July has been a month for highlighting numbers.
Across the country, Americans celebrated Independence Day by marking 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In a video for employees, UC President James B. Milliken reflected on the University of California’s role in helping build the country we know today.
Here at UCR, as we closed one academic year and began the next, we have been counting the ways the university serves students, invests in the Inland region, and prepares to further scale that work. Our numbers tell part of that story.
8,293
The largest class of new undergraduate UCR students, including both first-year and transfer, enrolled in fall 2025. This resulted in 24,034 undergraduates and 27,633 total students, both of which represent the largest in their respective categories in UCR’s history.
96.3%
California residents accounted for 96.3% of UCR undergraduates, continuing our long-standing commitment to serving students from across the state.
97%
Of the students who applied for financial aid, 97% received need-based scholarships and/or grants.
$38.5 million
Philanthropic support during the fiscal year outpaced past years, buoyed by several major gifts.
These are just a few of the numbers that reflect UCR’s growing reach and impact. The partnerships we build across the region will help us continue to scale that work.
Three Councils, One Regional Commitment
As I shared during my inauguration, I believe UC Riverside's future is inseparable from the future of Inland Southern California. We have a responsibility—and an extraordinary opportunity—to continue to serve as a catalyst for economic growth, educational opportunity, cultural vitality, and innovation across our region, state, and beyond.
To advance this vision, I have launched three Engagement Councils focused on Business Engagement, P–16 Education Engagement, and Community Engagement. These councils bring together campus and community leaders to strengthen partnerships, align our efforts, and expand UCR's impact.
Together, they are building a framework for lasting partnerships through three key initiatives:
- Annual Impact Report to showcase partnerships, measurable outcomes, and regional impact.
- Partner Engagement Assessment to gather feedback and continuously improve how we collaborate with our communities.
- Coordinated Communications Platform to connect partners with opportunities, highlight successes, and strengthen awareness of UCR's work across the region.
These councils represent more than a new initiative—they are a long-term commitment to ensuring UCR remains a trusted partner and an anchor institution that helps shape a stronger, healthier, and more prosperous Inland Southern California.
California Expands Its Investment in UC
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed California’s 2026–27 budget, which provides the University of California with $5.5 billion in support, including approximately $541 million in new ongoing support.
I am grateful to Governor Newsom and the Legislature for their continued investment in public higher education. Thank you to everyone who participated in the Speak Up for Science campaign and other advocacy efforts on behalf of UCR and the UC system.
State support accounts for approximately one-third of UCR’s overall budget. As the university’s largest source of funding, these dollars are essential to honoring our education, research, and public-service mission.
UCR’s allocation from UCOP increased by $36.5 million, which doesn’t fully cover increases in salaries, benefits, and other fixed costs of $43.17 million. I encourage you to read the detailed budget update from Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Elizabeth Watkins and Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer Sandra Kim. As mentioned in that announcement, we will continue to hold budget review meetings in winter 2027 as we did this year and appreciate your stewardship.
State investment helps make possible the teaching, research, and public service at the heart of our mission. The gathering described below demonstrates the reach of that work.
Research Spotlight: Where Science Meets AI
At the close of June, UCR welcomed leading researchers, students, entrepreneurs, industry experts, and community members for the Science x AI Summit. Hosted by the Center for Experimental Cosmology and Instrumentation and the SAIR Foundation, the event featured Nobel laureate Barry Barish, Fields Medalist Terence Tao, Google Quantum AI founder Hartmut Neven, and other internationally recognized speakers.
The discussions ranged from gravitational waves and quantum computing to mathematical reasoning, scientific data, and entrepreneurship. Yet the summit’s most important lesson was not simply about what artificial intelligence can do. It was about what becomes possible when people from different disciplines, institutions, and generations work together.
Beyond the Numbers
As we look toward the future, our numbers provide a useful measure. Of course, behind each of these is you, one of the dedicated employees committed to our students, our research work, and the impact we make. Thank you for the work you have contributed to this progress and for the goals we will achieve together in the year ahead.