UC Riverside may be the best option for those looking for a public university that offers a high return on investment. According to Forbes magazine, UC Riverside is ranked as the 37th best public university in the US for 2024-25.
The ranking is based on data from the Federal Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and the College Scorecard, which tracks graduates' salaries. The public policy think tank Third Way and various Forbes lists were also considered when calculating the rankings.
20% of the score is based on graduates' salaries, 15% on graduates' debt, 15% on graduation rate, and 15% on return on investment, which measures cost-vs.-earnings compared to high school graduates, 10% on student retention, 10% on academic success, and 15% on inclusion in Forbes's various prestige lists, including Forbes 30 Under 30, Forbes 400 Women, Richest Self-Made, and Most Powerful Women.
UC Riverside is 97th among 500 private and public universities in the 2024-25 list. Although the ranking order has changed slightly from the previous year, the top five have remained the same. Princeton University topped the Forbes rankings, with Stanford, MIT, Yale, and UC Berkeley making up the top five. The complete list can be viewed on the Forbes website.
