In fall 2025, 1,639 freshmen applied to UC Riverside in Public Admin and 1,527 were admitted, an admit rate of 93%, compared with 87% for the campus as a whole. The middle half of admitted students had a UC GPA between 3.50 and 4.12. Of those admitted, 123 enrolled (8%).
What stands out
It was the least selective major area at UC Riverside. The admit rate rose from 69% in 2021 to 93% in 2025, while applications went from 639 to 1,639. Among UC campuses, UC Berkeley was the hardest in Public Admin (14%).
Five-year trend
| Fall | Applied | Admitted | Admit rate | Admitted GPA (middle 50%) | Enrolled | Enrolled GPA (middle 50%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,639 | 1,527 | 93% | 3.50–4.12 | 123 | 3.24–3.74 |
| 2024 | 703 | 609 | 87% | 3.44–4.08 | 73 | 3.29–3.70 |
| 2023 | 714 | 564 | 79% | 3.65–4.14 | 62 | 3.48–3.88 |
| 2022 | 712 | 559 | 79% | 3.52–4.12 | 70 | 3.50–3.99 |
| 2021 | 639 | 443 | 69% | 3.61–4.05 | 62 | 3.46–3.85 |
Public Admin at every UC (fall 2025)
| Campus | Applied | Admitted | Admit rate | Admitted GPA (middle 50%) | Campus overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley | 278 | 39 | 14% | 4.08–4.26 | 11% |
| UCLA | 876 | 127 | 14% | 4.20–4.29 | 9% |
| UC Santa Cruz | 192 | 124 | 65% | 3.83–4.16 | 72% |
| UC Davis | 118 | 90 | 76% | 3.83–4.21 | 44% |
| UC Riverside | 1,639 | 1,527 | 93% | 3.50–4.12 | 87% |
Transfer admit rates: Public Admin majors (fall 2025)
| Major | Applied | Admitted | Admit rate | 2024 rate | Admitted GPA (middle 50%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global and Community Health | 180 | 161 | 89% | — | 3.34–3.83 |
| Public Policy | 122 | 100 | 82% | 76% | 3.15–3.63 |
| Public Service – Political Science | 64 | 56 | 88% | 83% | 3.04–3.62 |
Transfer GPA is the UC-transferable GPA from community college. All UC Riverside transfer majors →
Other major areas at UC Riverside
Check your chances with your GPA and intended major →
Source: University of California Office of the President, UC Information Center: Freshman admissions by discipline and Transfers by major. UC reports freshman results by broad discipline (the major area students applied to, such as Engineering), not by individual major; transfer results are by individual major. GPA ranges are the 25th–75th percentile of admitted students (freshman: weighted, capped UC GPA; transfer: UC-transferable GPA). Counts include all applicants (California, out-of-state and international). Small counts are suppressed by UC. This site is independent and not affiliated with the University of California. Admit rates describe past applicants, not any individual student’s chances.