What is the student population like at UC Riverside?

I'm researching universities and I'm curious about the student population at UC Riverside. Is it a large campus with a lot of students or relatively small? Any insights would be helpful!

UC Riverside, located in Southern California, tends to be larger than many other campuses when it comes to student population. As of the 2024-2025 academic year, the undergraduate enrollment is about 23,000 students, and the graduate student population is around 4,000 students. This brings the total student population to around 27,000.

Despite the large student population, many students say that the campus community at UC Riverside is pretty tight-knit, and people generally feel like they're part of a supportive, inclusive community. Students often note the diversity of the student body as a major feature of the campus. In fact, UC Riverside is consistently recognized for the diversity of its student population and is known for its commitment to supporting first-generation and low-income students.

It's also worth mentioning that class sizes can vary. Some introductory-level courses, particularly in the sciences, might have large lectures with hundreds of students, while more advanced or specialized courses might have smaller classes, even fewer than 20 students. You'll find that despite the large overall student population, there are still plenty of opportunities for you to form meaningful connections with your peers and professors.

For a closer look at the campus culture and to get a sense of the student body, you may want to consider virtually visiting UC Riverside or connecting with current students or admissions representatives.