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Colleges in and near Riverside

Riverside is home to seven colleges, with about 51,000 students on campus

The University of California-Riverside (26,138 students on campus) and Riverside City College (13,488) are inside the city. About 11% of Riverside’s residents are enrolled in college, above California (8%).

California Baptist UniversityRiverside City CollegeUniversity of California-RiversideLa Sierra University

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Riverside. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
21
82,983 students on campus
Nearest college
2 mi
California Baptist University
Residents in college
11%
Above CA (8%)
Nearest community college
2.3 mi
Riverside City College · $1,428 tuition
Nearest public university
4.5 mi
University of California-Riverside · $15,606 in-state
Median household income
$91K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Riverside

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Four colleges within 6.4 milesCalifornia Baptist University admits 85% of applicants; University of California-Riverside admits 76%; La Sierra University admits 92%. Together they have 49,920 students on campus.A community college 2.3 miles awayRiverside City College in Riverside: tuition and fees $1,428 a year for California residents.In-state price at University of California-RiversideLiving in California, the University of California-Riverside charges $15,606 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $49,806. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 11% of residentsAbove California (8%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Riverside

16 private colleges within 14.5 miles, one public college within 4.5 miles, and four community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of California-RiversideRiverside City CollegeCalifornia Baptist UniversityRiverside
University or collegeCommunity college
California Baptist UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 8,683 on campus · In Riverside85%admitted$26knet price62%graduate$62kearningsRiverside City CollegeCommunity college · Public · 13,488 on campus · In Riverside$8knet price37%graduate$41kearningsTuition and fees: $1,428 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of California-RiversideUniversity or college · Public · 26,138 on campus · In Riverside76%admitted$14knet price76%graduate$68kearningsPlatt College-RiversideUniversity or college · For-profit · 416 on campus · In Riverside$22knet price57%graduate$41kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.North-West College-RiversideUniversity or college · For-profit · 680 on campus · In Riverside$33knet price72%graduate$40kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.American College of Healthcare and TechnologyUniversity or college · For-profit · 321 on campus · In Riverside$20knet price65%graduate$31kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.La Sierra UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,611 on campus · In Riverside92%admitted$46knet price60%graduate$62kearningsCalifornia University of Science and MedicineUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 564 on campus · 9.9 mi · ColtonGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Norco CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,967 on campus · 10.3 mi · Norco$5knet price42%graduate$51kearningsTuition and fees: $1,428 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Loma Linda UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,612 on campus · 10.9 mi · Loma Linda$90kearningsConcorde Career College-San BernardinoUniversity or college · For-profit · 260 on campus · 10.9 mi · San Bernardino98%admitted$26knet price76%graduate$40kearningsSan Bernardino Valley CollegeCommunity college · Public · 7,072 on campus · 11.2 mi · San Bernardino$19knet price28%graduate$40kearningsTuition and fees: $1,196 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Moreno Valley CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,560 on campus · 11.5 mi · Moreno Valley$6knet price34%graduate$52kearningsTuition and fees: $1,428 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.San Joaquin Valley College-OntarioUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,064 on campus · 12.7 mi · Ontario$27knet price64%graduate$38kearningsEarnings are reported for all 14 campuses that file with it.Platt College-OntarioUniversity or college · For-profit · 467 on campus · 13.6 mi · Ontario$21knet price58%graduate$41kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.Arizona College of Nursing-OntarioUniversity or college · For-profit · 279 on campus · 13.8 mi · Ontario100%admitted$44knet price$35kearningsEarnings are reported for all 20 campuses that file with it.University of Phoenix-CaliforniaUniversity or college · For-profit · 107 on campus · 14 mi · Ontario · mostly online58% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.American Career College-OntarioUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,014 on campus · 14.1 mi · Ontario$33knet price66%graduate$38kearningsDeVry University-CaliforniaUniversity or college · For-profit · 565 on campus · 14.3 mi · Ontario · mostly online98%admitted$34knet price22%graduate$46kearnings73% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Earnings are reported for all 11 campuses that file with it.West Coast University-OntarioUniversity or college · For-profit · 2,631 on campus · 14.4 mi · Ontario$50knet price39%graduate$103kearningsEarnings are reported for all 6 campuses that file with it.Universal Technical Institute of California IncUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,484 on campus · 14.5 mi · Rancho Cucamonga$26knet price72%graduate$53kearningsEarnings are reported for all 6 campuses that file with it.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where Riverside’s median household income ($91,045) falls.

Norco College10.3 mi · Norco · sticker $14,075 · tuition $1,428$9,984a year
Moreno Valley College11.5 mi · Moreno Valley · sticker $15,934 · tuition $1,428$10,797a year
Riverside City CollegeIn Riverside · sticker $16,911 · tuition $1,428$12,755a year
University of California-RiversideIn Riverside · sticker $38,942$16,571a year
Platt College-RiversideIn Riverside · sticker $28,676$19,332a year
San Bernardino Valley College11.2 mi · San Bernardino · sticker $22,678 · tuition $1,196$20,743a year
American College of Healthcare and TechnologyIn Riverside · sticker $25,460$22,829a year
Platt College-Ontario13.6 mi · Ontario · sticker $27,895$24,899a year
California Baptist UniversityIn Riverside · sticker $54,038$26,179a year
Universal Technical Institute of California Inc14.5 mi · Rancho Cucamonga · sticker $31,689$29,146a year
San Joaquin Valley College-Ontario12.7 mi · Ontario · sticker $31,279$29,415a year
Concorde Career College-San Bernardino10.9 mi · San Bernardino · sticker $31,359$29,752a year
DeVry University-California14.3 mi · Ontario · mostly online · sticker $40,687$35,104a year
North-West College-RiversideIn Riverside · sticker $36,572$35,126a year
American Career College-Ontario14.1 mi · Ontario · sticker $37,857$35,851a year
La Sierra UniversityIn Riverside · sticker $51,459$47,266a year
West Coast University-Ontario14.4 mi · Ontario · sticker $53,706$53,706a year
Arizona College of Nursing-Ontario13.8 mi · Ontario · sticker $52,480—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Riverside: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k$120k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →California Baptist UniversityRiverside City CollegeUniversity of California-RiversideNorco CollegeSan Bernardino Valley CollegeMoreno Valley College
University of California-Riverside76% graduate$68k earnings$18k typical debt
Riverside City College37% graduate$41k earnings$8k typical debt
California Baptist University62% graduate$62k earnings$26k typical debt
San Bernardino Valley College28% graduate$40k earnings
Norco College42% graduate$51k earnings
Moreno Valley College34% graduate$52k earnings
West Coast University-Ontario39% graduate$103k earnings*$33k typical debt
American Career College-Ontario66% graduate$38k earnings$10k typical debt
La Sierra University60% graduate$62k earnings$27k typical debt
Universal Technical Institute of California Inc72% graduate$53k earnings*$13k typical debt
San Joaquin Valley College-Ontario64% graduate$38k earnings*$11k typical debt
North-West College-Riverside72% graduate$40k earnings*$10k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Platt College-Riverside (4); North-West College-Riverside (4); American College of Healthcare and Technology (3); San Joaquin Valley College-Ontario (14); Platt College-Ontario (4); DeVry University-California (11); West Coast University-Ontario (6); Universal Technical Institute of California Inc (6).

Majors

What students study in Riverside

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Riverside’s 7 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 14%Health professions 10%Biology 9%Social sciences 8%Liberal arts 6%Psychology 6%Everything else 47%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesRiverside City College · 1,344 graduates a year
$47k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsUniversity of California-Riverside · 836 graduates a year
$72k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralUniversity of California-Riverside · 705 graduates a year
$58k4 yrs out
Research and Experimental PsychologyUniversity of California-Riverside · 597 graduates a year
$50k4 yrs out
Biological and Physical SciencesRiverside City College · 493 graduates a year
$55k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsRiverside City College · 338 graduates a year
$52k4 yrs out
SociologyUniversity of California-Riverside · 325 graduates a year
$56k4 yrs out
Computer ScienceUniversity of California-Riverside · 310 graduates a year
$118k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Riverside

Is Riverside a college town?

No. About 11 of every 100 Riverside residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above California (8). The largest campus in the city, the University of California-Riverside, has 26,138 students on campus.

What colleges are in Riverside?

The University of California-Riverside, Riverside City College, California Baptist University, La Sierra University and 3 more are inside the city.

What is the closest community college to Riverside, and what does it cost?

Riverside City College in Riverside, 2.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,428 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $8,377, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of California-Riverside cost if we live in California?

Tuition and fees are $15,606 a year in-state and $49,806 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $8,852 (under $30,000 income) to $30,393 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Riverside. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →