Applicants, Acceptance Rate, Yield Trends at UC Riverside

50.73%

Applicants - since 2015

20.79%

Acceptance Rate

The average acceptance rate at UC Riverside over the past 10 years is 62.54%, and the most recent acceptance rate is 76.39%. Compared to the previous year, it became much easier to gain admission to UC Riverside in 2025.

The average yield (enrollment rate) over the period is 16.24%, and the 2025 yield is 12.23%. Overall, the yield has decreased by 35.26% from 2015 to 2025.

The number of UC Riverside applicants decreased by 7.58% (4,759 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 50.73% overall.

Key Takeaways: UC Riverside Admission Metrics

Acceptance Rate Overview

The current acceptance rate for the 2025 admission cycle is 76.39%, showing a decreasing selectivity trend. This suggests that UC Riverside is admitting a higher proportion of applicants, which may indicate either an increase in application quality or a strategic enrollment decision by the institution.

Yield Rate & Enrollment Patterns

The admission yield (the percentage of admitted students who enroll) for the 2025 academic year is 12.23%. The declining yield trend suggests that a lower percentage of admitted students are choosing to enroll at UC Riverside. This pattern may reflect increased competition from peer institutions, changing student demographics, or shifts in institutional enrollment strategy.

Application Volume & Admission Trends

For the 2025 admission cycle, UC Riverside received approximately 58,048 applications, admitted 44,343 students, and enrolled 5,422 students. The rising application volume trend indicates that UC Riverside is attracting an increasing number of prospective students over time. This growth in applications typically reflects enhanced institutional visibility, improved marketing initiatives, or increasing perceived value in the higher education market.

Acceptance Rate Changes

UC Riverside 10-Year Admission Rate Summary: The acceptance rate trends at UC Riverside over the past decade show a relatively stable trend, with fluctuations in both directions. The average acceptance rate over this period is 62.54%, while the most recent rate stands at 76.39%. This data reflects the institution's evolving competitiveness in the higher education admissions landscape.

For the most recent admission cycle (2025), the acceptance rate is 76.39%. By gender, the average acceptance rate for men is 59.83% and for women is 64.90%.

The following table and chart show how acceptance rates at UC Riverside have changed over the past 10 years (2015-2025).

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 55.60% 53.28% 57.53%
2016-17 66.34%
10.74%
63.26%
9.99%
68.89%
11.36%
2017-18 57.23%
-9.11%
55.46%
-7.80%
58.62%
-10.27%
2018-19 50.57%
-6.66%
48.87%
-6.59%
51.88%
-6.74%
2019-20 56.52%
5.94%
55.06%
6.18%
57.67%
5.79%
2020-21 65.78%
9.26%
64.76%
9.70%
66.59%
8.91%
2021-22 65.00%
-0.78%
62.00%
-2.75%
68.00%
1.41%
2022-23 68.69%
3.69%
63.60%
1.60%
73.29%
5.29%
2023-24 63.30%
-5.39%
59.69%
-3.91%
66.50%
-6.79%
2024-25 76.39%
13.09%
72.36%
12.66%
80.07%
13.57%
Average 62.54% 59.83% 64.90%
University of California-Riverside Acceptance Rate Trends Over Time - Historical Admission Rate Data Visualization Chart

Admission Yield (Enrollment Rate) Changes

UC Riverside has demonstrated a decline in admission yield over the past 10 years. The institution's yield rate has decreased from 18.89% in 2015 to 12.23% in 2025, representing a 35.26% decrease. The 10-year average yield stands at 16.24%, reflecting weakening enrollment performance.

The following table and chart illustrate the changes in yield at UC Riverside from 2015 to 2025. The admission yield has decreased by 35.26% over this period.

YearTotalMenWomen
2015-16 18.89% 20.02% 18.02%
2016-17 18.95%
0.06%
18.22%
-1.80%
19.50%
1.48%
2017-18 18.39%
-0.56%
18.88%
0.66%
18.03%
-1.47%
2018-19 18.25%
-0.14%
19.13%
0.26%
17.60%
-0.43%
2019-20 17.03%
-1.22%
18.29%
-0.85%
16.08%
-1.52%
2020-21 14.91%
-2.12%
15.04%
-3.25%
14.82%
-1.26%
2021-22 15.00%
0.09%
16.00%
0.96%
14.00%
-0.82%
2022-23 14.84%
-0.16%
16.00%
0.00%
13.93%
-0.07%
2023-24 13.89%
-0.95%
14.30%
-1.70%
13.56%
-0.37%
2024-25 12.23%
-1.66%
12.54%
-1.76%
11.97%
-1.59%
Average 16.24% 16.84% 15.75%
University of California-Riverside enrollment rate trends chart showing historical yield changes from 2015 to 2025

Applicants, Admitted, and Enrolled Headcount Changes

Over the past 10 years, The average number of applicants is 50,107, the average number of admitted is 31,592, and the average number of first-year enrolled students is 4,980.

The number of UC Riverside applicants decreased by 7.58% (4,759 applicants) compared to the previous year. Over the entire 10-year period, applicants increased by 50.73% overall.

The following table and chart show the changes of applicants, admitted, and enrolled headcount at University of California-Riverside from 2015 to 2025.

YearApplicantsAdmittedEnrolled
2015-16 38,511 21,412 4,044
2016-17 42,629
10.69%
28,280
32.08%
5,358
32.49%
2017-18 43,682
2.47%
25,001
-11.59%
4,598
-14.18%
2018-19 49,079
12.36%
24,820
-0.72%
4,529
-1.50%
2019-20 49,515
0.89%
27,984
12.75%
4,766
5.23%
2020-21 49,442
-0.15%
32,522
16.22%
4,850
1.76%
2021-22 52,672
6.53%
34,237
5.27%
5,136
5.90%
2022-23 54,683
3.82%
37,563
9.71%
5,573
8.51%
2023-24 62,807
14.86%
39,758
5.84%
5,521
-0.93%
2024-25 58,048
-7.58%
44,343
11.53%
5,422
-1.79%
Average 50,107 31,592 4,980
University of California-Riverside - 10 Year Applicants, Admissions, and Enrollment Trends Chart

Compare Acceptance Rate Change to Similar Colleges

The following table compares University of California-Riverside' acceptance rate to similar schools.

20242025Change %
University of California-Riverside63.30%76.39%20.68%
University of Hawaii at Manoa86.60%69.69%24.26%
University of California-Davis41.83%41.63%0.48%
University of California-Irvine28.57%25.57%11.73%
University of California-Santa Barbara32.97%27.78%18.68%
California State University-Long Beach46.27%47.12%-1.80%

Ratings & Review

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