Bold Hearts. Brilliant Minds.

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First Year

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Build Your Future at UCR!

Turn your passion into purpose as part of the UCR family. Our award-winning faculty will mentor you. Our diverse campus community will embrace you. And our first-year-specific resources will help you build your future!

We've been waiting for a Highlander like you. Apply to UCR today!

 

First-Year Financial Aid, Costs & Fees

You can afford a UC education! The cost of attending UCR is extremely competitive compared with other University of California campuses and private schools. Living in Riverside is also considerably less expensive than living in nearby Los Angeles, Orange County, or San Diego. Read on to learn more about the programs available to help you pay for your UCR degree and how much that degree costs.

 

University of California Tuition Stability Plan

Tuition is adjusted for each incoming undergraduate class but will subsequently remain flat until the student graduates, for up to six years. Learn more.

 

Financial Aid

A UC degree is more affordable than you might think! Grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study are offered to qualified students by UCR’s Financial Aid office.

85%

of UCR undergraduate students who applied for aid were awarded aid.

97%

of undergraduate students who were awarded aid received need-based scholarships and/or grants.

86%

of need was met with need-based aid.

(Financial Aid Office, 2022–23)
 

UCR Financial Aid Applications School Codes

FAFSA: 001316
CADAA: 001316

To qualify for financial aid, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) each year.

The simplified 2024–25 FAFSA is expected to be available for students to complete in December 2023 with a priority deadline of March 2. Late applications can be submitted after March 2, although CSAC administered grant aid may not offered to late applicants. 

Fill out the CADAA between Jan. 1 and the priority deadline of March 2. Late applications can be submitted after March 2, although CSAC administered grant aid may not offered to late applicants.

 

Additional Aid

UC Riverside Foundation Scholarships

The UC Riverside Foundation offers scholarships, fellowships, internships, prizes, awards, and loans to qualifying UCR students. Use the online database to search for aid based on your college, major, financial need, career goals, and more. scholarships.ucr.edu

Work-Study

Eligible students can earn money for school through an approved on- or off-campus work-study job. Funds can only be used during the academic year, and you must meet financial need, academic, and other requirements to maintain your  eligibility. careers.ucr.edu


Aid for California Residents

The state of California offers a number of financial aid programs for residents, including those listed below. The programs offer qualifying students grants and scholarships that do not need to be repaid to cover tuition, fees, and related expenses (like books, housing, and transportation). To be eligible, complete your FAFSA or CADAA by the March 2 priority deadline each year (late applications can be submitted after March 2, although CSAC administered grant aid may not offered to late applicants). Make sure your Cal Grant GPA Verification Form was submitted to the California Student Aid Commission by your high school.

Middle Class Scholarship Program

If your family has up to $217,000 in annual income and assets, and you meet other residency, income, and academic requirements, you could have up to 40% of your UC systemwide tuition and fees covered by this scholarship. go.ucr.edu/mcs

 

Cal Grant

If you meet GPA, family income, residency, academic, and other requirements, you can get grant money that will cover some of your educational costs and fees. csac.ca.gov/cal-grants

Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan

If your total annual family income is less than $80,000, and you meet other residency, income, and academic requirements, you could have 100% of your UC systemwide tuition and fees covered by grants and scholarships through this plan. Students with greater financial need can qualify for additional aid to cover expenses like books, housing, and transportation. admission.universityofcalifornia.edu

Additional Aid from the State of California
Check out more state of California financial aid programs from the California Student Aid Commission. csac.ca.gov/financial-aid-programs

 


 

  Estimated Costs for Undergraduates

View estimated costs for attending UCR including tuition, fees, housing, books, transportation, and more.

  UCR Net Price Calculator

Fill out the form at the UCR Net Price Calculator to get an estimate of what your full-time cost of attendance and financial aid package at UCR could be.

 

UCR student, Kamilla Minkina, is an art (studio) and art history major, expected to graduate in 2025. She poses on campus by Hinderaker Hall wearing a cream colored blazer and a black dress.
“Numerous scholarships, grants, and work-study opportunities provided by FAFSA and UCR have made it possible for me to attend college. Most of the grants and scholarships come from UCR directly to cover my tuition and rent. I am grateful for the incredible support that UCR provided, as I am able to get a bachelor’s degree without loans.”

 

Kamilla, Class of '25
Art (Studio) and Art History

Applying to UCR

As a top-ranking university, UCR sets high admission standards. Incoming students are selected based on a wide range of criteria, including academic performance and the potential for success as an undergraduate. 

3.0

Minimum GPA Requirement

24:1

Student-to-Faculty Ratio

4.06

Enrolled Academic Years to Degree Completion

Requirements

UC Riverside will not consider SAT or ACT test scores when making admission decisions or awarding scholarships. If you choose to submit test scores as part of your application, they may be used as an alternative method of fulfilling minimum requirements for eligibility or for course placement after you enroll. View UC’s testing policy UC's testing policy

  • Comprehensive Review

    Comprehensive review is the process by which UCR evaluates first-year applicants, who meet minimum UC requirements, using multiple measures of achievement and promise, while considering the context in which each student has demonstrated accomplishment. UCR will calculate an Academic Index Score (AIS) for all first-year applicants. The faculty of UCR have designated the measures described below to be used to calculate the AIS.

    High School GPA – The strength of an applicant’s high school GPA is the strongest indicator that a student will be successful within an academically challenging UC environment. The capped GPA is calculated on the basis of all completed “a-g” courses with extra points added for UC-approved honors courses taken in grades 10 and 11, capped at 8 semesters. A capped GPA considers the extra points earned for honors-level courses and may exceed 4.0 for some students.

    Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses – AP and IB courses prepare students for college-level coursework. Therefore, students who take and do well in these courses tend to have a high probability for success within the UC environment.

    Eligibility in the Local Context (ELC) The Eligibility in the Local Context (ELC) program recognizes the individual accomplishments of students in light of the opportunities offered by their particular high school.

    Low Family Income  Students who demonstrate high academic achievement, despite low socioeconomic status, are likely to exhibit persistence, maturity, and insight. Low family income is determined based on total family members and household income.

    First-Generation University Attendance – UC-eligible applicants who are the first in their immediate family to attend college are apt to have personal strengths that will contribute to their academic success. Students whose parents have not graduated from a four-year college or university are qualified for first-generation university attendance.

  • Subject Requirement

     

    You must earn a grade of C or better in all “a-g” courses and complete a minimum of 15 college-preparatory (“a–g”) courses.

    Eleven of those 15 courses must be completed prior to your senior year. Find out if your course is UC approved, and if your college course or SAT/AP/IB exam score meets an “a–g” requirement.

     

  • GPA Requirement

    To meet minimum requirements, you must earn a GPA of 3.0 or higher (3.4 for non-residents) in “a–g” courses taken during grades 10 and 11 (including summers before and after), weighted by a maximum of eight semesters of UC-approved honors points.

    Extra Points for Honors Courses

    • A=5, B=4 and C=3; D or F=0 extra points.
    • Approved honors-level courses may also include acceptable AP classes, higher- (and some standard-) level IB classes and transferable college courses.

Featured Video

 

How to Apply to UC Riverside

Follow along as UCR students walk you through the process of filling out an admission application.

Apply by Nov. 30

Resources & Support

UCR is dedicated to your success, and offers a range of programs and resources to support you along your path to degree. Get guidance from faculty and student mentors. Excel in your courses with the help of a tutor or study group. Connect with a wellness department to take care of your physical, mental, and emotional health. Develop as a leader in a campus organization.

First-Year Dates & Deadlines

Find the dates of instruction at registrar.ucr.edu

 

Admissions: First-Year

Aug. 1

Access the UC application 

Oct. 1–Nov. 30

Submit your UC application

December

Access the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and GPA form to apply for financial aid by the March 2 priority deadline (UCR school code: 001316)

Jan. 1

Access the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) to apply for financial aid by the March 2 priority deadline (UCR school code: 001316)

March

Admission notifications begin
Access the next steps to UCR for admitted first-year students

March 1

Housing contracts become available

March 2

Priority deadline to submit your FAFSA or CADAA (UCR school code: 001316) Late applications can be submitted after March 2, although CSAC administered grant aid may not offered to late applicants.
Verify that a certified GPA was submitted to the California Student Aid Commission by your high school 

May 10

Deadline to submit housing contract and first payment (You'll need to submit your SIR beforehand.)

May 15

Deadline to submit your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR)

June 8

Deadline to register for Highlander Orientation

July 1

Deadline to submit your final, official high school transcript

July 15

Deadline to submit your official AP, IB, and A-Level exam scores

September

Fall quarter begins

 

Meet Your Counselor

Admissions Counselors


Andrej Molchan

Assistant Director of High School Recruitment and Evaluation
(951) 827-3678
andrej.molchan@ucr.edu

Jessica Verazas

Assistant Director of Transfer Recruitment and Evaluation
(951) 827-7689
jessica.verazas@ucr.edu

Edward Barrera

Admissions Specialist
(951) 827-0673
edward.barrera1@ucr.edu

Jesse Cruz

Admissions Specialist
(951) 827-4189
jesse.cruz@ucr.edu

Maria Flores

Senior Evaluation & Athletic Specialist
(951)827-3691
maria.flores@ucr.edu

Cesar Gonzalez Vargas

Admissions Specialist
(951)827-3691
cesar.gonzalezvargas@ucr.edu

Yesenia Vasquez

Admissions Specialist
(951) 827-0873
yesenia.vasquez1@ucr.edu

Diana Medina

Admissions Specialist
(951) 827-2382
diana.medina@ucr.edu

Myrna Mangano

Admissions Specialist
(951) 827-0872
myrna.mangano@ucr.ed

Kaisha Ross

Admissions Specialist
(951) 827-6401
kaisha.ross@ucr.edu

Maricela Solano

Admissions Specialist
(951) 827-0681
maricela.solanolopez@ucr.edu

Camilla Valadez

Admissions Specialist
(951) 827-0672
camilla.valadez@ucr.edu

Fryda Zaldivar Mier

Admissions Specialist
(951) 827-4445
fryda.zaldivarmier@ucr.edu

Danielle P. Watson

Admissions Specialist
(951) 827-3903
danielle.watson@ucr.edu

 
 

 

 

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