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University of California, Riverside campus
UCR

University of California, RiversideMove-In Guide

Riverside, California

🏫 Public UniversityEst. 1954🔗 www.ucr.edu

UC Riverside's Inland Empire campus is anchored by its own Carillon Bell Tower, one of only four in California, with on-campus housing guaranteed for first-year students across four residence hall communities near the campus's southeastern quadrant.

Enrollment

26,384

Total Students

Freshman Class

6,596

Approx.

Move-In Dates

Sep 19-20, 2026

Fall 2026

Acceptance Rate

89%

Most recent cycle

Move-In

Fall 2026 Move-In Details

Move-in is split by specific residence hall community across two days: Aberdeen-Inverness and Dundee move in Saturday, September 19; Lothian and Pentland Hills move in Sunday, September 20. UCR welcomes over 15,000 student residents and family members across the two weekends combined.

Check your assignment in the housing portal for your specific date and time - your exact move-in date is shown above in the Overview.

Check-in location
UCR Lot 30 (900 Martin Luther King Blvd.) for all Residence Hall communities - show your R'Card and Check-In Pass to receive your keys.
Parking
Follow the posted move-in routes rather than GPS, designed to reduce wait times and control campus traffic - after unloading, move your vehicle directly to long-term parking.
What you'll receive
Your keys at check-in (with your R'Card and Check-In Pass), plus a blue cart available to check out with a form of ID to help transport your things - your ID is returned when you bring the cart back.
Vehicle restrictions
Moving vans, RVs, and trailers are not permitted at Move-In - they use too much space in the parking lots and are difficult to navigate on narrow, busy campus streets.

Move-in day tips

  • Arrive during your assigned move-in window - arriving early may mean waiting until your time slot.
  • Bring a rolling cart or hand truck - campus carts can run out quickly during busy move-in periods.
  • Have a parking backup plan - spaces near residence halls can fill up quickly, so know where you can unload if your preferred area is full.
  • Watch the loading-zone time limit - many campuses require you to move your vehicle to longer-term parking after unloading.

Housing & Dorms

  • Aberdeen-Inverness

    Traditional · Coed

    First-year only

  • Pentland Hills

    Traditional · Coed

    First-year only

Housing Links

Each available link goes directly to University of California, Riverside's own specific page, not just its general homepage.

Orientation

Highlander Orientation (mandatory, overnight; 12 in-person sessions offered July-August)

All new students are required to attend one orientation session.

July 1 - August 31, 2026

Orientation tips

  • Register as early as your class allows - popular session dates fill up first.
  • Bring a parent/guardian if separate family programming is offered.
  • Check whether placement testing or advising sign-ups happen the same day.

Costs

Room & Board

$16,082

Estimated / Year

Figures shown are estimates for room and board only, and can vary by hall and meal plan. Check with University of California, Riverside's financial aid office for a cost breakdown specific to your situation.

Nearby Essentials

Nearby data coming soon.

Need Dorm Essentials Delivered?

More Links

  • Transportation›
    • Uber - coming soon
    • Public Transportation - coming soon
    • University Transportation - coming soon

Checklists

Get the Ultimate College Move-In Checklist

A free, printable packing checklist covering everything from bedding to important documents - built for any freshman, including yours at University of California, Riverside.

Get the checklist

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