UC Riverside Acceptance Rate (2026): General, State & Transfer

UC Riverside’s general acceptance rate (2023-2026)

UC Riverside’s most recent acceptance rate is 89%, making it one of the more accessible campuses in the University of California (UC) system.

UC Riverside has a long history of maintaining favorable acceptance rates for in-state and out-of-state students, but the campus’s most recent admit rate is the highest we’ve seen since 2011.

UC Riverside also reported a record-high number of applications received in 2025, a 22% increase from the previous year. What’s causing such a sharp increase in UC Riverside applications?

One reason applications are on the rise at UC Riverside is due to the number of applications received systemwide and the increase in in-state California applications. The UC system has been reporting 130,000+ yearly California applications in recent years, and with little space at flagship campuses such as UCLA or UC Berkeley, campuses like UC Riverside have started getting the overflow of applications.

Another more prominent reason is UC Riverside’s strategic efforts to encourage more applications for the most recent application cycles. Joel Ontiveros, former Assistant Director of Admission at UCLA and Collegewise Counselor, shared his insights on the recent surge at UC Riverside:

“UC Riverside allowed for free applications in the Fall 2025 cycle and broke 60,000 California resident applications for the first time in history. More students are starting to apply to the quote-unquote easier UC campuses, and although acceptance rates are favorable now, I can foresee those campuses becoming more selective if that continues.”

What is UC Riverside’s in-state acceptance rate?

UC Riverside’s in-state acceptance rate shot up to 87% in the most recent cycle, an 8% increase from the previous year. This spike is largely due to UC Riverside’s recent decision to waive application fees for California residents, making it more appealing for students to add UC Riverside to their list of colleges.

Is UC Riverside becoming more popular with California students? Yes and no. UC Riverside is becoming more appealing to California students as campuses such as UCLA and Berkeley tighten their admissions process and selectivity, but much of their California applications are a result of the UC system’s Eligibility in the Local Context (ELC) program.

The ELC program guarantees admission to a UC campus for students ranking in the top nine percent of their graduating class. The caveat is that students are admitted to a campus where there is space available, like UC Riverside.

The UC system has yet to release its Class of 2030 admissions results, but when asked what we can expect given the historical data, Joel notes, “If I had to guess, I bet those application numbers stay around the same level—and those campuses stay around the same level of competitiveness. But with that said, campuses like UC Riverside are recruiting more, and usually that means a school becomes more selective."

Is it easier to get into UC Riverside as an out-of-state applicant?

UC Riverside’s out-of-state acceptance rate sits at 85.5%, 1.5% lower than the in-state acceptance rate. For the first time in recent years, UC Riverside’s out-of-state acceptance rate is lower than its in-state enrollment.

UC Riverside is a public research university with much of its funding coming from California tax dollars. As a result, the campus is required to prioritize California applicants, and with the recent surge in applications, most of its available seats went to those applying from within California.

What is UC Riverside’s transfer acceptance rate?

UC Riverside’s in-state transfer acceptance rate is 68%, and its out-of-state acceptance rate is 56%. With sky-high application numbers across the entire UC system, the transfer option is becoming increasingly more popular for students.

UC Riverside is among the 6 campuses in the UC system that participate in the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program for eligible California students. This makes the transfer process even more appealing to many students who have their eyes set on UC Riverside. Instead of going up against 70,000+ undergraduate applications, a student may take two years of community college and then transfer.

In some cases, it can also be the more affordable option, especially for those students who may need a longer runway to identify their major.

How to get into UC Riverside

UC Riverside may be less selective than other campuses, but getting accepted isn’t a guaranteed slam dunk. It will require students to present well-crafted college applications and ensure they’ve met all 13 UC admissions requirements and criteria to be considered.

This includes:

• Excelling in A-G academic requirements
• Exploring Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or honors programs throughout high school
• Selecting 4 out of 8 personal insight questions and providing thoughtful, compelling responses
• Creating impact in their communities through extracurricular activities
• Exceeding the minimum 3.0 (3.4 for non-Californians) grade point average (GPA) requirement

Tackling each of these application components is no easy task, and it isn’t something that should be left to junior year. The most successful students are those who start considering their path to college as early as grade 9. Through early exploration and planning, students have more time to build a foundation that sets them up for success in the college admissions process and as college students.

Collegewise has proudly supported 3,500+ students through the University of California admissions process. Our team of former UC admissions officers and seasoned UC experts helps students through every aspect of the UC admissions process, including:

• End-to-end college application support
• Essay coaching and PIQ strategy
• Extracurricular mentoring
• Deadline and application management
• Financial aid consulting
• Transfer admissions guidance

Start your journey to a UC campus by scheduling a free consultation with Collegewise today.  

Frequently asked questions

No matter if a student is considering UC Santa Barbara for undergraduate or graduate studies, the campus is an excellent choice for many students. However, acceptance at UC Santa Barbara will require students to think strategically about how they hope to present themselves, with great focus on PIQs, activities, and academics.

The ideal time to start building college application components? Grade 9 is the sweet spot! This will give students ample time to explore their interests, take academic prerequisites, and establish a major they’re excited about. With this long runway, admission to UC Santa Barbara may be in the cards.

Collegewise has proudly supported 3,500+ students through the University of California admissions process, offering end-to-end college application support, essay coaching, extracurricular mentoring, and deadline management. Our counselors include former UC admissions officers and experts who understand exactly what UC Irvine looks for. Schedule a free consultation today.