California State University-Northridge vs. UC Riverside

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Northridge is larger than UC Riverside based on total student enrollment (38,313 students vs. 26,384 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Northridge is located in Northridge, CA (Large City setting); University of California Riverside is in Riverside, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Northridge 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 Northridge 25:1; University of California Riverside 22:1.

California State University-Northridge vs. UC Riverside Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California State University-Northridge 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 California State University Northridge than UC Riverside ($7,536 vs. $14,562).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Northridge are 33.3% lower than at University of California Riverside ($13,804 vs. $20,691).
• University of California Riverside is 109.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than California State University-Northridge (about $8,148 more per year; $15,606.00 vs. $7,458.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 148.3% higher at UC Riverside than at California State University Northridge (about $29,748 more per year; $49,806.00 vs. $20,058.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Northridge than at University of California Riverside (83% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Riverside students is 89.9% larger than aid received by California State University Northridge students ($24,355 vs. $12,825).

California State University-Northridge vs. UC Riverside Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California State University-Northridge 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 California State University-Northridge.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Riverside (1180) is 170 points higher than at California State University-Northridge (1010).
• Incoming UC Riverside students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 19 at California State University-Northridge).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Northridge 900/1110; University of California Riverside 1080/1280.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Northridge 16/22; University of California Riverside 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California State University-Northridge - Test-free; UC Riverside - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State University-Northridge Nov 30, 2026; UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Riverside students have a 0.46 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at California State University-Northridge (3.38).
• California State University-Northridge has a higher acceptance rate (93.4%) than UC Riverside (76.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18% at California State University-Northridge vs. 12.2% at UC Riverside.

California State University-Northridge vs. UC Riverside Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California State University-Northridge 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 Northridge's (46%).
• Graduates from University of California Riverside earn a median of about $4,700 more per year than California State University-Northridge graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,200 vs. $47,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Northridge graduates have a $4,913 lower median loan debt than UC Riverside graduates ($14,196 vs. $19,109).
• Among borrowers, California State University-Northridge graduates have an estimated $51 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Riverside graduates ($146 vs. $197).
• More UC Riverside graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State University-Northridge students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 59%)

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.