- Acceptance rate: 76% for fall 2024
- Average high school GPA: 3.75, as reported by the college for 2025–26
- Average net price: $13,533 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
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Where you standEnter your GPA
Type your GPA to compare it with what University of California Riverside reported: an average GPA of 3.75 (2025–26) and an acceptance rate of 76% for fall 2024.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. University of California Riverside reviews each application.
University of California Riverside average GPA
University of California Riverside reported an average high school GPA of 3.75 for its first-year students, in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether it's weighted or unweighted.
How their high school GPAs were spread:
| High school GPA | Share of first-year students |
|---|---|
| 4.0 | |
| 3.75–3.99 | |
| 3.50–3.74 | |
| 3.25–3.49 | |
| 3.00–3.24 | |
| 2.50–2.99 |
An average, not a cutoffColleges calculate GPA in different ways, so these figures can't be compared directly with your own GPA.
University of California Riverside acceptance rate
University of California Riverside admitted 44,343 of 58,048 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 76%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
University of California Riverside is a public 4-year university in Riverside, California, with 22,600 undergraduates.
Admission requirements
What University of California Riverside looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Required |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Not considered |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Not considered |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Not considered |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Not considered |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Not considered |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Not considered |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Not considered |
University of California Riverside didn't report SAT or ACT scores for its fall 2024 first-year students.
AP credit
University of California Riverside awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It doesn't award credit for life experience.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $13,533 a year at University of California Riverside in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Is it easy to get into the University of California Riverside?
For most prepared students, yes: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. University of California Riverside admitted 76% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
Is a 3.5 GPA good enough for the University of California Riverside?
It would be within the usual range there: 25.8% of University of California Riverside's first-year students who submitted a GPA had one below 3.5, as the college reported in its 2025–26 Common Data Set, and it admitted 76% of applicants for fall 2024. Colleges calculate GPA in different ways, so compare on the same scale and look at your courses and test scores too.
Does the University of California Riverside require the SAT or ACT?
No. University of California Riverside doesn't consider SAT or ACT scores, even if you send them (test blind), as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
How important is GPA for getting into the University of California Riverside?
A lot: University of California Riverside requires high school GPA, high school record and college preparatory program. It doesn't consider high school class rank, recommendations, essay or personal statement, test scores, other tests, demonstration of competencies, work experience and legacy status. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Is there a minimum GPA for the University of California Riverside?
University of California Riverside doesn't set a minimum GPA we could verify. Its first-year students averaged 3.75, as reported by the college in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether that average is weighted or unweighted.
What GPA do most the University of California Riverside students have?
74.2% of University of California Riverside's first-year students who submitted a high school GPA had 3.50 or higher, and the largest group (29%) had a 4.0, as the college reported in its 2025–26 Common Data Set. The college doesn't say whether these GPAs are weighted or unweighted.
What is the acceptance rate at the University of California Riverside?
University of California Riverside's acceptance rate was 76% for fall 2024: it admitted 44,343 of 58,048 first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Does the University of California Riverside consider legacy status?
No. University of California Riverside doesn't consider whether a parent or other relative attended, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Can you get college credit for AP scores at the University of California Riverside?
Yes. University of California Riverside awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
What do students pay at the University of California Riverside after grants?
First-time, full-time undergraduates paying in-state tuition who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $13,533 a year at University of California Riverside in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Before you apply, check the University of California Riverside's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: University of California-RiversideU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- University of California Riverside Common Data Set 2025–26University of California Riverside: average high school GPA of first-year students and how their GPAs were spread.
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