Riverside, CA · Private University
Is University of California-Riverside Worth It?
ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data
Key Numbers
10-Year Earnings
$67,699
median, 10 years after enrollment
In-State Tuition
$14,170
per year
Out-of-State Tuition
$44,947
per year
Total 4-Year Cost
$179,788
tuition only (4 years)
ROI Ratio
1.51x
earnings ÷ annual tuition
Payback Period
5.5 yrs
years to recoup total cost
Graduation Rate
76.6%
6-year graduation rate
Median Debt
$17,500
at graduation
Avg Net Price
$13,707
after aid & scholarships
Earnings vs. Annual Cost
10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition
University of California-Riverside graduates earn $22,699 more than the national median of workers with any education level.
What You'd Actually Pay
Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income
Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.
Highest-Earning Majors
Top programs at University of California-Riverside ranked by graduate earnings
49 graduates
75 graduates
163 graduates
81 graduates
92 graduates
Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.
ROI by Major at University of California-Riverside
All available majors ranked by graduate earnings. Your major matters as much as your school.
Your major matters more than your school
At University of California-Riverside, the gap between the highest-earning major (Computer Engineering: $100,678) and the lowest (Music: $20,408) is $80,270/yr, bigger than the difference between many schools.
| Major | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|
| Computer EngineeringBest ROI | $100,678 | 2.2x |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $91,614 | 2.0x |
| Computer Science(1yr data) | $81,034 | 1.8x |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $80,773 | 1.8x |
| Chemical Engineering | $80,354 | 1.8x |
| Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering | $76,232 | 1.7x |
| Information Science/Studies(1yr data) | $76,090 | 1.7x |
| Mechanical Engineering | $75,201 | 1.7x |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $73,399 | 1.6x |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $61,624 | 1.4x |
| Economics | $56,595 | 1.3x |
| Physics | $56,586 | 1.3x |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $55,342 | 1.2x |
| Public Policy Analysis | $53,413 | 1.2x |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $53,198 | 1.2x |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $53,052 | 1.2x |
| Social Sciences, Other | $52,438 | 1.2x |
| Mathematics | $51,363 | 1.1x |
| Political Science and Government | $51,239 | 1.1x |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | $48,022 | 1.1x |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $46,876 | 1.0x |
| Sociology | $45,734 | 1.0x |
| Chemistry | $45,718 | 1.0x |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $45,549 | 1.0x |
| Philosophy | $44,648 | 1.0x |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | $44,497 | 1.0x |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $44,237 | 1.0x |
| Biology, General | $44,091 | 1.0x |
| English Language and Literature, General | $43,429 | 1.0x |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology(1yr data) | $43,086 | 1.0x |
| International/Global Studies | $41,292 | 0.9x |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $41,093 | 0.9x |
| History | $41,004 | 0.9x |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $40,426 | 0.9x |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $36,564 | 0.8x |
| Anthropology | $36,503 | 0.8x |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $32,082 | 0.7x |
| Sustainability Studies(1yr data) | $30,698 | 0.7x |
| Statistics(1yr data) | $29,138 | 0.7x |
| Research and Experimental Psychology(1yr data) | $25,654 | 0.6x |
| Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education(1yr data) | $23,447 | 0.5x |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences(1yr data) | $22,998 | 0.5x |
| MusicLowest(1yr data) | $20,408 | 0.5x |
Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.
The Bottom Line
University of California-Riverside offers solid financial returns relative to its cost. Graduates earn $67,699 10 years after starting, $22,699 above the national median of $45,000. The investment pays for itself in roughly 5.5 years, faster than most colleges.
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Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.