Admissions Factors
What University of California-Riverside Looks For
University of California-Riverside rates 2 factors as very important: academic GPA and application essay.
How University of California-Riverside rates each factor
Each college sorts 18 factors into four levels on its Common Data Set.
Very important
Important
The numbers behind the class
Overall admit rate
86.1%
52,676 of 61,184 applicants
Early decision admit rate
No early decision
Admitted from the waitlist
0%
0 of 2,019 who stayed on it
Enrolled first-years had an average high school GPA of 3.75.
Frequently asked questions
What does University of California-Riverside look for in applicants?
University of California-Riverside rates 2 factors as very important: academic GPA and application essay.
Does University of California-Riverside consider legacy status?
University of California-Riverside rates alumni relation as "not considered" in its 2025-26 Common Data Set.
Does University of California-Riverside track demonstrated interest?
University of California-Riverside rates the level of an applicant's interest as "not considered".
What is University of California-Riverside's waitlist acceptance rate?
2,019 students stayed on the waitlist and 0 were admitted, a rate of 0%. The number changes a lot from year to year because it depends on how many admitted students enroll.
Source: University of California-Riverside’s own Common Data Set 2025-26, Section C. Last checked 2026-10-08. The ratings are the college’s own description of its process. Counts are for one entering class.
