Riverside is proud to be one of California's most prominent academic centers, with several institutions of higher learning including the University of California, Riverside, La Sierra University, California Baptist University and Riverside City College. These institutions enrich the community by providing educational opportunities to all of the region's residents. They also guarantee the city's future prosperity by creating a talented workforce equipped with 21st century skills.

The University of California, Riverside, commonly known as UCR or UC Riverside, is a public research university and one of the ten general campuses of the University of California system. UCR is consistently ranked as one of the most ethnically and economically diverse universities in the United States. The main campus sits on 1,200 acres in a suburban district in Riverside, with a branch campus of 20 acres in Palm Desert. Founded in 1907 as the UC Citrus Experiment Station, Riverside pioneered research in biological pest control and the use of growth regulators responsible for extending the citrus growing season in California from four to nine months. Some of the world's most important research collections on citrus diversity and entomology, as well as science fiction and photography, are located at Riverside.

UCR's undergraduate College of Letters and Science opened in 1954. The Regents of the University of California declared UCR a general campus of the system in 1959, and graduate students were admitted in 1961. To accommodate an enrollment of 21,000 students by 2015, more than $730 million has been invested in new construction projects since 1999. Plans are underway to open California's first new research-based public medical school in 40 years there by 2012.

The Washington Monthly ranked UCR 16th in the United States in terms of social mobility, research and community service, while US News and World Report ranked UCR's undergraduate program 94th in the nation (out of 368 colleges) based on peer assessment, student selectivity, financial resources, and other factors. U.S. News ranks UCR as the third most ethnically diverse and, by the number of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants (42 percent), the 15th most economically diverse student body in the nation. Nearly two-thirds of all UCR students graduate within six years without regard to economic disparity. UCR's extensive outreach and retention programs have contributed to its reputation as a "campus of choice" for minority students.

California Baptist University (Cal Baptist or CBU) is a private, Christian, liberal arts university located in Riverside, California, United States. Originally founded in 1950 as California Baptist College, it is controlled by the California Southern Baptist Convention, an organization affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. CBU is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. It offers various discipline in the area of business, arts and sciences, engineering and nursing.

Founded in 1950 as California Baptist College in El Monte, California, the new college enrolled 120 students during its first year under the leadership of the first president, P. Boyd Smith. In 1953, the college moved under the wing of the Southern Baptist Convention. In 1954, the college earned its charter from the state of California. Soon, the college outgrew its facilities, and, in 1955, moved its campus to city of Riverside.

The campus is located on 128 acre of land inside the city of Riverside and reflects the Southern California environment, with towering palm trees, mission-style buildings, and a spectacular view of the nearby San Bernardino Mountains. It currently has more than 4,700 students attend CBU, coming to Riverside from 37 states and 30 foreign countries. California Baptist University currently has more than 340 faculty members (146 full-time), nearly 70 percent of whom hold terminal degrees in their areas of study. The student-to-faculty ratio is 16-to-1.

La Sierra University (La Sierra or LSU) is a Seventh-day Adventist co-educational university accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the Adventist Accrediting Association. La Sierra University is located within the city of Riverside.

Founded in 1922 as Southeastern California Academy, it later became La Sierra College, and then was merged into Loma Linda University in 1967. Modern-day La Sierra University began in 1990, when it once again became an independent institution. La Sierra is a leading school in Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), having won multiple national and world championships. LSU currently has over 2,000 students enrolled with students from over 75 countries around the world.

La Sierra University has four schools, the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Religion, and School of Education. The school recently opened its $23 million science complex. It is currently constructing a new home for its School of Business. The new building will include a 500-seat conference center. The school offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral level degrees.

Riverside City College, or RCC, is a community college located in Riverside. The college is part of the Riverside Community College District, as well as the larger California Community Colleges System.

RCC first opened in 1916 at the same site location as the Riverside Polytechnic High School. Originally known as Riverside City College, or as Riverside's Junior College, the school changed its name to Riverside Community College in the 1960s. In 2008, the Board of Trustees renamed the institution back to Riverside City College.

Today, Riverside City College is part of the greater Riverside Community College District serving more than 21,000 students each semester. Students attending RCC may choose to earn an associate's degree, transfer to a four-year college or university or earn a career certificate that prepares them to enter the workforce.

In addition to the college located in downtown Riverside, there are other college locations in Moreno Valley, Norco, and several education centers including the Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, the Center for Teaching Excellence at Stokoe, and the Rubidoux Annex in Rubidoux. RCC is also home to Gateway to College, a charter school that serves those returning to high school, seeking diplomas as adults.

RCC maintains programs in liberal arts and science, athletics, and performing arts and vocational education. RCC is home to the world class Winter Guard "Fantasia", as well as the award winning RCC Marching Tigers Band, Drumline and award-winning student newspaper "Viewpoints". The college is home to the School for Nursing. RCC is one of California's leading community colleges and is a landmark in downtown Riverside.

The Montecito area is being served by the Riverside Unified School District. The following are the information regarding to the elementary school, middle school, and high school respectively.