Solid graduate outcomes with earnings above the peer average.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
UC Riverside graduates demonstrate consistent earnings progression throughout their early careers. Median earnings increase from $48,593 six years after enrollment to $59,554 at eight years and $67,699 at ten years, representing steady 39.3% growth from the six-year to ten-year measurement points.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduate earnings exceed the peer average, indicating above-typical outcomes for this institution type.
Financial justification for the investment.
Excellent affordability. Median debt of $17,500 is well under annual earnings, enabling comfortable repayment.
UC Riverside graduates typically borrow modest amounts to finance their education, with median debt of $17,500 comparing favorably to the peer median of $20,000. Student debt distribution ranges from $7,833 at the 25th percentile to $25,000 at the 75th percentile, indicating that many students graduate with minimal borrowing while others require moderate debt levels to complete their degrees.
University of California-Riverside achieves well above average return on investment, ranking at the 77.1st percentile nationally for institutional return performance. Graduates earn $8,891 beyond expectations compared to similar students at peer institutions, placing UC Riverside in the 83.6th percentile for value-added earnings performance.
Approximately 24.8% of UC Riverside graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating balanced preparation for both immediate workforce...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
Program-level earnings variation drives UC Riverside's strong return performance across diverse academic fields. Computer Science leads institutional outcomes at $81,034 median earnings, while Mechanical Engineering produces graduates earning $75,201 annually.
Business Administration, the institution's largest program with 715 graduates, generates median earnings of $61,624 with exceptional value performance. Applied Economics and Business/Managerial Economics produce graduates earning in the mid-$50,000 range with strong national rankings and solid value scores.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
The earnings distribution at UC Riverside spans from $42,680 at the 25th percentile to $95,385 at the 75th percentile, creating a 2.2:1 ratio that indicates significant upside potential for graduates across different programs and career trajectories. Low-income graduates earn $56,400, demonstrating the institution's effectiveness in supporting economic mobility for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
