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UC Riverside has been ranked among the top 50 research universities in the United States by Washington Monthly, a nonprofit publication that covers government and politics.
UCR ranked 52nd overall and 30th among public universities on the magazine’s 2026 Best Colleges for Research list, which considers research expenditures, PhDs awarded, and faculty awards.
The publication considered 142 public and private universities for the research list, which was one of four rankings lists Washington Monthly released.
No other Inland Empire university made the list.
Washington Monthly’s rankings are based on how well a university serves low-income students, not it student body’s overall performance. Universities are assessed in several categories: affordability, eight-year graduation rates and post-graduation earnings, service, and access, according to a statement on UCR’s website.
