So, you’re thinking about applying to the University of California Riverside (better known as “UC Riverside”), and you’re curious about your chances of admission. There are a lot of factors in the admissions process. However, the most important factors in the admissions game are your GPA and test scores.

With an acceptance rate of 50.9%, admission to UC Riverside is somewhat competitive. Based on our analysis, to have a good chance of being admitted, you need to be at the very top of your class and have an SAT score of close to 1380, or an ACT score of around 30.

Not quite there? Try taking our SAT prep course and You’ll still have a chance of getting in, but it’s in the single digits. Let’s take a closer look at UC Riverside admission statistics.

2018 UC Riverside Admissions Statistics: Class of 2022

• UC Riverside’s acceptance rate in 2018 was 50.9%
• For the class of 2022, out of 49,079 applicants, UC Riverside admitted 24,993
• The average GPA of admitted applicants was 3.88
• The average ACT score was 26, and the average SAT score was 1260

For students who took the ACT, the 25th percentile score of successful applicants was 22, and the 75th percentile score was 30.

For students who took the SAT, the 25th percentile score was 1130. The 75th percentile score was 1380.

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If you’re somewhere in the middle of these numbers, remember that a high test score can compensate for a slightly lower GPA, and vice versa. If you’re at the lower end, it helps if you’re a diverse applicant, the child of an alum, or have incredible personal achievements.

Other aspects of your application, such as athletics, extracurricular and recommendations, are important, but will likely only make a difference for admission if you’re in the 75th percentile range for your GPA and SAT/ACT scores.

Even if UC Riverside is your dream school, and even if you’re in the 75th percentile, you’ll still want to make sure you apply to a wide variety of schools to ensure you’ll gain admission somewhere.

Generally, you should have:

• Three safety schools (where you are in the 75th percentile of GPA/test scores)
• Three reach schools (where you are in the 25th percentile of GPA/test scores)
• Three target schools (where you are near the average for GPA/test scores)

OK, so you’ve decided to apply. We took a look at UC Riverside’s admissions requirements to help you get everything in order.

2018 UC Riverside Application Requirements: Class of 2022

Here’s a full list of application requirements:

• Fill out the UC Online Application
• Submit your ACT or SAT scores
• Pay the $70 application fee
• Submit your transcripts
• Answer the Personal Insight questions

Here are the deadlines that you should be aware of:

• The application deadline is November 30th.
• Applicants find out their fates on March 1st.
• May 1 is the reply date for admitted students.

Have you been admitted to UC Riverside? Congratulations! Below is a glimpse of what your classmates will be like.

UC Riverside 2018 Admitted Students Profile: Class of 2022

If you matriculate at UC Riverside, you’ll be joining a diverse class, with students from all over the U.S. and the world, and have a chance to study in dozens of fields.

Here are some interesting facts about the recently admitted class:

• Roughly 46% are male and 54% are female
• 2.5% of students are international

UC Riverside has a diverse class, as well, with a large number of people of color. The ethnicities of admitted applicants are:

• International: 2.5%
• Underrepresented minority: 1%
• Two or more races: 5.8%
• White: 12.3%

What do these admitted students plan to study? UC Riverside offers dozens of majors, and students matriculating there pursue a wide number of subjects. Here is a list of some of the top programs:

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• Social Sciences
• Marketing
• Management

Now, how are you going to pay for this?

UC Riverside Tuition Figures

At $61,073, UC Riverside’s cost of attendance is astronomical. Most incoming students receive some form of financial aid, and the average award is $18,289.

Here’s a fuller look at UC Riverside tuition and financial aid in 2017:

• Total budget: $61,073
• Average financial aid package: $18,289
• The average student debt of a UC Riverside graduate is $21,838

Now, what is life like at UC Riverside? Let’s take a look.

UC Riverside Location

The main campus is located in Riverside, California, approximately 60 miles east of Los Angeles.

The campus sits approximately 3 miles east of Riverside itself and is divided into two sections, East Campus & West Campus, as divided by the State Route 60 freeway.

Remember, you’re going to UC Riverside for its excellent academics! Below is a look at what academic life will be like.

UC Riverside Academics

UC Riverside has dozens of majors. Some of the school’s more interesting majors are:

• Art History, Criticism and Conservation
• Biomedical Sciences
• Creative Writing
• Drama
• Entomology
• Foreign Languages and Literature
• Geophysics and Seismology
• Latin American Studies
• Materials Science
• Neuroscience
• Physical Sciences
• Political Science and Government
• Public Policy Analysis
• Sociology
• Statistics
• Women’s Studies

Now, let’s take a look at life outside the classroom at UC Riverside.

Student Life at UC Riverside

UC Riverside has hundreds of student organizations, covering academic interests, creative and performing arts, cultural and racial initiatives, gender and sexuality affinity groups, government and political interests, and various media and publications.

Here’s a sampling of UC Riverside’s student activities:

• 7Elements
• Ace of Clubs
• Archery Club
• California Alliance for Minority Participation
• English Majors Association
• Black and Beautiful
• Helping The Hyphy
• Battle City Gaming
• Cosplay Brigade
• Escape Room Club
• Film Society
• Casual Hiking Club
• Chess Club
• Collective Faction
• Fencing at UCR
• Highlander Gaming
• Kendo Club

Are you an athlete? UC Riverside’s got plenty of options for you.

UC Riverside Athletics

UC Riverside offers a large number of intercollegiate sports, with extensive varsity, as well as club, offerings, for both men and women. 

UC Riverside’s sports include:

• Baseball
• Basketball
• Golf
• Cross-Country
• Soccer
• Track & Field
• Tennis

Who might you become with a UC Riverside degree? Let’s take a look at some well-known and successful alums:

Notable Alums

UC Riverside has produced politicians, business tycoons, entertainers, musicians, media figures, and leaders in dozens of other fields.

Here’s a list of some particularly well-known alums:

• Cartoonist Steve Breen
• Marketer Ryan Holiday
• Comedian Charlyne Yi
• Professional golfer Brendan Steele
• Economist Shruti Kapoor
• US Poet Laureate Billy Collins
• Actress Jamie Chung
• Writer Elizabeth George
• Judo champion AnnMarie De Mars

And this is only a partial list!

Remember!

Getting into UC Riverside is somewhat competitive. Don’t despair then if you get a no.

If you have a strong GPA and high test scores, you have a great chance of getting into at least one of the more competitive schools. And if you don’t, remember: where you go is NOT who you are.

If you need to boost your GPA or test scores before application time rolls around, you should consider signing up for a course with Prep Expert. We offer one-on-one tutoring and classes, both in-person and online, at locations throughout the United States.

For more test strategy, college admissions, and scholarship application tips sign up for our FREE class happening right now!