Sacramento State vs. UC Riverside

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Sacramento in Sacramento, 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 Sacramento is larger than UC Riverside based on total student enrollment (31,943 students vs. 26,384 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Sacramento is located in Sacramento, CA (Large City setting); University of California Riverside is in Riverside, CA (Large City setting).
• California State University Sacramento 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 Sacramento 24:1; University of California Riverside 22:1.

Sacramento State vs. UC Riverside Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Sacramento State 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 Sacramento than UC Riverside ($10,110 vs. $14,562).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Sacramento are 7.3% lower than at University of California Riverside ($19,174 vs. $20,691).
• University of California Riverside is 94.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Sacramento State (about $7,588 more per year; $15,606.00 vs. $8,018.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 141.6% higher at UC Riverside than at California State University Sacramento (about $29,188 more per year; $49,806.00 vs. $20,618.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Sacramento than at University of California Riverside (82% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Riverside students is 90.8% larger than aid received by California State University Sacramento students ($24,355 vs. $12,767).

Sacramento State vs. UC Riverside Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Sacramento State 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 Sacramento State.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Riverside (1180) is 150 points higher than at Sacramento State (1030).
• Incoming UC Riverside students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 20 at Sacramento State).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Sacramento 930/1130; University of California Riverside 1080/1280.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Sacramento 17/23; University of California Riverside 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Sacramento State - Test-free; UC Riverside - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Sacramento State Nov 30, 2026; UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Riverside students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Sacramento State (3.42).
• Sacramento State has a higher acceptance rate (94%) than UC Riverside (76.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.3% at Sacramento State vs. 12.2% at UC Riverside.

Sacramento State vs. UC Riverside Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Sacramento State 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 Sacramento's (42%).
• Graduates from University of California Riverside earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than Sacramento State graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,200 vs. $51,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Sacramento graduates have a $3,359 lower median loan debt than UC Riverside graduates ($15,750 vs. $19,109).
• Among borrowers, Sacramento State graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Riverside graduates ($162 vs. $197).
• More UC Riverside graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sacramento State students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 64%)

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.