. This rate is said to reflect student satisfaction with the school's academics and all-around resources. Thus, when you see that UCR has a retention rate of 90%, it's clear that students and their families are very satisfied with the school.

When it comes to graduation day, UCR likewise posts terrific numbers. Their overall graduation rate is 76%, with the majority receiving their diplomas in 6 years or less. Those graduation numbers are paired with a 15% transfer-out rate. However, since transfer students typically move on to more competitive schools or programs that meet their specific goals, it's clear that UCR prepares its students for success.

Student Population Total

---

Outcome & Salary

---

When students and their families tally the costs of a college education, they are often curious to know what sort of return they can expect for their educational spending. While there is no true monetary value for education, it’s possible to assess how well alumni fare when they land their first jobs. Of the top-ten earning degrees, UCR lists computer engineering as the top earner.

These technology whizzes report a median salary of $65,000, which doesn’t include any bonus or other benefits. Of the other top earning degrees, the chemistry students come in at #10. Their starting median salary is just $32,000. However, keep in mind that professionals with a UCR degree can enroll in a top graduate program and expect to see their earnings skyrocket.

Photos & Videos

---