University of California, Riverside Fees and Programs 2025-26

University of California, Riverside fees for international graduate students amount to approximately $43,900 USD per year. This includes around $28,700 in tuition and fees, and $15,200 for living expenses. When converted, this is about ₹35.99 lakhs per year (at 1 USD = ₹82 INR).

UC Riverside (UCR) is a public land-grant research university and one of the 10 campuses of the University of California system. Located in Riverside, California, the main campus spans 1,900 acres, with an additional 20-acre branch in Palm Desert. UCR began as the UC Citrus Experiment Station in 1907, becoming a pioneer in biological pest control and citrus research.

The university holds notable rankings in several programs according to U.S. News: Sociology (#70), Earth Sciences (#85), Chemistry (#92), Physics (#96), and Biological Sciences (#102), among others. It is also recognized for its contributions to science fiction, photography, and entomology research.

UCR offers a strong academic foundation combined with a rich research legacy, making it a competitive choice for students aiming for both academic excellence and innovative research opportunities.

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Know in detail about University of California, Riverside’s popular programs

University of California, Riverside Acceptance Rate

The freshman acceptance rate is approximately 56–70%, with most recent figures around 70% (~40,000 admits from ~57,000 applicants) 
For example, in fall 2019, UCR admitted 27,886 out of 49,509 applicants (~56.3%)

University of California, Riverside Eligibility Criteria

“a–g” Coursework: Completion of at least 15 UC-approved college-prep courses (must earn a grade of C or better), with 11 completed by end of junior year 
GPA Requirement:
- California residents: minimum 3.0 GPA in a–g courses (10th–11th grade).
- Non-residents: minimum 3.4 GPA 
Comprehensive Review: UCR uses holistic review, considering academic performance, contextual factors, major competitiveness, extracurricular involvement, essays, and more

University of California, Riverside Admission Requirements

First-Year (Freshman) Applicants:

Complete the UC application, choose a primary and alternate major.
Transcript showing completion of a–g requirements and qualifying GPA.
Personal insight questions (UC essays).
Standardized tests (SAT/ACT): Optional—UCR does not require scores; if submitted, they’re used for placement or alternative eligibility
No letters of recommendation or application interviews are required.
Application fee: $70 (fee waivers available)

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