UC Riverside / How to get in
How to Get Into UC Riverside
About 76% (most recent UC Riverside first-year cycle) Here is the academic profile that keeps you in the running, what UC Riverside weighs most, and where to put your energy.
- 3.72-4.16
- GPA (middle 50%)
Every college publishes how heavily it weighs each part of your application in its Common Data Set. Here is how UC Riverside reads applicants, most important first.
- Course rigor
- Grades (GPA)
- The application essay
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent or ability
- Character and personal qualities
- State residency
- Class rank
- First-generation status
- Geographic origin
UC Riverside is test-blind, so SAT and ACT scores are not considered at all.
Application opens August 1 (file starting October 1) · Filing period October 1-31 · Submission deadline December 2 (extended from Nov 30) · Early Action / Early Decision None (UC has no EA or ED). Applying early (Early Action or Early Decision, where offered) can modestly improve your odds and signals commitment.
Your grades and course rigor are mostly set by now. The highest-leverage things left are your essays and how you frame your activities. UC Riverside reads holistically, so a specific, well-told essay is where you separate yourself from other qualified applicants.
How to get into UC Riverside: FAQ
Is UC Riverside hard to get into?
About 76% (most recent UC Riverside first-year cycle). At UC Riverside, applicants clear a high academic bar first, then stand out through essays, activities, and character.
What GPA do you need to get into UC Riverside?
Admitted students at UC Riverside typically have a GPA around 3.72-4.16 (middle 50 percent). A strong GPA in demanding courses is the foundation, though it never guarantees admission.
What does UC Riverside look for in applicants?
UC Riverside weighs course rigor and grades (gpa) most heavily, alongside a strong academic record. The parts you most control late in the process are your essays and how you present your activities.
See your real chances at UC Riverside and every school.
Build my college list