University of California-Riverside
University of California-Riverside — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
University of California-Riverside at a Glance
The University of California, Riverside is a public land-grant research university in Riverside, California, United States. It is one of the ten campuses of the University of California system. The main campus sits on 1,900 acres (769 ha) in a suburban district of Riverside with a branch campus of 20 acres (8 ha) in Palm Desert. In 1907, the predecessor to UCR was founded as the UC Citrus Experiment Station, which conducted research in biological pest control and the use of growth regulators.
1910
116 years old
$250M
$249.87 million (2023)
26,384
22,599 undergrad · 3,785 grad
1,100
2,131 acres
51+
Prestige & value signals
Identity
How to Apply to University of California-Riverside
Official admissions page$80
Fee waiver available
Testing policy
Fee waiver
Is University of California-Riverside Worth It?
University of California-Riverside is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $14,304/year net price and $67,699 median earnings, graduates earn 4.7× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.8 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 76% graduation rate means roughly 24% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
Bottom line: University of California-Riverside delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How University of California-Riverside compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in CA
Ranked #6 of 55 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | 100 | $11,531 | $71,902 |
| #2 | Foothill College | 100 | $7,653 | $57,072 |
| #3 | San Jose State University | 96 | $13,760 | $78,988 |
| #4 | University of Illinois Chicago | 95 | $10,974 | $68,740 |
| #5 | Utah Valley University | 94 | $6,376 | $55,486 |
| #6 | University of California-Riverside | 90 | $14,304 | $67,699 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of University of California-Riverside's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 3 in CA.
Best Programs at University of California-Riverside
The highest-earning program at University of California-Riverside is Computer Engineering at $65,000/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft at $17,800/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Computer Engineering graduate from University of California-Riverside earns $65,000, while a Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduate earns $17,800. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Computer Engineering graduates carry $21,471 in median debt vs. $18,500 for Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $14,304/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $65,000 | $65,000 | $21,471 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $59,200 | $59,200 | $24,127 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $53,100 | $53,100 | $22,125 |
| Chemical Engineering | $44,200 | $44,200 | $22,371 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $43,900 | $43,900 | $18,609 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $35,700 | $35,700 | $16,875 |
| Economics | $35,000 | $35,000 | $18,226 |
| Social Sciences, Other | $34,100 | $34,100 | $18,131 |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | $33,200 | $33,200 | $20,410 |
| Chemistry | $32,400 | $32,400 | $23,298 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $30,700 | $30,700 | $17,875 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $27,300 | $27,300 | $19,708 |
| Public Policy Analysis | $27,100 | $27,100 | $21,070 |
| International/Global Studies | $26,400 | $26,400 | $18,640 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $26,200 | $26,200 | $14,000 |
| Political Science and Government | $25,900 | $25,900 | $19,864 |
| Philosophy | $25,600 | $25,600 | $21,562 |
| Sociology | $25,400 | $25,400 | $17,993 |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $24,400 | $24,400 | $17,000 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $24,400 | $24,400 | $20,953 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $24,100 | $24,100 | $19,583 |
| Mathematics | $23,700 | $23,700 | $22,103 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $23,300 | $23,300 | $22,500 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $23,200 | $23,200 | $19,456 |
| Psychology, General | $22,400 | $22,400 | $18,500 |
| Area Studies | $21,900 | $21,900 | $18,768 |
| Biology, General | $21,800 | $21,800 | $18,767 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $21,200 | $21,200 | $19,500 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $21,100 | $21,100 | $22,264 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $21,000 | $21,000 | $19,383 |
| Anthropology | $20,100 | $20,100 | $20,777 |
| History | $19,600 | $19,600 | $20,102 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $19,500 | $19,500 | $18,000 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $19,100 | $19,100 | $20,990 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $17,800 | $17,800 | $18,500 |
Similar Colleges in CA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Riverside, CA
- Student Body
- 22,593 students
- Admission Rate
- 76%
- Graduation Rate
- 76%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $14,304
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $67,699
- Median Student Debt
- $17,500