Universidad de California Riverside
UC Riverside is an ever-changing organism — growing, evolving and adapting. Understanding our past helps us plan our way for the future.
In 1907, the California State Legislature established the Citrus Experiment Station in Riverside to research agricultural issues facing Southern California.
In 1948, the University of California Regents approved the establishment of the College of Letters and Science. The college opened for classes in February 1954.
In 1959, Riverside was declared a general campus by the Regents and courses of study began to be developed. The University’s Graduate Division was established in 1960.
Since then, our growth has mirrored the growth of Southern California. Once a small university in a small town, we are now the premier research and educational institution in the thriving Inland Southern California region. Explore our history through the links below
UCR plays many roles. As a university, we help educate students to reach their potential and goals. As the only public research university in Inland Southern California, we are on the leading edge of pioneering research that affects the challenges each of us face daily. As a proud member of the Riverside and Southern California communities, UCR's impacts extend beyond just educating students, including contributions to the local economy and promoting positive growth.
Our Mission
The University of California, Riverside serves the needs and enhances the quality of life of the diverse people of California, the nation and the world through knowledge – its communication, discovery, translation, application, and preservation. The undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs; research programs; and outreach activities develop leaders who inspire, create, and enrich California’s economic, social, cultural, and environmental future.
With its roots as a Citrus Experiment Station, UC Riverside is guided by its land grant tradition of giving back by addressing some of the most vexing problems facing society. Whether it is assuring a safe, nutritious, and affordable food supply; stimulating the human mind and soul through the humanities and arts; or finding solutions to the profound challenges in education, engineering, business, healthcare, and the environment, UC Riverside is living the promise.
Rankings
UC Riverside has received recognition in many national and international rankings, including:
- Washington Monthly 2009 ranked UCR 16th in the nation in contributing to the public good.
- U.S. News & World Report ranked UCR among the top tier of universities nationwide in their 2010-11 survey.