CSU vs. UC Riverside

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Chico in Chico, CA with University of California Riverside in Riverside, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of California Riverside is larger than CSU based on total student enrollment (26,384 students vs. 15,257 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Chico is located in Chico, CA (Small City setting); University of California Riverside is in Riverside, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Chico is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Riverside is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Chico 23:1; University of California Riverside 22:1.

CSU vs. UC Riverside Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or UC Riverside? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Riverside than CSU ($14,562 vs. $14,630).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Chico are 20.3% lower than at University of California Riverside ($16,500 vs. $20,691).
• University of California Riverside is 84.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSU (about $7,134 more per year; $15,606.00 vs. $8,472.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 136.4% higher at UC Riverside than at California State University Chico (about $28,734 more per year; $49,806.00 vs. $21,072.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Riverside than at California State University Chico (76% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Riverside students is 111.6% larger than aid received by California State University Chico students ($24,355 vs. $11,509).

CSU vs. UC Riverside Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU or UC Riverside? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UC Riverside and CSU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Riverside (1180) is 110 points higher than at CSU (1070).
• Incoming UC Riverside students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 21 at CSU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Chico 970/1170; University of California Riverside 1080/1280.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Chico 18/24; University of California Riverside 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CSU - Test-free; UC Riverside - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Dec 15, 2026; UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Riverside students have a 0.47 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at CSU (3.37).
• CSU has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than UC Riverside (76.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.2% at CSU vs. 12.2% at UC Riverside.

CSU vs. UC Riverside Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CSU and UC Riverside? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• University of California Riverside's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than California State University Chico's (59%).
• Graduates from California State University Chico earn a median of about $200 more per year than UC Riverside graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,400 vs. $52,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Chico graduates have a $2,109 lower median loan debt than UC Riverside graduates ($17,000 vs. $19,109).
• Among borrowers, CSU graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Riverside graduates ($175 vs. $197).
• More CSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Riverside students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 65%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.