Explore alternatives based on outcomes, location, cost, and admission difficulty
Given UC Riverside's 63.3% acceptance rate, most qualified applicants have reasonable admission chances, but building a balanced list remains important for comprehensive college planning and exploring comparable alternatives.
These schools offer higher acceptance rates while delivering comparable career outcomes.
For similar outcomes with better admission odds, consider California State University-San Marcos (95.7% acceptance, $62,908 median earnings) located 59 miles away with comparable program offerings. Whittier College admits 85.4% of applicants while producing graduates earning $59,492, located just 40 miles from UC Riverside. California Lutheran University offers 88.9% acceptance rates with $68,712 median earnings at 90 miles distance, providing strong alternatives within the California higher education landscape.
Higher acceptance rate (32.4 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 59 miles away; similar graduate earnings
Strong options in the same region with comparable academic profiles.
Students committed to Southern California should consider UC Irvine (25.6% acceptance, $80,735 earnings) 37 miles away for higher outcomes with more competitive admission. Pitzer College offers nearly identical earnings of $69,512 at 24 miles distance, though with more selective 16.7% admission rates. California State University-San Marcos provides accessible admission at 95.7% acceptance with $62,908 earnings, maintaining proximity at 59 miles for students prioritizing location.
Elite universities with similar prestige and academic caliber
