UC Riverside Biology
Transfer Acceptance Rate, GPA and Classes

For fall 2025, 61% of transfer applicants to UC Riverside Biology were admitted (577 of 940). Admitted transfers' GPAs ranged 3.20–3.74.

The major preparation UC Riverside lists for Biology transfers starts with CHEM 1A, CHEM 1B and CHEM 1C; the full list is below.

115 California community colleges have a current transfer agreement with UCR for this major. Pick yours below to see which of its classes count.

61%

UCR Biology transfer admit rate, fall 2025

3.20–3.74

GPA range of admitted transfers

940

Transfer applicants, 577 admitted

115

California community colleges with a transfer agreement for Biology

Source: UC Information Center, Fall 2025 transfer admissions by major.

Your community college

Which classes count at your community college?

Pick your college to see its class for each UCR requirement.

Major Requirements

UC Riverside Biology Major Preparation

The courses UC Riverside lists as Biology major preparation for transfer applicants, for the 2025-26 academic year. Course numbers are UCR's own; pick your community college above to see the matching class there.

Lower division major requirements

Complete all of these

CHEM 1A General Chemistry
CHEM 1B General Chemistry
CHEM 1C General Chemistry
CHEM 1LA General Chemistry Lab
CHEM 1LB General Chemistry Lab
CHEM 1LC General Chemistry Lab

Complete 1 of these options

MATH 9A First-Year Calculus and MATH 9B First-Year Calculus
MATH 7A Calculus for Life Sciences · MATH 7B Calculus for Life Sciences

Complete 1 of these

BIOL 5A Intro to Cell and Molecular Biology and BIOL 5B Intro to Organismal Biology and BIOL 5C Introductory Evolution and Ecology and BIOL 5LA Intro to Cell and Molecular Biology Lab
CHEM 8A ORGANIC CHEMISTRY and CHEM 8B ORGANIC CHEMISTRY and CHEM 8C ORGANIC CHEMISTRY and CHEM 8LA ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY and CHEM 8LB ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY and CHEM 8LC ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY
PHYS 40A General Physics and PHYS 40B General Physics and PHYS 40C General Physics
PHYS 2A General Physics and PHYS 2B General Physics and PHYS 2C General Physics and PHYS 2LA General Physics Laboratory and PHYS 2LB General Physics Laboratory and PHYS 2LC General Physics Laboratory

Where a list says “courses listed”, or options are separated by a dot, UCR's own Biology requirements say exactly which of those courses you need.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UC Riverside Biology transfer acceptance rate?

For fall 2025, 61% of transfer applicants to UC Riverside Biology were admitted (577 of 940). Admitted transfers' GPAs ranged 3.20–3.74.

Does UC Riverside have a Biology major for transfer students?

Yes. UC Riverside offers Biology (B.A. and B.S.) and lists the major preparation it expects transfer applicants to complete.

What classes do I need to transfer to UC Riverside for Biology?

UC Riverside's Biology major preparation includes CHEM 1A, CHEM 1B, CHEM 1C, CHEM 1LA, CHEM 1LB and CHEM 1LC, with more courses in the list on this page. Pick your community college on this page to see which of its classes match.