U of A vs. UC Riverside

Comparable Facts

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

University of Arizona is larger than UC Riverside based on total student enrollment (56,365 students vs. 26,384 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Arizona is located in Tucson, AZ (Large City setting); University of California Riverside is in Riverside, CA (Large City setting).
• University of Arizona is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Riverside is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Arizona 20:1; University of California Riverside 22:1.

U of A vs. UC Riverside Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, U of A 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 U of A ($14,562 vs. $19,055).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Arizona are 19.1% lower than at University of California Riverside ($16,746 vs. $20,691).
• University of California Riverside is 12.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than U of A (about $1,680 more per year; $15,606.00 vs. $13,926.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.8% higher at UC Riverside than at University of Arizona (about $7,528 more per year; $49,806.00 vs. $42,278.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Arizona than at University of California Riverside (95% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Riverside students is 76.8% larger than aid received by University of Arizona students ($24,355 vs. $13,776).

U of A vs. UC Riverside Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, U of A 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 U of A.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Arizona (1290) is 110 points higher than at UC Riverside (1180).
• Incoming UC Riverside students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 25 at U of A).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Arizona 1150/1420; University of California Riverside 1080/1280.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Arizona 21/29; University of California Riverside 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: U of A - Test optional; UC Riverside - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Riverside Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UC Riverside students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at U of A (3.48).
• U of A has a higher acceptance rate (86.1%) than UC Riverside (76.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.4% at U of A vs. 12.2% at UC Riverside.

U of A vs. UC Riverside Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for U of A 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 University of Arizona's (61%).
• Graduates from University of Arizona earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than UC Riverside graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,000 vs. $52,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Arizona graduates have a $109 lower median loan debt than UC Riverside graduates ($19,000 vs. $19,109).
• Among borrowers, U of A graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Riverside graduates ($196 vs. $197).
• More U of A graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Riverside students, three years after graduation. (66% 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.