CollegeCalcAI
Moderately selectiveUpdated for the 2025-2026 cycle

UC Riverside acceptance rate and admissions profile

UC Riverside is a public university in California with a 56% acceptance rate, which makes it moderately selective. Here is what it looks for, where it sits among California schools, and how to estimate your own odds with CollegeCalcAI.

Acceptance rate
56%
Moderately selective
Admitted SAT (75th pct)
1300
of admitted students
Type
Public
California
Selectivity in state
#27
of 61 in CA
Get your real chances at UC Riverside
CollegeCalcAI computes a personalized acceptance estimate from your GPA, scores, and activities. Free, no account.
Open the calculator

What UC Riverside looks for

What UC Riverside weighs most heavily in its admissions review, modeled from its selectivity and profile.

Rigor of secondary school record
Important
Academic GPA
Very important
Class rank
Important
Standardized test scores
Important
Application essay
Considered
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Talent / ability
Considered
Character / personal qualities
Considered
First-generation status
Considered
Geographical residence
Considered
State residency
Important
Volunteer work
Considered
Work experience
Considered

SAT score positioning at UC Riverside

How common SAT scores sit relative to the admitted middle. This is context, not a probability — your full profile determines the real estimate.

SATWhere it sits at UC Riverside
1600Above the admitted 75th percentile
1500Above the admitted 75th percentile
1400Above the admitted 75th percentile
1300In the competitive admitted range
1200Below the middle, makes the rest of the profile matter more
1100Well below the admitted range

How UC Riverside compares in California

UC Riverside ranks #27 most selective of 61 schools in California in our database.

California Institute of Technology
3%acceptance · CA
Stanford University
4%acceptance · CA
Pomona College
7%acceptance · CA
UCLA
9%acceptance · CA
Claremont McKenna College
9%acceptance · CA
University of California, Berkeley
11%acceptance · CA
University of Southern California
12%acceptance · CA
UC Irvine
21%acceptance · CA
See all California schools →

Similar to UC Riverside

Schools with a similar selectivity profile, worth comparing as you build a balanced list.

Chicago State University
56%acceptance · IL
Fresno State University
56%acceptance · CA
Grambling State University
56%acceptance · LA
University of Connecticut
56%acceptance · CT
Miami University (Ohio)
57%acceptance · OH
Virginia Tech
57%acceptance · VA

Frequently asked questions

How hard is it to get into UC Riverside?

UC Riverside has a 56% acceptance rate, which makes it moderately selective — it admits more applicants than it rejects. Admission depends on how your full profile compares to its admitted students, not on scores alone.

What SAT score do you need for UC Riverside?

There is no hard cutoff, but the admitted-student 75th-percentile SAT is around 1300. A score at or above the admitted range strengthens your application; CollegeCalcAI shows how your exact score shifts your odds.

What does UC Riverside value most in applicants?

Based on its admissions profile, UC Riverside weighs academic gpa, rigor of secondary school record, class rank most heavily. The full factor breakdown is on this page.

What are my chances of getting into UC Riverside?

Your chances depend on your GPA, course rigor, test scores, and activities together. Use the free CollegeCalcAI calculator to get a personalized acceptance estimate for UC Riverside in a few minutes, no account required.

Acceptance rate and admitted test ranges reflect publicly reported data (U.S. Department of Education / NCES IPEDS / Common Data Sets). Estimates from CollegeCalcAI are a planning tool computed by a fixed, transparent model, not a guarantee of any admission decision.