As UCR stats have gone up, so have the other UC stats. So UCR still remains above Merced and below UCSC.
So relative to other UC’s it remained in similar position.
Now for the part I agree with you, relative to other universities in general, UCR is certainly getting a better reputation, and very qualified students are now choosing UCR instead of going OOS. Previous argument being because they did not get into a good UC, they would rather go out of state. Now that does not hold anymore.