University of California, Riverside
#801
QS Rank
66%
Acceptance rate
16%
Intl. students
$56,314
Tuition/yr
24,000
Enrollment
19.6:1
Student:Faculty
About University of California, Riverside
Elite public UC in Riverside, CA. Strong engineering, agriculture, and STEM programs.
University of California, Riverside (UCR) is a public research university and one of ten campuses in the University of California system. It enrolls over 26,000 students across more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, and its faculty includes two Nobel Prize winners and 15 members of the National Academies of Science and Medicine.
UCR's academic strengths lie in STEM disciplines, with Times Higher Education placing it in the 176–200 range globally for both Computer Science and Engineering in 2026. The School of Business offers a STEM-designated MBA program, and the university has strong research programs in plant biology, entomology, and materials science. UCR is ranked in the top 15 public universities in the United States by U.S. News.
The university occupies a nearly 1,200-acre campus in Riverside, an inland city in Southern California approximately 60 miles east of Los Angeles. UCR has been ranked the No. 1 public university for social mobility by U.S. News four out of the past five years, reflecting its commitment to educating first-generation and low-income students, a student profile that overlaps significantly with many international applicants from South Asia.
World University Rankings
Campus & Location
CA
Suburban
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
All graduates from CRICOS-registered programs qualify for 12-month Optional Practical Training (OPT). STEM-designated programs (CS, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Sciences) qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension — 36 months total of US work authorisation.
For Nepali students
- UCR's strong STEM programs in computer science, engineering, and biology qualify graduates for the 3-year STEM OPT extension, giving Nepali students up to three years of post-graduation work authorization in the United States, significantly more time to gain US work experience and pursue H-1B sponsorship compared to non-STEM graduates.
- International students are automatically considered for the Achievement Scholarship for Nonresident Students upon admission, provided they maintain a 3.0 GPA, which can partially offset the approximately USD 56,000 annual tuition cost for international undergraduates.
- UCR consistently ranks as one of the most affordable and socially mobile UC campuses, making it a more accessible entry point into the prestigious University of California system compared to Berkeley or UCLA, which typically have lower acceptance rates and higher costs of living.
- With 16% international students and a location in the diverse Inland Southern California region, UCR has a visible South Asian student community and established international student support services, which can ease the transition for Nepali students arriving for the first time.
Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents
A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:
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