CAMPUS · RIVERSIDE, CA · PUBLIC

UC Riverside

University of California-Riverside

63.3%

01Acceptance 02Tuition 03Transfer 04ROI 05AP Credit 06Majors 07Housing 08International

Sticker Price vs What You Actually Pay

47% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating UC Riverside enrolls a meaningful share of lower-income students.

Full Cost Breakdown

Room & Board	$19,433
Total Cost of Attendance	$38,942

What You'll Actually Pay (Net Price by Income)

After financial aid, the real cost depends on your family's income. These are average net prices for students receiving aid.

Family Income	Annual Net Price	4-Year Total
$0-30k	$8,852	$35,408
$30-48k	$9,840	$39,360
$48-75k	$13,111	$52,444
$75-110k	$16,571	$66,284
$110k+	$30,393	$121,572

Financial Aid & Student Debt at UC Riverside

47.0%

Pell Grant Recipients

$17,500

Median Debt at Graduation

Is UC Riverside Worth the Cost? (ROI Analysis)

$67,699

Median Earnings (10yr)

$17,500

Median Debt

3.9x

Earnings-to-Debt Ratio

A ratio above 2x generally means the investment pays off. UC Riverside — 3.9x ratio is excellent — graduates earn well relative to their debt burden.

UC Riverside True Cost by Family Income

47% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating UC Riverside enrolls a meaningful share of lower-income students.

Family Income	Annual Net Price	4-Year Total
$0-30k	$8,852	$35,408
$30-48k	$9,840	$39,360
$48-75k	$13,111	$52,444
$75-110k	$16,571	$66,284
$110k+	$30,393	$121,572

Cost Breakdown

Room & Board	$19,433
Total Cost of Attendance	$38,942

Financial Aid & Student Debt

47.0%

Pell Grant Recipients

Students from low-income families

$17,500

Median Debt at Graduation

Federal loans only

$48,593

Median Earnings (6yr)

6 years after enrollment

UC Riverside Tuition & Cost FAQs

How much does UC Riverside actually cost per year?

UC Riverside's sticker price (cost of attendance) is $38,942/yr — that includes tuition, room and board, and fees. After financial aid, the average family pays just $15,753/yr, a 60% discount off sticker price.

Does UC Riverside offer good financial aid?

47% of UC Riverside students receive Pell Grants (federal need-based aid). Most US colleges including UC Riverside also award institutional grants on top of federal aid — apply via FAFSA, plus the CSS Profile if UC Riverside requires it.

What income bracket pays the least at UC Riverside?

Families earning under $30,000/yr typically pay around $8,852/yr at UC Riverside after financial aid, while families earning over $110,000/yr pay closer to $30,393/yr. The full breakdown by income bracket is in the True Cost table above.

Is UC Riverside worth the cost?

UC Riverside graduates earn a median of $67,699 10 years post-graduation. Against a 4-year sticker cost of about $155,768 (less for most families with aid), grads typically recoup the investment within several years of work.