Money’s 2025 list of Best Colleges, an annual ranking focused on affordability and student outcomes, has placed UC Riverside among its two highest echelons, receiving 4.5 or 5 stars. That places UCR among the top 25% of universities ranked.

Of 732 public and private colleges included on the list, only 40 total earned a 5-star score; and just over 150 earned 4.5-star scores. All nine University of California campuses received either 4.5 or 5 stars.

Money’s Best Value Colleges list ranked colleges based on 25 factors, including graduation rates, student debt, and employment outcomes.

To be among the 732, a college had to have at least 500 undergraduate students or 150 freshmen; have sufficient, reliable data for analysis, and have a graduation rate above the median for its category — in UCR’s case, that is public universities.

This past year, Money gave UCR a 5-star ranking, placing it in the top tier. The previous year — the first in which Money used the star ranking — Money gave UCR 4.5 stars.

UCR was recently named a Top 50 Best Value College by the Princeton Review, ranking No. 33 overall. Among public universities, UCR was ranked No. 5 for making an impact, and No. 11 for financial aid.